Smooth Don’t Fly

 

When coaching I have often asked players to make a swing without the ball as we endeavoured to get a smooth easy swing developed, however it has never been easier for the average player to make the ball go as the modern ball which is aerodynamically perfect offers no resistance to the club head as it accelerates through the ball.Millions of pounds have been invested by manufacturers over the years to produce a ball which according to the various claims will almost go by itself. A far cry fro the original small stitched leather (featherie) ball which was made from a measure of a top hat full of goose feathers stuffed into the little leather sphere. Bygone players had wonderful options of using larger light balls to play with the wind and smaller heavier balls for into the wind and balls which floated.Most balls were originally smooth until a golfer out walking with his dog on the foreshore and hitting a ball for his dog to retrieve noticed as he continued to hit the ball and the dog brought it back the ball was flying further as as the walk progressed, he realised the dog’s teeth marks were helping the ball to stay in the air longer and so evolved the early version of the pattern on the ball.The featherie was replaced by the guttie made from gutta percha and eventually the Haskell ball developed by two gents in America which established the fore runner of the dimple patterns.Early patterns were more pimple than dimple. The modern player has only ever used the one size of ball a minimum of 1.68 inches in diameter and weighing a maximum of 1.62 ounces ounces, these specifications apply globally for all golfers. It was not always the case as until the eighties golfers in the UK used a smaller ball at 1.62 inches in diameter, however uniformity prevailed and we now have the present ball dimensions. The choice of which ball to use can be confusing as players study the various manufacturers’ claims about performance, add to the mix a choice of colour and the choice is spectacular. The choice of ball is important because it’s the only part of your equipment that’s involved in every shot.Do a little research trying out the feel of the ball, find a make and model which you like based on feel and performance as you putt ,chip,and play approach shots. Once you have decided stick with that particular ball as you will benefit from the consistent performance of the ball and not suffer the hard soft variation in spin and run.Consistent good striking particularly in the short game department will be rewarded with a good quality ball and the scores will come down.The average golfer uses their driver approximately 14 times in a round regardless of whether they score 80,90 or 100 so ball choice is not so critical here.Take advice if you are confused, your local PGA Professional will give great free advice.Whichever shot shot you are playing from a technique stand point try to see the ball when you hit it ! it is of course impossible but this priority will help stabilise you swing keeping you head steady whilst allowing you to move freely as opposed to the old adage of” KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN”which is possibly the worst piece of advice you can get.Every time I hear it I know the receiver will be along for a lesson to repair the damage.Remember when you play, the object of the game is to move the ball forward and what you are trying to shift is an ounce and a half of rubber which is aerodynamically perfect and is specially designed to fly,play well

brian@broragolfpro.co.uk