Ball Flight - Biomechanics Impact on Ball-Flight Parameters

The clubface (CF) orientation at impact and the true clubpath (CP) orientation at impact determine the balls flight. The true CP orientation at impact is calculated by the following equation: True CP = HSP [AA * TAN (90 VSP)] The initial ball -flight direction will be approximately 75 to 35 percent in the direction of the CF orientation at impact relative to the true CP orientation at impact. A driver will be closer to the 75 percent and a wedge closer to the 35- percent. The ball will then curve away from the true CP orientation.

You lean to control the true CP and CF orientation at impact by learning golf swing biomechanics and then developing feels that help you with the biomechanics. The golf swing biomechanics relate to the movement and positions of the body, arms/hands, and golf club prior to and during the golf swing. The biomechanics of the golf swing can be placed into the following four categories: Address Position Backswing Downswing Impact Follow-Through

Since we all have different strength, flexibility, and other factors in our bodies, the biomechanics that work for one golfer might not work for another golfer. Everything that you can possibly do at address or during the golf swing can have an impact on one or more of the parameters that determine ball-flight. The tables below list some of the biomechanics and shows some of their impact on the ballflight parameters.

Address Position
Page 1 of 8

Biomechanics

Aim Too far left of target Aim too far right of target Feet Too narrow Feet Too wide Feet Aligned too far left Feet Aligned too far right Feet Left foot angled out too far Feet Right foot angled out to far Hands Too far ahead of ball Hands Too far behind the ball Stance- Too close to ball Stance - Too far from ball Ball Position Too far forward Ball Position Too far back Upper body Too far to the right Upper body Too far to the left Shoulders Too open Shoulders Too Closed Posture Too tall Posture Too bent over Spine Angle Tilt

Impact on Impact on CF Horizontal Orientation Swing Plane at Impact In-to-out Out-to-in Out-to-in In-to-out Out-to-in In-to-out Out-to-in In-to-out

Impact on Vertical Swing Plane

Impact on Angle of Attack

Decreases Increases Increases Decreases Out-to-in In-to-out Decreases Increases Out-to-in In-to-out Increases Increases Increases Page 2 of 8

Too far left Spine Angle Tilt Too far right Shoulders Too far left of hips Shoulders Too far right of hips Weight Too much on right foot Weight Too much on left foot Grip Too weak Grip Too strong Clubface Too open to target Clubface Too closed to target

Decreases Out-to-in In-to-out In-to-out Increases

Out-to-in

Decreases Decreases Increases

Opens Closes

Backswing:
Biomechanics Impact on CF Orientation at Impact Impact on Horizontal Swing Plane Impact on Vertical Swing Plane Decreases Increases Increases Decreases Increases Increases Impact on Angle of Attack Decreases Increases

Shoulders Turn too flat Shoulders Turn too Steep Arms Too far in front of torso Arms too far behind torso Arms At top of backswing too far above the shoulder plane Arms At top of backswing too far below the shoulder plane

Decreases

Decreases

Page 3 of 8

Hips Move too far left Hips Move too far right Hips Too little hip turn Hips Too much hip turn Spine Angle Tilted too far toward target Spine Angle Tilted too far away from target Spine angle Raised too much Spine Angle Lowered to much Weight Too much on left foot Weight Too much on right foot Club Takeaway In-to-out too inside Club Takeaway Out-to-in too outside Club shaft Too laid off at top of backswing Club shaft Too across the line at top of backswing Club shaft too far down and behind right shoulder at top of backswing Club shaft Too far up and above right shoulder at top of backswing Clubface Too In-to-out open at top of

Out-to-in In-to-out Out-to-in In-to-out Out-to-in In-to-out Decreases Increases Increases Decreases Increases Decreases

Decreases Increases Decreases

Increases

Page 4 of 8

backswing Clubface- Too closed at top of backswing

Out-to-in

Downswing:
Biomechanics Impact on CF Orientation at Impact Impact on Horizontal Swing Plane Impact on Vertical Swing Plane Decreases Increases Increases Impact on Angle of Attack Decreases Increases Increases

Shoulders Turn too flat Shoulders Turn too steep Arms Too much Closes counter-clockwise rotation of left forearm Arms Too little Opens counter-clockwise rotation of left forearm Arms Swinging too much in-to-out Arms Swinging too much out-to-in Hips Too much slide toward the target Spine angle Raised too far up Spine angle Increased/lowered downward too much Spine angle Not centered over hips too far forward of hips Spine angle Not centered over hips too far behind

Decreases

Decreases

In-to-out Out-to-in Increases Decreases Increases Increases Decreases Increases

Increases

Increases

Decreases

Decreases

Page 5 of 8

the hips Weight Too much weight on forward foot Weight Too much weight on rear foot Club Too far above plane Club Too far under plane Clubface Too open Clubface Too closed

Closes Opens

Increases Increases Increases Decreases

Increases Decreases

Opens Closes

Impact:
Biomechanics Impact on Impact on CF Horizontal Orientation Swing Plane at Impact In-to-out Out-to-in closes Opens In-to-out Out-to-in In-to-out Out-to-in Impact on Vertical Swing Plane Impact on Angle of Attack

Shoulders Too closed to target line Shoulders Too open to target line Arms/Wrists Left forearm too much pronation Arms/Wrists Left forearm too little pronation Hips Too closed to target line Hips Too open to target line Hips Right hip too far down Hips Right hip too far up

Page 6 of 8

Spine Angle Bent too far down Spine Angle too far up Spine Angle Too tilted to the players right Spine Angle Too tilted to the players left Weight Too much on rear foot Weight Too much on forward foot Club Shaft Too far above address position Club Shaft Too far below address position Club Shaft Leans too much toward target Club Shaft Leans too far away from target

Increases Decreases In-to-out Out-to-in Out-to-in In-to-out Increases Decreases

Increases Decreases

Increases Decreases

Follow-Through:
Biomechanics Impact on Impact on CF Horizontal Orientation Swing Plane at Impact Out-to-in In-to-out Decreases Page 7 of 8 Impact on Vertical Swing Plane Impact on Angle of Attack

Shoulders Unwound too much Shoulders Unwound too little Arms/Hands

Too far below left shoulderArms/Hands Too far above left shoulder Hips Rotated/Open too much Hips Rotated/open too little Spine Angle Tilted too far toward the ball target line Spine Angle Tilted too far away from the ball target line Weight Too much on rear foot

Increases Out-to-in In-to-out Increases

Decreases

Out-to-in

Page 8 of 8