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Clubface Contact, The “Forgotten” Aspect of the Ball Flight Laws
Before we go any further, let’s look at the five aspects of the ball flight laws:
• Clubhead path through impact
• Clubface angle at impact
• Centeredness of clubface contact
• Angle of approach
• Clubhead speed
Assuming a square clubface angle to the clubhead path at impact, what could possibly happen, besides an outside force such as the wind, to make the ball not go straight? The answer to that would be failing to contact the ball on the club’s “sweet spot,” or center of percussion. Technically, the sweet spot is only a small point on the clubface, so if a ball is not perfectly or close to perfectly struck on this spot, a reaction known as “gear effect” takes place. Basically, the ball rolls or attempts to roll toward the center of percussion if it is not perfectly struck. Here is what happens when the four general areas around the sweet spot – above, below, on the toe and on the heel – strike the ball:
Above: Virtually every shot with any sort of decent contact will have backspin, so a ball struck here will not produce topspin. But it will reduce the amount of backspin, unless the club is descending at such an angle at impact that the golfer only contacts the lower part of the ball, in which case a pop-up with lots of backspin results (usually with a driver, fairway wood or hybrid; doing this with irons is rare). Hitting the ball above the sweet spot is important to produce long drives, so drivers are manufactured with a very low sweet spot in most cases. Irons hit appreciably above the sweet spot will produce shots with greatly reduced distance.
Below: A large increase in backspin will result, unless the ball is skulled or topped.
On the toe: This is where gear effect becomes extremely noticeable. High-speed video shows that balls hit on the toe of the club result in a clubface that twists open, sometimes severely, upon contact. Since the ball will want to roll towards the center of percussion, hook spin results. Launch monitor data show that toe strikes with a square clubface and path result in a hook the majority of times, and can even overcome an open clubface to the point of still producing a hook! On other occasions, if the toe strike is especially severe or the player has weaker hands, the clubface can open to an extent that it results not in a hook but a more severe fade or slice. This is not as common as a draw or hook with a toe strike, but it has been shown through the GC Quad launch monitor, which has the capability of “seeing” where on the clubface the ball was struck.
On the heel: As with toe strikes, heel strikes have noticeable gear effect, with fades and slices resulting. Here as well, heel strikes can produce fades and slices even when the clubface is closed to the clubhead path at impact. Although heel strikes often close the clubface at impact, they do not normally make a hook worse, according to GC Quad data. This is due to the heel being closer to the shaft than the toe, which means lack of hand strength isn’t as much of a factor as it can be with toe hits.
So, how can we use all of this in our teaching? It’s important to see where the student is striking the ball on the clubface so we can determine if something else is causing an errant ball flight besides clubhead path and clubface angle. With a driver, impact stickers or foot powder spray do the trick nicely. Impact stickers tend to also work on irons when hitting off of grass, and will always work on artificial turf mats. Foot powder spray may not work very well with irons hit off the grass.
If clubhead path and clubface angle are the two main aspects of the ball flight laws, then centeredness of contact is a close, and in fact a very close, third. Some teachers even argue that it’s the most important, because without striking the clubface squarely nothing else matters. Whatever your position, pay attention to this most important aspect of the ball flight laws.
Who Is In Your Shadow?
By Norm Crerar, USGTF Contributing Writer, Vernon, British Columbia
I am going to receive a medal. Word came via a phone call from the Governor General’s office about mid-July. For readers not familiar with Canadian history and culture, Queen Elizabeth is Queen of Canada, and as she does not reside in Canada, a Governor General is appointed to fill in for her. The post is somewhat symbolic, but it is a functioning part of our government.
The kind lady from the Governor General’s office informed me that my name had been put forward for the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Governor General had agreed. I was to keep the news to myself until I received formal notice in writing via mail within a few weeks. To say that I was overwhelmed would be to put it mildly. I had to do a search to see what the medal really meant and found that the Meritorious Service Medal, civilian division, was an award the Governor General, in right of the Queen, could confer on a person who had done something extraordinary to affect the lives of those around him or her in a positive way. I had been recommended for the medal for starting the Okanagan Military Tattoo. The short story is that I took an idea I had for a Military Tattoo to some like-minded friends, and they found some friends, and we got started talking in 2012. By2014 we had enough support and funding to put on our first event, and we are now into the planning of our sixth annual event.
