Ball flight laws

NeilTappin

NeilTappin

GM Staff
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Jan 24, 2007
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Dear All,

I know that since we published a quick tip in the magazine a few months ago about how to hit a fade there has been a lot of healthy discussion on the forum about the ball flight laws and whether the advice of the coaches contributing was correct. I've recently returned from a Golf Monthly instruction shoot in Abu Dhabi where Gary Alliss has kindly addressed this topic on video. He states exactly what many of you have said on this forum about the laws relating to a fade and he explains why they are so - just click on the link below. I hope you find it interesting.

http://youtu.be/xRBurF9yIaU


Thanks
Neil
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Exactly. What he did not emphasise was that to fade the ball around the tree the club face must point to a target left of the tree and not at the tree. The amount of fade is determined by the club used, how open the stance and how far left the club face is pointing. Only achieved by practice/trial and error.
 
john0 said:
I sense another long thread coming here
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.....

Was chatting about this yesterday whilst enjoying a round with fellow forumers Oddsocks and Chrisd, and we agreed that whilst there was an interest, even intrigue, with the 'ball flight law' posts, the bottom line is that if you are being taught how to do something it is not always essential to know the fool-proof science behind it.

If my pro tells me to adjust 2 or 3 things and it should produce a draw, I hit the ball and 7/8 times out of 10 I hit a draw, then I'm happy and will practice it to try and get better. I think thats the point that this video makes too.

Will be interesting to see what everyone esle thinks :whistle:
 
"In 40yrs as a pro I've never explained this to a pupil...."

BINGO!

I hope GM might consider a worldwide precedent and publishes some golf instruction that DOES comply with the correct ball flight laws :thup:
 
The only ball flight laws are

1 .. If I must make the shot I will duff it into the cabbage

2 .. If I'm out of the hole I will nail it stiff

That's all folks!


Chris
 
Brilliant stuff by GM and Gary to take the time to answer the question. Although I wasn't overly interested in the initial thread it was still interesting to see a top coach explain it. Funny enough Monty said at a clinic the best way to hit the fade/draw is to open/shut the face and then play your normal shot and not try the traditional method of hitting across the line from an overly open/closed stance. Good to see someone backing that up
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Although I wasn't overly interested in the initial thread it was still interesting to see a top coach explain it. Funny enough Monty said at a clinic the best way to hit the fade/draw is to open/shut the face and then play your normal shot and not try the traditional method of hitting across the line from an overly open/closed stance. Good to see someone backing that up
Click to expand...

Clearly you didn't understand it at all Homer. </sigh>
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Brilliant stuff by GM and Gary to take the time to answer the question. Although I wasn't overly interested in the initial thread it was still interesting to see a top coach explain it. Funny enough Monty said at a clinic the best way to hit the fade/draw is to open/shut the face and then play your normal shot and not try the traditional method of hitting across the line from an overly open/closed stance. Good to see someone backing that up
Click to expand...

JustOne said:
Clearly you didn't understand it at all Homer. </sigh>
Click to expand...

As I said I wasn't overly interested so paid little (OK NO) attention really. I've spent the last three years learning to play without swing thoughts in my head and this mumbo jumbo (I was crap at physics at school so anything with the Laws of .... turns me off) is the last thing I need to start worrying about. For me these days its hit it, find it and hit it again and if I play well the handicap goes down. If not I end up a chopper but still it means Bob has to give me even more shots and I might even get some off Smiffy
 
Slight pedantic semantics - but...

I believe this thread should be renamed to 'Ball Path Laws' or 'Flight of Ball Laws'

The (5) Ball Flight Laws that the USPGA (and I believe the UK PGA) are about what influences flight of the ball. There is no debate about the validity of those laws.

It's the (9) ball paths that the USPGA and UK PGA training manuals specify that have been questioned - well the ISPGA ones! The UK PGA use those from (recommended reading of) a 1968 book 'Search for the Perfect Swing' and those 'laws' match the 'New' ones - so not really new at all!​
 
Foxholer said:
Slight pedantic semantics - but...

I believe this thread should be renamed to 'Ball Path Laws' or 'Flight of Ball Laws'

The (5) Ball Flight Laws that the USPGA (and I believe the UK PGA) are about what influences flight of the ball. There is no debate about the validity of those laws.

It's the (9) ball paths that the USPGA and UK PGA training manuals specify that have been questioned - well the ISPGA ones! The UK PGA use those from (recommended reading of) a 1968 book 'Search for the Perfect Swing' and those 'laws' match the 'New' ones - so not really new at all!​
Click to expand...


:thup:


I'd prefer if the 5 ballflight laws were renamed the '5 impact laws' as they are basically impact conditions and give no clue as to the actual flight.
 
JustOne said:
:thup:


I'd prefer if the 5 ballflight laws were renamed the '5 impact laws' as they are basically impact conditions and give no clue as to the actual flight.
Click to expand...

I think there's a better chance of getting the thread renamed.

Personally think the 5 are named OK. Comparable with Laws of Motion.
 
My balls always obey their Laws:

1) Never land on the short grass - always look for the longer grass, the landing is much softer.

2) If you see a bit yellow area, land there, it's even softer and great fun if you have a bucket and spade handy.

3) Never accelerate too much off the clubface - that'll make you spin more, and you'll get all dizzy.

4) During the cold days stay as close to the bald fat human as possible. He'll eventually pick you up and put you in his pocket so you can warm up a bit.

5) On the warm sunny days, when you start getting too hot, always look for the blue wet stuff. It's good to help you cool down.

6) If you get bored, hide in a big thick group of bushes. It's always fun to have a game of hide and seek with the bald fat one.
 
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