Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
So, my other thread was getting a little off topic so i deleted some posts and decided to start a new thread to clear up some confusion that surrounds both open faced heads and closed face heads. So here goes:
Driver A:
- Measured with a 1* closed face angle
- Measured with 9* of loft
Now, we all know if we want to hit a relatively straight shot we need a path that is going somewhere in the neighborhood of 2* inside/out with a face angle (at impact) that is open around 2*. So how are you going to accomplish this if the face is already closed 1*? The answer is you can't. The only way you could is to allow the face to open almost 3* (1 to make up for the face angle and 2 for the ball flight). All of this "opening" of the face through impact area adds loft. Just like if you took a wedge and "opened it" for a flop shot. This type of driver is designed this way on purpose for the golfing masses for mainly reducing the average golfer's tendency to slice the ball. Most average slicers hit the ball with probably something like a 4-6* open face. So if you give them a driver that is already 2-3* closed you have effectively "closed the face" for them some. But what if you aren't a slicer? Yup, it's going waaaaaaaaaaay left my friend.
Driver B:
- Measured with a 1* open face angle
- Measured with 9* of loft
Now this driver is basically the opposite. If you wanted to put your normal swing on the ball where you achieve that 2* open face at impact, it will now be 3* open because the face is already 1* open. So the ball will fade in most cases because it is too open for that straight shot or 1 yard draw shot. Now, how do you get rid of that? You will have to close the face at impact (which decreases loft) to again achieve the 2* open face condition at impact.
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So read what i wrote a few times before you post, it will make sense i promise. Essentially that is why if you are a fairly decent golfer and are given a closed face driver you will hook it, or to hit it straight you will tend to hit it higher and shoter (more loft, more launch, more spin). Same thing with the open face, you will tend to hit it lower with less launch and spin because to hit it straight you had to decrease the loft at impact.
Hope that helps.
Driver A:
- Measured with a 1* closed face angle
- Measured with 9* of loft
Now, we all know if we want to hit a relatively straight shot we need a path that is going somewhere in the neighborhood of 2* inside/out with a face angle (at impact) that is open around 2*. So how are you going to accomplish this if the face is already closed 1*? The answer is you can't. The only way you could is to allow the face to open almost 3* (1 to make up for the face angle and 2 for the ball flight). All of this "opening" of the face through impact area adds loft. Just like if you took a wedge and "opened it" for a flop shot. This type of driver is designed this way on purpose for the golfing masses for mainly reducing the average golfer's tendency to slice the ball. Most average slicers hit the ball with probably something like a 4-6* open face. So if you give them a driver that is already 2-3* closed you have effectively "closed the face" for them some. But what if you aren't a slicer? Yup, it's going waaaaaaaaaaay left my friend.
Driver B:
- Measured with a 1* open face angle
- Measured with 9* of loft
Now this driver is basically the opposite. If you wanted to put your normal swing on the ball where you achieve that 2* open face at impact, it will now be 3* open because the face is already 1* open. So the ball will fade in most cases because it is too open for that straight shot or 1 yard draw shot. Now, how do you get rid of that? You will have to close the face at impact (which decreases loft) to again achieve the 2* open face condition at impact.
------------------------------------------------------
So read what i wrote a few times before you post, it will make sense i promise. Essentially that is why if you are a fairly decent golfer and are given a closed face driver you will hook it, or to hit it straight you will tend to hit it higher and shoter (more loft, more launch, more spin). Same thing with the open face, you will tend to hit it lower with less launch and spin because to hit it straight you had to decrease the loft at impact.
Hope that helps.