The more I thought about the upcoming award, the more I started to feel bad. I was getting the medal, and all the people working with me to make the event the success that it has become were not getting anything! The more I thought about it, the worse I felt. I sought out the advice of a friend of mine who happens to be the commanding officer of our local primary reserve militia. He is a veteran of Afghanistan and spent his time there flying a British Army Air Corps attack helicopter. He did a lot of other stuff, as well, in a very busy military career. When I told him about my medal and my quandary, he went and brought out his medal board. “This one here, “he said, “you get for just showing up. This one you get for doing something out of the ordinary.” He then quoted Winston Churchill: “Every medal presented casts a shadow!” We talked about that for a long while, and I felt a lot better for our time together.
But, I am still thinking, all those people in my shadow really deserve my thanks. At the time of this writing, I am just six days away from standing in front of Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander in Chief, Canada, and having her pinning a medal on me. I will wonder if she thinks of the people that were behind her, such as the first Canadian female astronaut. I know I will be thinking about all those who have been part of me being able to receive this distinguished award.
And how does this all fit in with the USGTF and teaching golf? Everything is connected! On one of my phone calls in 2013 to your president, the Old Funseeker himself, Geoff Bryant, he asked me what I was up to. I explained about the Okanagan Military Tattoo and that we were having great success inputting the program together, but were having troublefinding funding. He promptly sent me a cheque, and with that first bit of money in the bank, we started making the rounds of other sponsors and partners. No one wanted to be first! So, Geoff and the USGT Fare in my shadow and I will always be grateful. The event now has 600 performers, and our annual turnover is in the $200,000 range. The USGTF is still on our sponsor/partner/supporter page.
Are you known as the best golf instructor of your area? Of your state/province? Top 100 in the country? Who helped you get to where you are?
Who is in your shadow?
As a Certified Golf Teaching Professional® Which Social Platform should I use?
When you consider the vast array of Social Media Platforms it can be a daunting task trying to decide exactly where your Social Media presence would be best suited.
First you need to take a close look at your reasons for having a social media presence. Here are a few of the primary reasons why you need a social presence.
Which Social Platform/s should I use?
That can vary depending on the focus of your business as well as the time and energy you have available to maintain your social presence.
If your time and resources are limited you should have at the least have a Professional Facebook “Business Page” regardless of your business focus.
For Golf teaching and coaching professionals:
If you have the time/resources to take things a step further:
If you have products or merchandise that you are selling/promoting:
The only reason I placed Facebook ahead of Linkedin is that Facebook provides more options for business in regard to targeted marketing and is a more effective platform for building and directing a large audience (68% of Americans are on FB) to your website. That being said having a Linkedin profile and business page is easy to maintain once it is set up. Facebook requires more input to build your following and engagement but is more effective overall.
Summary
Regardless which Social platform/s you choose it is vital that you set up profiles that are “Professional” in appearance and a bio that is well written with a clear message stating what you have to offer perspective clients/customers. Another vital element is “engagement” with your following. Unless you are a major celebrity most people won’t engage with you unless you interact back with them. Show them that you care and are interested in what they are posting. Be responsive and reply to comments that followers leave on your timeline. Take a few minutes three or four times a week and cruise your “home feed” and like/comment on your followers content. This more often than not brings them back to your content! As the title implies these are “Social” platforms and social implies that there is two way communication.
In Social Media marketing (SMM) it is important to remember that your followers (prospects) don’t want to be constantly pitched to – they want honest informative/entertaining engagement. You have to provide them something of value. This can be by the way of entertaining images/videos, education (golf tips) a bit of humor goes a long way!
If you want people to follow you, it is vital to present them a unique path filled with value that’s interesting to them!
Note: This is the second in a series of social Media marketing articles. Be sure and click on one or more of the Social Media Icons at the top right of the page to follow us on your favorite social platform. I monitor all USGTF social platforms and will be posting additional articles through those channels. If you have any questions or need assistance in regard to social media marketing, SEO or graphic design feel free to contact me either through USGTF social channels or directly through email: Kenneth@weaverentp.com or on my Facebook business page: https://www.facebook.com/NetWebWeaver/ .
If you would like a free consultation session with me you can follow link to schedule: CLICK HERE
My next article is “Do I need a Website for my golf teaching/coaching business”?
