Flight of the ball

[Amorgan3105]

Hi I am new so any tips are welcome. Can someone tell me why pros and low handicap golfers seem to hit the ball really high and far. The ball seems to project into the air then all of a sudden drop, if i drew a diagram it would be like going up a hill and then dropping of a cliff, My balls seem to stay low and gradually fall and I would draw it like a hill or a speed bump. I hope the above make sense. I am currently using cavity back clubs so not sure if blades make a difference

[Shindig]

Well, cavity backs should help you get the ball in the air.  And some professionals use cavity backs too.

Since you're new, I'm guessing you're still learning.  Part of what good players are able to do is impart energy into the ball and contact at good angles -- the end result is the good shot.  

How experienced are you with a golf swing?  It's okay to say "not much" if that's the truthful answer.  But it'll give us a starting point to push you in the right direction.  If you're interested and able, consider making a "my swing" thread and we can try to improve your shots too.

Check out: 

if you're considering making such a thread, and of course be ready to film your golf swing: 

https://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/filming_your_swing

[saevel25]

Here is a list,

1. Launch angle for the ball is about half the loft for the iron (PGA tour players launch a ball at 16 degrees w/ a 7 iron loft around 34 degrees)
2. Spin rate is about 1000x the number on the club. So a 7 iron, should be around 7000 rpm for a PGA Tour player.
3. Neutral swing path (+4 to -4 degrees)
4. Neutral face angle to swing path (with in 1-2 degrees of the swing path)
5. High ball speed (7 iron is about 120 mph ball speed)

How you achieve these things. The spin rate is going to be influenced by the clubhead speed. This is why golfers who do not have high swing speed struggle with proper club yardage gaps near the top end of their iron sets. The spin gets way too low, and the ball drops out of the air too soon.

Besides that, get a better swing.

 

[Amorgan3105]

Thank you both for your answers, I will try and post my swing, but I am a beginner and I agree it could be my swing. I am a bit of a half swing player at the moment just to hit the ball straight, so trying a full swing could help but my theory is that the chances of movement in my swing is greater therefore accuracy is less

[Shindig]

Okay, a few things to unpack here.  They're all good though.

2 minutes ago, Amorgan3105 said:

Thank you both for your answers, I will try and post my swing, but I am a beginner and I agree it could be my swing. 

Well, yes... most beginners don't have a great swing on day one.  Or even day two.  But the important thing is we'll try to help you out.  Improving your swing and the quality of your full shots (driver, woods, irons) is a great way to start playing better, both in terms of enjoyment and having lower scores.

2 minutes ago, Amorgan3105 said:

I am a bit of a half swing player at the moment just to hit the ball straight, so trying a full swing could help but my theory is that the chances of movement in my swing is greater therefore accuracy is less

Movement can be more, but that doesn't mean accuracy has to be yes.  Sure, if the range of places your ball could finish after hitting is larger than a football field, there may be problems.  Getting a similar flight on 90% of your shots, even if it's a wide arc, just means you have something to play for.

And a higher quality swing will have, generally speaking, less bad movement.  

A note to make sure you remember:  you don't hit the ball straight.  Neither do most players, including professionals.  But having a consistent shape is fine.  Watch someone like Zach Johnson.  He rarely hits the ball straight, and when he does, it isn't on purpose.  But it almost always starts where he intends it to start and it almost never turns right on him.  He's played some pretty good golf with that effect and he's not alone.

So let's see what we can do to help you on the full swing.  

I'm a little jealous you'll get to take the video.  I'd sort of like to see what my swing looked like a dozen years ago when I was getting started.  

[Buckeyebowman]

It sound to me like you're trying to put a "steer job" swing on the ball. You might eventually keep it in the short grass, but you will never attain any distance. Ask me how I know!

Other than the pure mechanics of the swing, there is a mental attitude. That you WILL take a full swing, and you WILL hit the ball as far as possible! I tried this on one of our last rounds of the season a few years ago. I decided to really cut loose!

What happened was, I hit the ball farther than I did all year, and, I was more accurate! I can't promise that will happen for you. I'd been playing 40+ years before that day. But, how far you can hit the ball determines your potential in this game.

I'd learn to hit it a mile, then straighten out the misses!