GeoffDickson
New
I experienced an interesting phenomenon this afternoon: the lower I tired to hit the ball the further it went.
My 7-iron VLA would normally average 18-19*. Distance would be 165yds on the best ones. I worked on lowering VLA and my VLA average got down to 17.5*. I found an extra couple of yards. Averaging 170 on the best hits (with a few at 172yrds). For my 7 iron, a 1.5* decrease in VLA found me an extra 5 yds.
I don't think it is physically possible for me to get down the PGA Tour average of 16.5* with my current clubs (and whatever bend profile they have at impact). NO matter what extreme angles I tried I could not get there, even once. I think my clubs (Callaway X16) might be 1* weaker than most contemporary clubs, so that might account for me not making the benchmark. I am not too fussed about falling short of the target, because it is afterall only the average.
I was also pleased to be able reduce VLA/Dynamic Loft without increasing the my AoA.
The feeling of compression was also evident.
The penny also dropped as to why the pros hit it so far...their VLA is so low, perhaps as much as 3-4* compared to my swings...and that is the loft difference difference between two clubs...which is about 11yds in distance...I figure I can create near-identical ball flight to a PGA players 6 iron...as long as I get to hit a 5 iron. Put alternatively, the PGA 6 iron has a dynamic loft that equals my 5 iron.
Take home message: try and hit the ball into ground to make it go further.
My 7-iron VLA would normally average 18-19*. Distance would be 165yds on the best ones. I worked on lowering VLA and my VLA average got down to 17.5*. I found an extra couple of yards. Averaging 170 on the best hits (with a few at 172yrds). For my 7 iron, a 1.5* decrease in VLA found me an extra 5 yds.
I don't think it is physically possible for me to get down the PGA Tour average of 16.5* with my current clubs (and whatever bend profile they have at impact). NO matter what extreme angles I tried I could not get there, even once. I think my clubs (Callaway X16) might be 1* weaker than most contemporary clubs, so that might account for me not making the benchmark. I am not too fussed about falling short of the target, because it is afterall only the average.
I was also pleased to be able reduce VLA/Dynamic Loft without increasing the my AoA.
The feeling of compression was also evident.
The penny also dropped as to why the pros hit it so far...their VLA is so low, perhaps as much as 3-4* compared to my swings...and that is the loft difference difference between two clubs...which is about 11yds in distance...I figure I can create near-identical ball flight to a PGA players 6 iron...as long as I get to hit a 5 iron. Put alternatively, the PGA 6 iron has a dynamic loft that equals my 5 iron.
Take home message: try and hit the ball into ground to make it go further.
