Follow the Bouncing Ball
 

Great way to put it, Matt. Kind of ends any debate right there. Thanks!

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.

Think of throwing a ball against a wall.

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.

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? :occasion: 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

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.