The Dynamics of Distance '''Powerful Golf the effortless way

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The Dynamics of Distance...Powerful Golf the
effortless way

• By
• Ben Witter, PGA Professional
• Bens POWER GOLF Driving Range and Learning
  Center
• 1000 East Kercher Ave.
• Myerstown, PA 17067
• [phone]
• www.benspowergolf.com

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Understanding the distance variables

• Before we can discuss the distance a golf ball
  will travel, we have to examine the conditions
  which affect distance.
• (Some factors are more significant than others)
• Atmospheric Conditions air density humidity
• Air temperature and wind conditions
• Altitude
• Roll hardness and slope of landing area
• Ball Type
• Terrain uphill vs. downhill

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A closer look at the numbers...

• A golf ball hit at the same trajectory, at the
  same spin rate, at the same velocity by the same
  club under different conditions will...
• Travel 2 more or less for every 1 mile per hour
  of wind in either direction.
• Travel up to 5 more or less for every 10 feet
  above or below sea level
• Travel up to 3 more or less for every 5
  difference in relative humidity above or below
  70.
• Travel up to 16 more or less depending upon the
  slope and type of the landing area.
• Travel up to 8 more or less depending on the
  type of golf ball being used
• Travel 1 more or less for every degree in
  temperature above or below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Data collected from the PGA of America Teaching
  Manual

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Putting the SPIN on the distance equation

• Spin is to a golf ball as aerodynamic shape is to
  a car
• A Porche 911 will cut through the air with more
  efficiency than a school bus
• A golf ball spinning at 2,500 rpms will cut
  through the air with greater efficiency than a
  golf ball spinning at 5,000 rpms.
• The more a ball spins, the more dirty it is
  referred to being
• How much spin is required to produce the desired
  shot is dependent on
• Ball speed
• Ball type
• Loft
• Launch Angle
• Direction of the wind relative to the direction
  of the shot
• Up hill or downhill landing area
• Spin is what holds a golf ball in the air
• Too much spin and the ball with rise too quickly
  and float through the air with no drive.
• Too little spin and the ball will not carry far
  enough to maximize distance

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So, what does it all mean?

• To have an intelligent discussion about distance,
  we have to first understand how to make the
  playing field level that is... understand that a
  300 yard drive in Denver Colorado on a sunny
  dry 75 degree day, downwind and downhill on a
  hard fairway is NOT the same as a 300 yard drive
  in Tampa, Florida on a cool, cloudy day, uphill,
  into the wind onto a soft fairway.
• Im frequently asked, How far do you hit a
  drive?
• My response about twice the length of my 8 iron

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How many people can hit a 350 yard drive?

• The answer EVERYONE thats right, everyone!!!
• We simply need to establish how much wind, how
  much downhill, and how hard the landing area will
  need to be in order for your ball to travel 350
  yards before coming to a stop.

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Now, lets talk realistically...

• There are very, very, few people who can, or ever
  will be able to hit a 350 yard drive under
  neutral conditions (sorry)
• Everyone, however, has the potential to increase
  the actual distance they hit the ball by simply
  understanding and applying a few simple lessons
  in physics and dynamics. You may not be able to
  out drive Tiger, but you will definitely surprise
  your friends the next time you hit the first tee.
• What will be most surprising, is how easy youll
  make it look!!

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Now that weve leveled the playing field...

• We can look at the elements of distance that
  really matter the elements that the GOLF BALL
  cares about
• The GOLF BALL is the only judge when it comes to
  evaluating distance.
• It doesnt care if youre fat or thin, young or
  old, male or female, tall or short, or even
  naughty or nice
• The only things the golf ball cares about are the
  physical dynamics of distance...

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The Physical Dynamics of Distance...

• Clubhead Speed
• Centerdness of Hit
• Angle of Attack / Spin Rate
• Launch Angle
• Relative Mass

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Clubhead Speed...

• In simplistic terms
• Clubhead speed is...
• How fast the clubhead is moving at the exact
  moment of impact.
• It is determined by several physical swing
  components that can be trained and maximized by
  the individual.
• Is generally the most influential of the 4
  physical components when speaking of total
  capacity of physical length.

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Centerdness of Hit

• How close the ball strikes the dynamic center of
  the clubface at impact.
• The moment of inertia exchange between the club
  and the ball.
• How efficient is the exchange depends on how
  solid the hit.
• The more off center the hit, the more inertia is
  lost to torsional deflection.
• The measure of effeciency of Centerdness of hit
  is expressed by a term known as SMASH FACTOR
• SMASH FACTOR is Ball Speed divided by Clubhead
  speed.
• So, if your clubhead speed is 100 and your ball
  speed is 150, you are said to have a smash factor
  of 1.5.
• The higher the smash factor, the more efficient
  the energy transfer between the club and the ball.

