What Does Good Impact Feel Mean?

[1badbadger]

A number of years ago, Bridgestone Sports surveyed golf consumers to find out what "good impact feel" meant to them.  Below are the results.  What is good impact feel to you?

Edited July 3, 2018 by 1badbadger
Added Poll

[Lihu]

So far, 2 votes for your second option 😁

Out of 2 votes that is... 😀

[Piz]

I tried voting for "sound" but the dot skipped down one just as I hit "submit vote".  In truth: I go entirely by feel and a good "hit" doesn't feel like a hit so much as a fluid, languid, and balanced movement.  On the really good ones; the ball offers no resistance and may just as well be made of cotton fluff.  

[Patch]

For me, I hear, and see a quality hit, more than I feel it. Of course, not feeling it, (much)  is also a good thing. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Piz said:

I tried voting for "sound" but the dot skipped down one just as I hit "submit vote".  In truth: I go entirely by feel and a good "hit" doesn't feel like a hit so much as a fluid, languid, and balanced movement.  On the really good ones; the ball offers no resistance and may just as well be made of cotton fluff.  

So change your vote back.

I’m not really sure what some of the differences are.

[billchao]

A sweetspot hit is both soft and good sounding. Buttery Mizuno goodness.

[CarlSpackler]

5 minutes ago, billchao said:

A sweetspot hit is both soft and good sounding. Buttery Mizuno goodness.

^^^ This! ^^^

[BaconNEggs]

Probably the top 4... if I had to go with one, soft. Toe/heel or a little thin never feel soft. 

[Jeremie Boop]

When I hit a good shot, I typically can't really feel the ball at all. I hear it and I see the flight through the air. But the initial feedback of that "soft feel" is the main thing I notice.

[Buckeyebowman]

I feel like the Supreme Court justice describing obscenity! I might not be able to describe it, but I know it when I feel it!

I had a shot like that yesterday on a Par 3. I striped the tee shot to pin high, about 10 feet left.

My sensation was that I knew I had hit it on the button, but it was much like some MLB players describing hitting a home run. There was almost no feeling! That's kind of what happens when you hit it that purely!

[David L Yskes]

Buttery soft is how i'd describe it.....     or when you hardly feel that you hit the ball at all... 

[David in FL]

The first 4...

[nevets88]

You can still flip stall make a bad swing and hit the sweet spot, in my mind, hands in front of ball, divot in front of ball, good smash factor, all that good stuff is part of good impact, like a toe draw isn't a real draw.

[The Recreational Golfer]

It's a combination of the pinching feel of hitting the ball first on the center of the clubface, and the ground a split second later, all of which which has its own sound. I just love it when that happens.

[Dry Tortuga]

When the swing feels effortless and the impact is crisp and mostly frictionless. Slight compression in the sound, letting you know you made square contact.

[Vinsk]

I think the choices vary from club to club. My Callaway Steel Heads had a rather unfortunate clunky sound even when it nicely. My Srixon's feel and sound very nice. My Ping i200's have a great soft feel in that I don't even realize I've made contact but the ball takes of beautifully. I voted 'soft' if anything.