Be the Trackman. Fred Couples.

[w.g.canon]

Is it possible to make any assumptions regarding Mr. Couples’ impact numbers after viewing the following video?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZa8sbXlyT8[/media].

I am referring specifically to the initial tee ball at the outset of the clip. It appears to my eye to be a reasonably “straight” flight. What kind of numbers would allow this from his set up if we assume he is aligned 6* or 30 yards left of his ultimate target? I recognize it is imperative to know what his angle of attack is but can we calculate a few possible permutations based on prior understanding of his swing? Does any member know whether his tendency is to swing up, down or level?
I am experiencing some difficulty determining what is truly going on at impact and I would prefer to know rather than to suspect. Any intuitive and educated responses would be appreciated.

Cheers, William

 

[Richie3Jack]

I'm thinking pretty square face or very slightly closed that it probably doesn't even matter. I'm thinking of a standard attack angle for Tour pros or slightly steeper (he seems to take some sizeable divots) and then an HSP probably in the -2 to -4* range.



3JACK

 

[w.g.canon]

Now I know why I can't hit it straight.

I'm still unclear how these numbers get his club path and face angle zeroed out. I must clear my head and retrieve my abacus. Must achieve familiarity with attack angle, verticle swing plane angle and a Horizontal swing plane angles.

Is it safe to assume that contact was centered?

 

[dannyc]

I'm still unclear how these numbers get his club path and face angle zeroed out. I must clear my head and retrieve my abacus. Must achieve familiarity with attack angle, verticle swing plane angle and a Horizontal swing plane angles.

i believe to get "zeroed out":
face angle should be "zero" (square) or damn close
hsp should be negative (left) if hitting down - the more down, the more left
hsp should be positive (right) if hitting up - the more up, the more right

 

[dannyc]

this may help you w.g.

it's been posted here before
http://thebrandingengine.com/WAMUser/UserFiles/243/File/TrackmanDataReport.pdf

 

[Kevin Shields]

Freddie has a fairly forward ball position and a shallow attack. That shot is uphill and he challenged the right side without fading it. I'll bet the driver numbers are 1 degree inside out 1 degree up with a zeroish face.

Just a guess.

 

[Bigwill]

I'm still unclear how these numbers get his club path and face angle zeroed out. I must clear my head and retrieve my abacus. Must achieve familiarity with attack angle, verticle swing plane angle and a Horizontal swing plane angles.

Is it safe to assume that contact was centered?

I think that you also have to remember that Freddie dosen't swing as far left as he is aimed, so that could skew the numbers a bit.

 

[w.g.canon]

My bulb remains dim.

Mr. Shields,

Thank you for your reply. Is the 1 degree out and 1 degree up measured in relationship to the blue tracer line that appears in the video?

If the original alignment is 6 degrees offset left from the target (an approximation based on the video and the announcers commentary) does this indicate that the golfer is swinging 7 degrees out from this original alignment? How would this relate to his up number?

Alternatively, if he were swinging slightly down as an earlier post hypothesized how would that be reflected in your calculations?

I apologize for asking questions that I should be able to determine with all the information available. I suspect I'm just looking for some expert confirmation of what I believe to be the proper answers.

I have some sort of brain lock with driver calculations. I seem to be able to come to terms with iron shots. It must be the notion of "up" that is so vexing. I have a recollection of an earlier post in which you may have said that swinging up with an open face seemed to be a terribly difficult or dangerous proposition. If this recollection is correct would you be so kind, if time permits, to elaborate on why this is?

On a personal note, these questions are not entirely theoretical. I have had a great deal of success in aiming left (roughly 10yards )with all my irons and hybrid. This alignment has created what appear to be very serviceable "straight" shots at the target. I would have thought that the driver, which was always my strongest club, was going to continue in that role. I have always aimed right with the driver and played a bit of a slight pull draw. I hit the driver well enough at the target that I had selected that I did not spend a great deal of time practicing with it. As a result of aiming slighly right with all my clubs (prior to the knowledge I aquired on this web site), I devoted most of my practice time to reorienting myself to a more leftward bias. This took some time but has paid off handsomely with regard to my hybrid, iron and perhaps most noticably my wedge play (i could draw the ball back to the target with a full iron shot but this was not terribly effective or feasible with short wedge shots; one would think my tendency was to hit push after push but the subconscious is a powerful counselor; my wedges tended to be leading edge pulls. Alas, I am now unable to recapture my earlier success with the driver. My brain or my eyes are apparently unwilling to cooperate and allow me to aim both left and right. I now feel hopelessly misaligned whenever assuming my previous adress position with the driver. Thus I am trying to find some "pattern" that I can utilize to aim left with and hit relatively straight shots out of with my one wood. If I could maximize and hit "up" all the better.

For anyone who has had either the patience to read this entire post or one who simply found some amusement in how muddled a man's mind can become in pursuing this accursed passion I thank you in advance for sharing your time and thoughts in assisting me in this never ending fight to master-if even for one brush of the tee- this magnificent game. Cheers

 

[westy]

dont worry

Your brain will take a while to catch up to your mind.
Many a good player can either hit up or down but not both.

 

[Kevin Shields]

W.G. Any data by Trackman is related to the target line only. It doesnt matter nor does it know or care where you are aimed stance wise. If you wanted to hit up on your driver you only have to move your Horizontal swing line more right. Some can do this by aiming right as well. Some like Couples, who already swing well right of their stance, can still aim left. Now if Im wrong and he hit down on that ball he must aim even further left to account for the path being squeezed more right by his downward hit if he wanted to have that straight ball flight.

keep in mind Freddie is a true golfing genius who has admitted to having no idea sometimes where he is aimed. His body just goes to the target by feel alot of the time

 

[Kevin Shields]

Also, hitting up and fading it. I wouldnt call it risky, if i did i was exaggerating. Its only difficult because once you pass low point, it would be much easier for the club to close. It certainly can be done and im sure plenty of people do it.

One advantage is it does bend the path left

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Also, hitting up and fading it. I wouldnt call it risky, if i did i was exaggerating. Its only difficult because once you pass low point, it would be much easier for the club to close. It certainly can be done and im sure plenty of people do it.

One advantage is it does bend the path left

Isn't the easy way to do this is to be Vijay with a 7* open faced driver?

 

[birdie_man]

keep in mind Freddie is a true golfing genius who has admitted to having no idea sometimes where he is aimed. His body just goes to the target by feel alot of the time

That is so neat. I've been trying to be more this way...I think it will free me up this year. It's so far helping my basketball shooting and paper into garbage can shooting.

Freddie I've always noticed hits his irons short compared to his driver. Not sure if he swings easier or what. Maybe it's cause he doesn't rip down on em? I don't know for sure.