Post by pythagoras345 on Sept 23, 2010 12:43:31 GMT -5
I think this is the most important topic in all of TPX game. Understanding how the ball will travel and how it will land is the most critical concept for FIRs and GIRs. After playing several rounds, I thought I had a feel for this, but it was not until I just spend a few days hitting balls in the club tune section did I fully appreciate this and it change my game instantly.
Picture one is classic pull, straight or push shot. These occur when plane angle and club face angle are equal. For example 5 O/I and 5 closed will give you straight shot 5 degrees left of center.
Picture two is classic hook / slice and describes the action at the end of the ball. This occur when club face is GREATER that plane angle. For example 1 I/O and 5 open (slice) or 3 O/I and 10 closed (hook).
Picture 3 might be the most misunderstood. These occur when club face is LESS than plane angle. So the ball starts right or left and then moves back to center. Examples would be 10 O/I and 3 closed. Note that if club face is SQUARE, almost all of these shots come back to center, even if plane is off by as much at 15 degrees!
Mixed swings. Obviously most swings are a combination of above. You can actually start left (O/I) and slice all the way back across the target (open angle more than O/I). You can start left (O/I) and hook even further left if your (closed angle more than O/I)
This leads us into the distance question. Which of the above paths goes the furthest? Well what we all think is the obvious answer ( square, square ) in NOT correct. Although it is close (very close), shots to the left (for rightys) actually go a bit further. These would be (2.2), (2.0).(0.2). But the more important question here is what about consistency in distance? The answer to this question is a real revelation! To the left of center shots all travel the same distance (up to about 10 degrees) but to the right of center they lose distance the further right you go. See the diagram below:
Lessons:
1) Square club face is most important. It will bring ball back to center even if plane angle is off by 10 degrees.
2) Errors to left are much more forgiving than errors to the right
Swing Tips
1) Don’t tune power above 75% to start. Don’t tune maneuverability below 25% to start. (otherwise square club face will not naturally correct missed plane swing)
2) Focus on square club head first! I did this by making a big putter swing. Not adding much front elbow bend or wrist so back swing only brings club shaft parallel to ground. Note that power will only be 75% at first. Once you are consistently square add in elbow bend and wrist bent to extend back swing to point club shaft vertical.
3) To get your swing O/I, focus on the top of your back swing. I simply picked a spot on the ceiling and pointed the wii controller to it. If I/O, move spot on ceiling that you point to at top of your back swing further from your body, but come through the ball at same spot and same same finishing target spot. I use the center of my TV for my finish. Just keep moving the back swing spot away from you and keep finishing center TV. Do this until it is exaggerated and you are swinging 10 degrees O/I. Remember left is better than center!
Advanced Lesson:
Really make sure you understand the distance chart just above. And realize that even as your swing gets better, you will probably always have a few degree margin of error on either side of your goal swing. Now look at the variance of distance 5 degrees off of a square – square swing. It is actually a big variance!
But consider your goal swing at 3 O/I and 3 closed. Now if you miss either side, you get the same distance, just a bit right or left. The final step is to tune your clubs 10 clicks to the right of center (towards fade) on the draw / fade side. This will make (3,3) go straight and your shots will look like below!
You will now still hit edge of fairways when you miss slightly off the tee and have 30 foot putts when you miss instead of trap and rough chips on your approaches!
Picture one is classic pull, straight or push shot. These occur when plane angle and club face angle are equal. For example 5 O/I and 5 closed will give you straight shot 5 degrees left of center.
Picture two is classic hook / slice and describes the action at the end of the ball. This occur when club face is GREATER that plane angle. For example 1 I/O and 5 open (slice) or 3 O/I and 10 closed (hook).
Picture 3 might be the most misunderstood. These occur when club face is LESS than plane angle. So the ball starts right or left and then moves back to center. Examples would be 10 O/I and 3 closed. Note that if club face is SQUARE, almost all of these shots come back to center, even if plane is off by as much at 15 degrees!
Mixed swings. Obviously most swings are a combination of above. You can actually start left (O/I) and slice all the way back across the target (open angle more than O/I). You can start left (O/I) and hook even further left if your (closed angle more than O/I)
This leads us into the distance question. Which of the above paths goes the furthest? Well what we all think is the obvious answer ( square, square ) in NOT correct. Although it is close (very close), shots to the left (for rightys) actually go a bit further. These would be (2.2), (2.0).(0.2). But the more important question here is what about consistency in distance? The answer to this question is a real revelation! To the left of center shots all travel the same distance (up to about 10 degrees) but to the right of center they lose distance the further right you go. See the diagram below:
Lessons:
1) Square club face is most important. It will bring ball back to center even if plane angle is off by 10 degrees.
2) Errors to left are much more forgiving than errors to the right
Swing Tips
1) Don’t tune power above 75% to start. Don’t tune maneuverability below 25% to start. (otherwise square club face will not naturally correct missed plane swing)
2) Focus on square club head first! I did this by making a big putter swing. Not adding much front elbow bend or wrist so back swing only brings club shaft parallel to ground. Note that power will only be 75% at first. Once you are consistently square add in elbow bend and wrist bent to extend back swing to point club shaft vertical.
3) To get your swing O/I, focus on the top of your back swing. I simply picked a spot on the ceiling and pointed the wii controller to it. If I/O, move spot on ceiling that you point to at top of your back swing further from your body, but come through the ball at same spot and same same finishing target spot. I use the center of my TV for my finish. Just keep moving the back swing spot away from you and keep finishing center TV. Do this until it is exaggerated and you are swinging 10 degrees O/I. Remember left is better than center!
Advanced Lesson:
Really make sure you understand the distance chart just above. And realize that even as your swing gets better, you will probably always have a few degree margin of error on either side of your goal swing. Now look at the variance of distance 5 degrees off of a square – square swing. It is actually a big variance!
But consider your goal swing at 3 O/I and 3 closed. Now if you miss either side, you get the same distance, just a bit right or left. The final step is to tune your clubs 10 clicks to the right of center (towards fade) on the draw / fade side. This will make (3,3) go straight and your shots will look like below!
You will now still hit edge of fairways when you miss slightly off the tee and have 30 foot putts when you miss instead of trap and rough chips on your approaches!