FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT OR LEARNT IN ALMOST EVERY TEXT WRITTEN ON BALL FLIGHT LAWS THAT THE CLUBHEAD PATH( BEYOND A CERTAIN SPEED WHERE THE PATH VECTOR SPEED SUPERCEDES THE FACE DIRECTION DICTATES TO THE STARTING INITIAL DIRECTION OF THE BALL AND THE DIRECTION OF THE CLUBFACE WILL DETERMINE THE CURVATURE OF THE BALLFLIGHT, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT CORRECT AS PER THE ASSUMPTION MADE. IN A PUTT WHICH IS A STROKE OF LESSER INTENSITY THAN A DRIVE IT IS CLEARLY SEEN THAT THE CLUBFACE ALIGNMENT DETERMINES THE STARTING DIRECTION OF THE BALL BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CLUBHEAD TRAVELS ACROSS THE BALL FASTER AS IN A DRIVER. WOULD THE RESULT BE THE SAME IN BOTH CASES??? IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW FOR OUR FORUM READERS WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO THE SHOT SHAPE WHEN THE PATH IS OUT TO IN AND THE CLUBFACE IS OPEN TO THE PATH LINE IF ITS NOT A PULL SLICE THEN WHAT IS IT/ A PUSH SLICE.
The clubface determines starting direction. The ball will always leave at about right angles to the clubface at separation. Let's think about it in simple terms: the ball rebounds off the clubface and starts in a given direction. How is the ball going to start RIGHT when the clubface is pointing LEFT? There's really no way for the ball to rebound in a direction other than where the face is pointing. In my example, the out-to-in path with an open face will cause the ball to start RIGHT and curve further RIGHT.
We should discuss the fact that the ball is compressed against the face for about 3/4 of an inch down the line of compression during impact. Some will say that this will cause the ball to start in the direction of the clubhead path. I believe that the effect on path in this circumstance is negligible, because as soon as the ball rebounds off the face it's taking off wherever the face is pointing. See 2-D-0 "Directional Factors."
The clubface determines starting direction. The ball will always leave at about right angles to the clubface at separation. Let's think about it in simple terms: the ball rebounds off the clubface and starts in a given direction. How is the ball going to start RIGHT when the clubface is pointing LEFT? There's really no way for the ball to rebound in a direction other than where the face is pointing. In my example, the out-to-in path with an open face will cause the ball to start RIGHT and curve further RIGHT.
We should discuss the fact that the ball is compressed against the face for about 3/4 of an inch down the line of compression during impact. Some will say that this will cause the ball to start in the direction of the clubhead path. I believe that the effect on path in this circumstance is negligible, because as soon as the ball rebounds off the face it's taking off wherever the face is pointing. See 2-D-0 "Directional Factors."
Great post on ball flight. Exactly right from my experience. I have a friend who insists he is not coming over the top because his ball flight is right, then way right. He is thinking inside with open clubface.
I can clearly see he is coming over the top but he won't listen to me at all since he reads all the books and has it ingrained that direction is clubhead path or direction not clubface.
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Guys, Homer knew the ball doesn't leave exactly at right angles to the Clubface, espcially with higher compression shots (e.g. driver). That's what he said "practically at right angles...". I have no data to back myself up, but maybe somebody with a high speed camera or launch monitor can have some input here...I'm pretty sure it's more 1-2 degrees off 90 degrees with my driver.
Guys, Homer knew the ball doesn't leave exactly at right angles to the Clubface, espcially with higher compression shots (e.g. driver). That's what he said "practically at right angles...". I have no data to back myself up, but maybe somebody with a high speed camera or launch monitor can have some input here...I'm pretty sure it's more 1-2 degrees off 90 degrees with my driver.
Here's a thought. Put a ball on a tee. Strike a downward blow with a nine iron. Did the ball go up or down? Was the Clubhead path up or down? Practically at right angles.
So whats really happenning when the ball is hit straight with a driver and has a fade towards the end.
Vik
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So whats really happenning when the ball is hit straight with a driver and has a fade towards the end.
Vik
The face was probably relatively square at separation but wasn't closing that much during the impact interval. An angled hinge would produce this ball flight - pretty straight and "falling off to the right" at the end.
The only time the ball rebounds 'straight back to you', is if you throw it 'straight into the wall' 90 degrees to the surface of the wall.
Now, throw that same ball at a 45 degree angle to the wall.
It will bounce between 45 and 90 degrees off the wall, not 90 degrees to the wall (the direction of the 'face' of the wall). Even at a slow speed.
If you imagine the 'wall' is the clubface, you can see that BOTH path and clubface are important, as is the SPEED at which the ball is thrown and the amount the ball compresses. You can not seperate out just one variable and assume the rest.
That said, the clubface does have MORE of an influence than the path.
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The only time the ball rebounds 'straight back to you', is if you throw it 'straight into the wall' 90 degrees to the surface of the wall.
Now, throw that same ball at a 45 degree angle to the wall.
It will bounce between 45 and 90 degrees off the wall, not 90 degrees to the wall (the direction of the 'face' of the wall). Even at a slow speed.
If you imagine the 'wall' is the clubface, you can see that BOTH path and clubface are important, as is the SPEED at which the ball is thrown and the amount the ball compresses. You can not seperate out just one variable and assume the rest.
That said, the clubface does have MORE of an influence than the path.
Good point Ed, exactly what I was trying to say. Certainly the clubface has much more influence than the clubhead path, but not 100% responsible for starting direction of ball.
Practically at right angles.
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