Controlling Trajectory in the Short Game
By Tim Mahoney
In executing short game shots, inside 50 yards (pitches and chips), a player’s ability to control the ball’s flight trajectory can be just as important as controlling the ball’s direction and overall distance. A golfer has options to create consistent ball flight trajectory and as a result consistent shot patterns swing after swing.
Option One – Ball Choice:
A golfer’s choice of golf ball will have an affect on a golf ball’s flight characteristics. It is the dimples on a golf ball that are responsible for its flight characteristics. Their design (size, shape and pattern) will help dictate the ball’s trajectory. The size and depth of the dimples affect performance. Shallow dimples generate more spin on a golf ball than deep dimples, which increases loft and causes the ball to rise and stay in the air longer and roll less, which is advantageous when playing to elevated greens. Deep dimples generate less spin on a golf ball than shallow dimples, which decrease loft and causes the ball to stay on a lower trajectory, with less air time and greater roll, which is advantageous when playing to low elevated greens.
Option Two – Ball Position:
A correct ball position helps you contact the ball crisply and achieve the proper trajectory on the shot. Ball position affects the path and the angle of approach the club takes into the ball which ensures a consistent loft angle of the club at impact. With the ball positioned too far forward, your shoulders align left of the target, thus creating a swing path that is too steep and out-to-in. If you locate the ball too far back toward your right foot, your shoulders are closed, which creates a swing path that is too shallow and in-to-out. You will be able to produce consistent ball flight trajectories only if the ball is positioned correctly in your stance. For chip shots, position the ball about two inches back of center. You want to strike the ball with a descending angle of approach creating a low trajectory, running shot. For all wedges and pitch swings from normal lies position the ball in the exact center of your stance.
Option Three – Swing Technique:
To create a low trajectory chip or pitch shot, set your hands slightly ahead of the ball. A forward hand position will naturally de-loft the clubface, helping to start the ball on a low trajectory. Also, concentrate on making a rhythmic swing with a slightly slower tempo on the forward swing. A slower tempo will produce less spin, helping to keep the ball on a low trajectory. Stay level with your hips as you swing through impact. Feel as though the handle of the club leads the clubhead through the hitting area to prevent adding loft to the clubface at impact. A low trajectory shot means a low finish. The lower you want to hit it, the lower you want to finish, not only with the hands and arms, but with the clubhead as well. While it is okay to play the ball back in you stance to produce a lower trajectory, it is not advantageous to play the ball forward in your stance as a means of getting a higher trajectory. Playing the ball forward in you stance moves it ahead of the bottom of your natural swing arc. To hit a higher shot, the first choice should always be to take a more lofted club and make your standard swing. The second choice is to open the clubface, aim your swing line to the left of the target and keep the ball exactly in the center of your stance. Keeping the ball in the middle of your stance ensures crisp contact.
Option Four – Club Selection:
The easiest way to vary shot trajectory from a normal lie is to choose a higher degree lofted club or choose a lower degree lofted club. If you need a higher soft landing shot, choose a lob (60 degrees), sand (56 degrees), gap (52 degrees), or a pitching wedge (48 degrees). If you need a lower running shot, choose a 9 iron (39 degrees), 8 iron (34 degrees), 7 iron (30 degrees), or 6 iron (26 degrees). It is easier than creating a different swing or changing your mechanics. Clubs are designed with the clubface having different lofts. It is loft that makes a golf ball take flight on an ascending trajectory, not an upward direction of swing. The club actually hits the ball in a horizontal or slightly downward angle.
Choose the option that works best for your game. Your golf ball selection will be based on the design of the golf course that you’ll be playing. Under normal lie conditions, you’ll want to maintain a consistent ball position for crisp club to ball contact. Vary the length of your swing technique to produce low or high trajectories. And choose your club wisely. Practice with different lofted clubs and observe the ball flight trajectory patterns. Take your observations to the golf course.
Ben Hogan’s Plane of Glass
The legendary golfer and technician Ben Hogan in 1946 developed the swing concept of an angle the club needs to swing: Swing plane or simply the shape of the swing. Throughout the years a debate has developed regarding the angle or plane of the swing: 1 or a 2 plane motion. Within the Mahoney and Troon Golf Academy we believe that it is not a 1 or a 2 plane motion, simply an on-plane swing that is determined by the club and your posture. The angle or plane that you swing the club on determines the centerness of the strike, the ability to square your club face at impact and the amount of divot. Swing plane is not a ball flight law, but simply, a golf swing preference.
