How to "compress the ball"

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

So it seems to be a common belief that hitting down on the ball "compresses" it more, or that there's something in the swings of certain people, beyond the obvious (swing speed) which allows them to get better compression of the golf ball, increasing distance.

I'm curious what the consensus is on what swing attributes have an effect on compression of the golf ball? I feel like there's some real golf mythology surrounding this topic, and I feel like a thorough discussion would be enlightening.

-Andrew

[iacas]

No mystery at all.

The best compression occurs when these things are maximized:

1) fastest clubhead speed
2) squarest strike on the ball

#1 is obvious.
#2 has two parts or rather two dimensions, but the same principle: that the clubface be as square as possible to the path at the moment of impact.

If I hit this ball with this clubface:

•|

And the clubface is moving purely right to left, I'll get better compression than if the clubface is moving down and left at, say, 10 degrees. Or 45 degrees.

So good compression is simply a matter of having a relatively square path, a good amount of shaft lean to decrease the effective loft a bit (technically you can have more, but then the radius is shorter so #1 starts to be affected too much and the shot will come off with too much backspin, too low a launch angle, etc.), and a high enough swing speed.

[Joeyvee]

This thread should be locked now. There's nothing to add to it.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

No mystery at all.

Well that's no fun at all, you coming in here and speaking the whole truth and nothing but the truth about compression. Now the thread's kind of pointless (maybe it was anyway).

On here, in person, in TV commentary, on the golf channel, and in youtube videos, I keep hearing compression-related statements that imply the speaker is quite ignorant of the actual physical interaction between the clubface and the ball (and the ground, and the laws of physics, etc.). Often these statements are made by renowned instructors and golf experts. Specifically, I hear all the time about the relationship between lie and compression, bringing in words like "squeeze" and "pinch" and various other things that are clearly not actually occurring when you hit the ball. Anyway, thanks for the succinct, and more importantly totally correct, description of how to maximize compression. Now can we have an agreement in the golf world to stop misusing this concept? -Andrew

[Keep It Simple]

This thread should be locked now. There's nothing to add to it.

Not quite. #3 is acceleration. An accelerating clubhead traveling at the same speed through impact as a clubhead that is decelerating or not accelerating imparts more force on the golf ball and thus creates more compression.

[Stretch]

How does the ball know whether the club head subsequently accelerates or decelerates after it has already left the face?

[motteler621]

No mystery at all.

thats a good post

[MJP]

How does the ball know whether the club head subsequently accelerates or decelerates after it has already left the face?

I think he was being sarcastic. Ball speed is all that matters for distance (not taking into account course and weather conditions). Which comes from a professionally fitted club that optimizes launch angle and spin rates. Then club head speed, swing path and smash factor play an even larger role in distance. Obviously if you are slowing your swing down before impact it won't go as far.

[BostonSully]

How to compress golf ball:

Step one
take golf ball put it in vice

Step two
Squeeze vice

Step 3
????????????????

Step 4
Profit!!!

[iacas]

Not quite. #3 is acceleration. An accelerating clubhead traveling at the same speed through impact as a clubhead that is decelerating or not accelerating imparts more force on the golf ball and thus creates more compression.

Impact is too short a period of time to care about acceleration. Instantaneous speed is what counts. Additionally, the clubhead will always decelerate slightly (again, not enough to really matter) through impact because it's hitting something.

And on the general note, I'm always surprised at how many people (very few here, though one person left the forum because I kept pointing out that he was wrong) think the ball is actually squeezed or pinched against the ground. It's not. Not unless you top the ball (we've all seen those "ball divots" when someone tops one good, eh?).

[sean_miller]

Impact is too short a period of time to care about acceleration. Instantaneous speed is what counts. Additionally, the clubhead will always decelerate slightly (again, not enough to really matter) through impact because it's hitting something.

The one thing acceleration does is help ensure both #1 and #2 happen as the club is cuttting into the turf.

[bwdial]

Sometimes, when I get into the cart awkwardly, I compress a ball and it hurts.

Seriously though, I have been playing around with the idea of Stack and Tilt to improve my ball striking.

[Zeph]

Not unless you top the ball (we've all seen those "ball divots" when someone tops one good, eh?).

Looks just like a good divot, except that it is shaped like a ball instead.

Keeping the flying wedge will ensure you get a square strike on the ball (as long as you are not lifting the arms or something that get the handle too far from the ground). Clubhead speed is a factor of a lot of things. I can hit a little chip with forwardleaning shaft and accelerating clubhead without the ball going 100 yards. The weight of the club coming down with hands in front of the ball at impact won't do a lot with mere gravity, it is the speed you are able to gather on the way that matters. Accumulator #4 comes into play there, it helps on both forward lean and speed actually. The faster you get #4 going, the more speed the clubhead will gather. Combined with a flat left wrist at impact, forward leaning shaft, you got a good strike.

[iacas]

Nah. The ball's gone before the clubhead gets into the turf.

Also, it's commonly believed that the clubhead should still be accelerating after impact, but in studies of PGA Tour players, they all reach maximum speed pretty much AT the golf ball, not a foot later. Lower handicappers often reach top speed later.

Regardless, "acceleration" is bunk. Instantaneous speed is what matters as impact is too short for any acceleration (positive or negative) to matter.

[MJP]

Impact is too short a period of time to care about acceleration. Instantaneous speed is what counts. Additionally, the clubhead will always decelerate slightly (again, not enough to really matter) through impact because it's hitting something.

I think that sensation they think they are feeling is really "pinching" the clubface inbetween the ground and the ball. The tiny slot inbetween hitting it slightly fat and hitting it slightly thin. Even though it's not really a pinch because in a good swing the ball is in the air before the club hits the turf.

[sean_miller]

Nah. The ball's gone before the clubhead gets into the turf.

Whether or not the ball is still in physical contact with the clubface, as the leading edge reaches the turf, trying to achieve acceleration through impact, is a good thing. Or is that bunk too?

[mdbuschsr]

Sometimes, when I get into the cart awkwardly, I compress a ball and it hurts.

I knew something like this was coming and it STILL made me laugh! kudos to you!

[motteler621]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instr...gertips_gd0703