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Golf Ball Flight Laws |
'Ball Flight Laws' can correct bad swing habits
By Tim Dietrich
Natural Golf always explains how we need to change old habits -- from our conventional days -- and change them into good habits -- the Natural way.
One of the ways we can do that is through a process known as focused practice. Ben Hogan, who was one of the hardest working professionals when it came to practice, said, "The ultimate judge of your swing is the flight of the ball."
Natural Golf's own Moe Norman, who was, and is, still known as a player who spends an extraordinary amount of time practicing, would undoubtedly agree with Hogan.
When trying to figure out what to practice, Hogan's statement gives us a great place to start. Since the golf swing happens so quickly, the flight of the ball is really the best way (unless video is available) for an instructor or student to tell what was happening at the moment of impact -- when the club hit the ball.
The "Ball Flight Laws" tell us that the first 50 percent of a ball's direction is determined by our club's path at the moment of impact, and the second 50 percent is determined by our club's face angle (open, square or closed).
So when you are out on the driving range, watching your balls fly, you will want to notice if there is a pattern or whether your balls are pretty much randomly going left and right. If there is no pattern, then you don't have one error, you have several. In this case, I recommend that you get with your Natural Golf Certified Instructor and ask him or her to show you what your most significant error is and then work on that.
If you do have a pattern, then really notice what it is. Does the ball start to the left, right or at the target? Does it curve right or left or stay straight once it gets halfway to its destination.
Here are the nine shot patterns, their causes and some possible fixes: (With apologies to all you left-handers out there, for simplicity sake, I will describe the ball flight from the perspective of a right-handed golfer.)
- Ball starts straight and continues straight. Nothing wrong here -- go practice your putting and chipping.
- Ball starts straight but then turns to the left. Your club path is good (square), but your clubface is closed at impact. Check your grip and ball position at setup.
- Ball starts straight but then turns to the right. Your club path is good (square), but your clubface is open at impact. Check your grip and ball position at setup.
- Ball starts left and continues straight. Your club path is out to in and your clubface is square to the path. You probably have rotated your shoulders too soon. Swing easier and feel like you are trying to hit the ball "over the second baseman's head."
- Ball starts left and turns to the left. This is the infamous double-cross. Your club path is out to in, and your clubface is closed to the path. You have rotated your shoulders too soon and turned your hands over. Swing easier and feel like you are trying to hit the ball "over the second baseman's head." Also, check your grip and ball position at setup.
- Ball starts left and turns to the right. The ever-so-common slice. Your club path is out to in and your clubface is open to the path. You have rotated your shoulders too soon and have blocked your release. Swing easier and feel like you are trying to hit the ball "over the second baseman's head." Also, check your grip and ball position at setup.
- Ball starts right and continues straight. Your club path is in to out, and your clubface is square to the path. You have alignment issues. Work on your pre-shot routine and make sure that you aren't trying to steer the ball.
- Ball starts right and turns to the left. You have the elusive draw. Your club path is in to out, and your clubface is closed to the path. You have alignment issues. Work on your pre-shot routine and make sure that your grip is correct, particularly the lead hand.
- Ball starts right and turns to the right. A slice with alignment issues. Your club path is in to out, and your clubface is open to the path. It's time to see a Certified Instructor. You most likely have major problems with both your grip and your swing plane.
I hope this helps you get the most out of your range time. Again, if you're having serious trouble, consult with your Natural Golf Certified Instructor.
Tim Dietrich is a Natural Golf Certified Instructor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
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