The backswing plane can be viewed as an inclined angle taken at address running up the shoulders from the ball. The left arm controls the shape of the backswing, the shoulders, arms, hands and club should rotate and swing on this angle and not deviate from the intended angle. Swinging on this determined angle will allow the upper and lower body the ability to turn freely on both sides of the swing. Once golfers understand how to swing to the top of the backswing they will solve consistency problems.
During the downswing motion, the golf club MUST swing under and below the back swing plane. The shallowing of the club on the downswing is a significant power boost at impact. The slight lateral shift of the hips towards the target as the upper body is turning back, allows for a “flattening” of the downswing plane. As the hips are sliding laterally, the right elbow connects to the side as the left hips turns behind. Hands or shoulders starting the downswing establishes an over the top or steep angle. Steepness in the downswing causes toe hits, open club face and a decrease in club head speed. Create a flatter downswing as compared to the backswing results in greater power and consistency.
Drills that will assist in creating this angle: baseball swings above the ball and chip shots where the club stays below your hands on both sides. These drills will allow you to focus primarily on the shape of the swing and the intended plane.
Club face, angle of attack, centeredness of hit, club head speed and swing path are the ball flight laws that effect every shot from a putt to a chip, to a full drive. Ben Hogan’s plane of glass or swing plane is every gofer preference to golf excellence. Swinging the club on the intended angle, determined by the club and your posture will provide longer, straighter and more solid strikes.
Grip
Golf Ball curvature is the effect of a misaligned club face at impact. Your club face is controlled by wrist cock, arm rotation and release. All three of these aspects is directly controlled by the hold or individual grip of the club. The quickest and simply the easiest means of improving your game is by perfecting your grip. A perfect grip will improve an imperfect swing plane, an imperfect swing path and imperfect impact.
Utilizing a gripping procedure will allow you to position your hands on the club consistently every time you swing the golf club.
Step 1- allow your arms to hang freely by your sides as you position the club under the heel pad of your left hand with the club planed and the club face square.
Step 2-elevate the club and establish the width of the swing. With the club in front of you position your right hand on the club. Connecting the hands by placing your life line on top of the thumb.
Grip check points include with the left hand include: heel pad on top, thumb to the right of center and no gap between the thumb and the base of the hand. Right hand check points include: life line covers the thumbs, trigger finger to the side of the grip and no gap. The golfer has three options to connect the hands: overlap grips allows for more wrist cock, an interlocking allows for more direction control and a baseball grip allows for a higher trajectory.
Perfect your grip and perfect your game. The only contact you have with the club is your grip. A perfect hold will perfect your ball flight.
4 Steps to Successful Putting
By: Tim Mahoney
If you were to watch the good putters on any of the tours, they all have the same type of routine, a routine for success. As you approach putting, your mind must be on your hands, assisting you with controlling distance. Consistent players utilize fact not fiction. Develop this routine, and you will become a great putter.
Step 1- Walk into the golf ball with your right hand only on the club. During this motion you have three goals: establish an angle in the back of your right wrist (this angle must be maintained during the entire motion.) Aim your clubface at your target. Align your right forearm on the same plane as the shaft.
Step 2- Position your body (all shots in golf, you must align club than body.) Position your eyes over the target line, weight even, golf ball forward in your stance with boxed feet.
Step 3- Position your left hand onto the club. As you slide your hand onto the club, position both thumbs on the flat part of the club with your palms facing each other. Flatten your left wrist and maintain the bend in your right wrist.
Step 4- Swing the putter with the arms. Quiet torso motion as you maintain the hand position. Hold the follow thru until the ball comes to a rest. Your mind must be on controlling distance. Perfect distance is the effect of maintaining the hand position.
All good putters develop a routine. I believe great putters develop an angle in the back of their right wrist at address and they maintain this angle throughout the stroke. As a result, pre-set this angle at address and maintain this angle during the entire motion. Consistent performers utilize fact not fiction.