Comments on: Ball Flight Laws

By: Kiran Kanwar

Kiran Kanwar — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:40:24 +0000

Erik, well stated, simple information on 'old' vs 'new'. Really don't know why people make such a big deal of all the 9 Ball Flights and the BFL. For instance, as regards the 9 flights, to my mind the entire 'pull' group is redundant. Why have a clubface aiming way left and a similar path. Why not simply aim left of target and hit it straight!!!! The LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Division has simplified the Ball Flights by defining them as the 3 PLAYABLE BALL FLIGHTS - who cares about the rest! i)straight ii)push draw iii)pull hook - they are the ONLY ones which end up on the target, and I do think we're all trying to play golf. As regards the 5 Ball Flight Laws. In physics we define a basic or fundamental quantity ( eg. distance, time, mass) and a derived quantity (based on two or more basic ones - eg speed is distance divided by time). So, can you or any readers think of any situation in which, given an in-to-out, shallow path with a square clubface, the club will NOT make center contact? Therefore, centeredness need not be a LAW! Similarly, with the 'old' Laws, one was supposed to aim the face to target and swing in-to-out for a draw. With the 'new' Laws one aims the face a bit right and makes the path a bit right-er (excuse my use of a non-word), so, basically semantics? It's all in the degree of rightness and who's actually taking a protractor out to the course. Now, if only you or any of your readers would try a swing (SPAM REMOVED) that is GUARANTEED to arrive at the ball from the inside and at a shallow angle, resulting in a fairly straight flight with a short club and a baby-draw with the longer clubs, you wouldn't care tuppence for the BFL ever again. (Of course a modification exists for a fade).

By: Devin

Devin — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:51:59 +0000

It looks like this article is from over two years ago, but it's really great! Thanks a ton, Erik.

By: chris650

chris650 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:58:46 +0000

Very nice, well communicated.

By: Kapanda

Kapanda — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:24:54 +0000

Loved the article! Thank you!

By: divot dave

divot dave — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:21:17 +0000

Kudos Erik, kudos!
I'm in my 3rd, maybe 4th month of golf now. I hit the ball consistently every time... and its a slice... a mean one. I've tried everything to fix it, adjusting grip, turning hips more, moving weight forward, the works. I've managed to cut back on the severity of the slice, but also introduced a hook in the mean time. The information contained in this article was CRUCIAL to evaluating the real reasons behind my problem, and allowed me to better self analyze where I'm going wrong.

Long story short, I noticed recently that my ball flight pattern is consistently straight early on then curve, so I began to look more closely at the path of my club head during the down swing... sure enough, out to in.

I went to the range last night with this imagery fresh in my head, took a couple practice swings until I saw the club head path resemble more of a pure semi-circle, stepped up to the t, duplicated the swing and KABOOM! That sucker flew s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t down the fairway, as far as I've ever hit a ball, not a hint of slice or hook... pure, and it felt gooooood!!!! lol
The next 4 shots were basically the same result. After that, the only variations were slight pushes or pulls caused by sloppy control of the club face at impact.

This article should be mandatory reading for all golfers, especially newbies...

Thanks for posting.

By: pumaAttack

pumaAttack — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:28:47 +0000

Ahh ha! So that is why I always hit the tree when trying to hook or slice around it!

And also explains when I am lined up for a supposed fade and hit a draw... I never could explain that but now it all makes sense.

I am very appreciative for this site and the great advice I have received.

Thanks!

By: ovechkingreat8

ovechkingreat8 — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:33:43 +0000

Montana Mike is so dead wrong here.

Great article, Erik. Thanks for posting this . It will drastically improve my approach to the game.

By: HarleyPapa

HarleyPapa — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:38:45 +0000

Anger which is evident in some posts is the "last resort" of the ill-informed... Very few people like to find out they are wrong (and have been so for a long time); but a "Big" person evaluates, learns ands corrects himself.

By: chaseepp22

chaseepp22 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:53:43 +0000

Erik, This is literally my first time posting on a forum before, but after reading what Montana Mike wrote I had to chime in. I am also a PGA apprentice and have worked under Ted Sheftic, who if you look it up at golf.com you will see he is a top 100 instructor. I have the pga manual and it does list the "old"' ball flight laws. I recently found the articles that were posted on the trackman site and loved them. They are absolutely correct and that anyone understanding physics and the relationship between golf and physics will agree. I have always been interested in the actual physics of golf not just logic. I feel sorry for Montana Mike. He is so caught up with the logic that he can't believe in science. It is a FACT that what you are saying is true. You cannot disprove it in any way shape or form. I also feel very sorry for his students and I also feel sorry for my previous students that I taught, before I learned the new ball flight laws, because I was simply teaching them incorrectly. But thank you for this article I hope people will do a little research before they form their own opinion. Chase

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:25:39 +0000

A bit more speed brings the direction of the ball back towards the clubhead path.
So basically everyone is agreeing with everyone else on this and just wanting to argue.
dolfinack

No. People aren't agreeing. Brandel Chamblee has it all wrong in this video, which spurred #chambleegate: http://youtu.be/j2mEclM1OiQ. The ball never really starts where the path is by more than about 25%. 75 - and typically more like 85% - of the ball's initial direction is determined by the clubface. Please read the article again.