Hitting down on driver??

[comdpa]

Brian,

As with all irons, do we hit down on the driver? Read this by some TGM exponent. He said that even the pros hit down on the driver just that visually we see something else. Is that the key to distance? If not then how do i increase my driver distance?


If that were true (hitting down on the driver), then the traditonalist teachers are sooooo wrong...haha, along with some of the rubbish they expound.

cheers

 

[EaglesNest]

Oh no not again.
On the subject of rubbish spoken about golf, I find that my biggest pet hate now is actually trying to watch a round of golf on TV, the bull**** flies thick and fast all day long, highly irritating commentary.

 

[EdZ]

IMO spin rate and launch angle are bigger factors. There are many combinations of up/down/loft that could (at least in theory) produce the best spin rate and launch angles for a given swing speed. That said - if you hit down on every other club, why would it be any different for a driver? The only 'possible' reason that you would want to is to get a higher launch angle and less spin, but why? You can do the same thing with a properly lofted club and a ball with good spin rates and have much, much more control. Does this mean that you should slam down on the ball - no, but a slightly decending impact will give you better control.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Can you hit down on the driver? Yes
Can you hit up on the driver? Yes

Which is longer? Hitting up
Which is more consistent/accurate? Hitting down

All of the above is a condensed version of the post Yoda made on this subject...i think he even put it on this site so do a search for "Driver" by "Yoda"

 

[landshark]

any idea how much distance is lost when hitting downward on a driver? is it pretty negligable?

 

[BigBadDonkey]

I have yet to see a pro on TV (the slow motion close ups) where the clubhead (talking full shots here) is going 'up' at 'contact'. Please note I did not say level or down. This 'hitting up' is just total pop golf nonsense and will get most golfers in big trouble.

 

[densikat]

quote:Originally posted by landshark

any idea how much distance is lost when hitting downward on a driver? is it pretty negligable?

Yes it is negligible and in most cases golfers will hit it further as there impact alignments will be better.

 

[ThomGN]

Did you see the superslow of Phils driver impact interval this weekend?
He's definitely not hitting up on the ball

 

[Brian Manzella]

quote:Originally posted by BigBadDonkey

I have yet to see a pro on TV (the slow motion close ups) where the clubhead (talking full shots here) is going 'up' at 'contact'. Please note I did not say level or down. This 'hitting up' is just total pop golf nonsense and will get most golfers in big trouble.

Mr. Donkey...
HALL OF FAME POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[8D][8D]

 

[ryantiff]

In the Feb. issue of Golf Digest, Page 98, it said: "to nail your drives, make level contact, that's the angle of approach you want with your driver off the tee." and also said " Many golfers swing their woods down too steeply, making contact with a descending blow. That's the angle of attack you want to get the ball airvorne with an iron; with a driver a downward blow leads to pop-ups or tee shots that balloon."

Therefore: 1) the level hit is not fully correct and also 2) since hitting down will create a descending blow, the last point also is incorrect.

Please comment as this tip casuse confusion. Thanks.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

I think the tip is an "OK" one. Because if you tell the average joe golfer that doesn't that the "down" part with a driver is very very small they will still exaggerate it and go after there drive like an iron and will cause problems.

If you tell them to drive and hit it as level as possible they will hit their drives better and will still hopefully being going "down" without knowing it.

 

[dale47]

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moetown/videos/club_ball_impact_driver.html

Look closely...maybe this will put this subject to rest !! The head is definately going DOWN.

 

[Iowagolfpr]

quote:Originally posted by dale47

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moetown/videos/club_ball_impact_driver.html

Look closely...maybe this will put this subject to rest !! The head is definately going DOWN.

I teach one of the top long drivers on Long Drivers of America Tour. I have met and discussed angle of approach to tee shots with many long drivers. These long drivers really study what is going on at impact with a driver. Their professional lives depend on knowing what works best. They have the opportunity to work with launch angle monitors and high speed photos. All long drivers tee the ball very high. They all hit up on the ball with a downward force. If you have a low swing speed, a desending angle of approach, helps get the ball airborn. Long drivers use, on average drivers with 7 degrees loft. They have flat left wrists at impact and deloft the shaft and face. They want on average, a 12 to 14 degree launch angle. How could they get a 12 to 14 degree launch angle hitting down with a delofted 7 degree driver? If you go to a long driving competition, you will notice that they leave the tee in the ground after they hit a drive. Hank Kuehne said in Golf Digest that he hits up with the driver. Phil Mickelson hits slightly down with his driver. Phil averages a little over 300 yards a drive. Long drivers average 340 yards per drive. To win the Remax World Championship, you must drive between 380 yard and 400 yards. Remember, hitting down produces backspin. Too much backspin causes a golf ball to stop. It's all about spin rate. Get 150 mpr swing speed. 2500 spin rate and a 12 degree launch angle. Use a positive angle of attack. Be strong enough to go bear hunting with a baseball bat. With those elments you can hit it 350 yards. You can dump you day job and join the Long Drive Tour. Take a look at this site:

http://www.golftipsmag.com/content/2004/may/power.html

Now go to the range. Tee the ball high. Try to leave the tee in the ground hitting down. Can't be done.
A few weeks ago I posted on a golf equipement forum the question of what angle of attack is best for a driver? Everyone said that a positive angle of attack is best, if you have a high swing speed. Level or negative angles of attack are ok for slower swing speeds. My guess is that learning to get the correct angle of attack for a player with a swing speed above 110 mph would result in 10 to 15 yards extra distance. For the average golfer, angle of attack in not real important so long as is it somewhere near level with a driver. If you want to hit down, and you are not trying to make a living hitting long drives, then it is ok.

 

[dale47]

Hi Brady,
Do you have any super slo-motion video of the driver head thru impact from any of these monsters..lol? BTW..keep up the great articles!

 

[birdie_man]

Iowagolfpr = Redgoat = Brady Riggs???

 

[dale47]

Woops...I may have mis-spoke. Not sure Iowa is Brady.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Brady is in Cali....

 

[armourall]

quote:Originally posted by Iowagolfpr


How could they get a 12 to 14 degree launch angle hitting down with a delofted 7 degree driver?

http://www.golftipsmag.com/content/2004/may/power.html

Iowa,

Looking at the picture of Mobley, I tried to measure the forward kick of the clubshaft at impact. Admittedly, it is hard to get an accurate measurement, but it looks like about a 10 degree forward bend. Doing the math using the numbers you provided:
7 degrees of loft + 10 degrees of forward bend - 12 to 14 degree launch angle = 3 to 5 degree downward blow with the clubhead

 

[Iowagolfpr]

quote:Originally posted by armourall

quote:Originally posted by Iowagolfpr


How could they get a 12 to 14 degree launch angle hitting down with a delofted 7 degree driver?

http://www.golftipsmag.com/content/2004/may/power.html

Iowa,

Looking at the picture of Mobley, I tried to measure the forward kick of the clubshaft at impact. Admittedly, it is hard to get an accurate measurement, but it looks like about a 10 degree forward bend. Doing the math using the numbers you provided:
7 degrees of loft + 10 degrees of forward bend - 12 to 14 degree launch angle = 3 to 5 degree downward blow with the clubhead

The shaft is angled forward delofting the club head to around 5 degrees. This allows for a flat left wrist. The force is downward, but the path is upward. Take a look at page 2. Look that photo 4 with Brian Pavlet hitting just past impact. The shaft is bowed backward and the tee is still in the ground. You can more clearly see the path.
http://www.golftipsmag.com/content/2004/may/positionsofpower.pdf