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To Be Truly Successful, You Need Grit
By Dr. Michelle Cleere USGTF Contributing Writer Oakland, California
The definition of grit is as follows: “courage and resolve; strength of character.” I am reading Angela Duckworth’s book, Grit – The Power of Passion and Perseverance. While I always understood this basic concept, Angela’s research in this area explains grit in much more depth.
Her research gives grit life by explaining the secret to success. There’s so much important information in Angela’s book, far too much for this conversation. However, let’s discuss it in relation to mental training.
State of sports today
Over the past ten years, youth sports have changed. We continue to see a rise of youth sports programs in the U.S. We have pay-to-play sports outside of the public-school system, and now in the schools. And the status of sports is all encompassing. Many kids start playing sports around 4, 5, or 6 years of age and continue to try to play through college or as a professional (which is typically why they were put into the sport at such an early age).
As a result, the youth’s identity hinges on their sport and the message received from coaches and parents. Kids are influenced by the messages they get about being good, being intelligent and being perfect, versus what they did that was good, how they improved, a new skill they learned, and/or their passion and intent.
Some of the problems associated with it is that youth sports can take over the lives of youths. And this can result in it not being fun for them. Why? Stress. Pressure. These youths do not have the skills to deal with the pressures. Not to mention, youths are burnt out by the time they are in middle school and high school because they are playing one sport, year around.
How we currently think about success
Angela’s first statements in her TED Talk piqued my interest: “What struck me was that IQ was not the only difference between my best and my worst students. Some of my strongest performers did not have stratospheric IQ scores. Some of my smartest kids weren’t doing so well.”
Why? Because the smartest, most athletic kids attribute their smarts and athleticism to talent and aren’t always willing to persevere and be resilient. Their goal is making sure the outcome is perfect and they are unable to enjoy the process, to be in it. This also means they are unable to deal with challenges and adversity. They may be okay dealing with challenges and adversity the first time, but certainly struggle and want to give up if it lasts longer than that. So many times, I’ve heard from kids, “I am okay with the first mistake, but if I keep making the same mistake, I get frustrated and angry and can’t let go of it.”
We’ve taught kids to be afraid of making mistakes. Kids who are afraid to fail don’t succeed.
What is actually true about success
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Perfectly said. (Source: Grit by Dr. Angela Duckworth.)
Grit shows up in different ways but has one theme – drive:
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- •Push through challenges to get your purpose
- •Be open to change and growth
- •Realize that talent is only a small part of the equation
- •Know there is no such thing as perfection and know it sets you up for failure
- •Realize there are challenges and it makes you stronger.
How do we evolve into this new place?
“So far, the best idea I’ve heard about building grit in kids is something called ‘growth mindset.’ This is an idea developed at Stanford University by CarolDweck, and it is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can change with your effort. Dr. Dweck has shown that when kids read and learn about the brain and how it changes and grows in response to challenge, they’re much more likely to persevere when they fail, because they don’t believe that failure is a permanent condition. We need to measure whether we’ve been successful, and we have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned.” (Source: Grit by Dr. Angela Duckworth.)
She goes on to the consequences of a fixed mindset. When you have a fixed mindset about your ability, this leads to pessimistic thinking about adversity, giving up on challenges, and not attempting them at all. On the other hand, she notes that a growth mindset leads to optimistic self-talk, which leads to perseverance over adversity.
So to evolve, you need to think growth; you need to understand that you and your actions really can change. Mistakes are not a permanent, evil beast. Mistakes are learning opportunities where you can grow and improve and advance.
Everyone plays a role in grit: parents, teachers, and coaches
Everyone has a responsibility in whether kids choose to take the path toward grit and a growth mindset. From a young age, kids will imitate what we do. They hear what we say and interpret what they see and internalize it. Does that mean you have to be a perfect parent, teacher, or coach? No. But you have to be aware and understand that there are better indirect and direct messages you can send.
Wise parenting, teaching and coaching is supportive and demanding – being able to reflect on something at which a child failed is an opportunity. It is critical to show them that they are still loved after failing and they are celebrated for it.
I highly recommend the book Grit – The Power of Passion and Perseverance for all parents, teachers, and coaches. It’s a must-read! Thank you, Angela, for your expansive research in this area.