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Angle of Attack / Spin Rate

• The vertical and horizontal axis on which the
  club is traveling in relation to the target line
  at impact.
• The steeper the angle of attack, the more
  backspin is produced.
• The more backspin, the less efficient the shot.
  (More spin DIRTY Aerodynamics)

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Launch Angle

• Launch Angle is created by
• True loft of the clubhead
• Effective loft of the clubhead (determined by the
  difference between the bodys center and the
  angle of the shaft at impact)
• Optimum Launch Angle is a variable based on
• Swing speed (the higher the swing speed, the
  lower the optimum launch angle)
• Ball speed (the higher the ball speed, the lower
• Spin Rate
• Launch Angle Spin rate are what produce the
  shape of the shot
• Optimum shot depends on the correct realtionship
  between launch angle and backspin.

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Relative Mass

• Relative mass of the club is what transfers
  motion energy (inertia) to the golf ball at
  impact.
• The connection between your body and club is what
  determines the amount of relative mass the
  clubhead will have at impact.
• Your Grip is the only link between your body and
  club.

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The Launch Angle Spin Relationship
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So what does it all mean??

• In theory, a 95 pound woman can easily outdrive a
  250 pound man if her physical dynamics are in
  better coordination than the mans.
• Anyone can increase their distance by applying
  better physics in the golf swing.
• By increasing the dynamic efficiency, a player
  will not only hit the ball longer distances, but
  also play the game with far less physical effort
  than someone who does not understand and apply
  this same dynamic efficiency.

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Relative Importance of Physical Factors While
is is very difficult to assign a proportionate
value to seemingly equal factors, certain factors
play a more significant role.
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But you said they were equal factors.

• In a scientific world, where all the physical
  variables could be held constant, each factor
  would, in fact play an exact or role in the
  total distance equation.
• In a human world, however, where the physical
  variables are not equal, there is a curve to each
  components relative importance.
• It is relatively easy to make specific influences
  on one of the physical factors in an individual,
  but extremely difficult to have one factor not
  significantly effect the others in the process.

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So, now what??

• Now that our physics lesson is over, lets take a
  look at YOUR golf swing and see if we cant give
  you the tools to crank out 20 more yards.
• This is where the rubber meets the road and we
  share the secrets to Powerful Golf the effortless
  way.

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Before we tell the secret...

• Lets first look at your golf swing
• Each persons golf swing is made up of 4
  distinctly identifiable parts that are absolutes
  that is every golfer makes each one of the 4
  parts at some point and in some manner every time
  they make an effort to hit a golf ball. The fact
  that Tiger Woods performs them better than James
  Woods is only a matter of semantics.
• So, obviously, everyone does each of the 4 with a
  wide range of proficiency levels and a cookie
  cutter mentality does not need to, nor cannot
  apply.
• What we do need to apply are techniques that will
  allow each person to maximize his or her personal
  and unique ability in each of the 4 areas and
  blend them together in a sequential motion to
  maximize the dynamic efficiency that we discussed
  earlier.

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The 4 Power Sources
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Body Turn

• Objectives
• To maximize the rotation of the upper body
  against the brace of the lower body.
• To allow the body to fully rotate on the back
  swing and through swing around a stable and
  balanced swing center.
• To allow the motion to occur naturally and
  rhythmically from front to back.
• Exercises Drills
• Criss Cross Arm Club Drill
• Hand Slap Drill
• Shoulder Stretch
• Lateral Motion Stretch

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Wrist Hinge

• Objectives
• To create and maintain as tight an angle as
  possible between the left arm and shaft on the
  back swing and start of the down swing.
• To create the hinging motion naturally and
  effortlessly through the entire back swing motion
  forming a seamless transition from take away to
  top of backswing.
• To strengthen the muscles in the hands, wrists,
  and forearms allowing this motion to occur with
  little effort, but much strength.
• To establish a grip position that allows for the
  most freedom and least tension through the entire
  swing.
• Exercises Drills
• Outstretched arm pronation, supination, flexion,
  extension, and rotation drill.
• Palm Press for flexibility
• Behind the back clank drill (pole drill)
• Split grip turning drill

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Weight Transfer

• Objectives
• To create a dynamic and sequential transfer of
  weight from address to backswing and from
  backswing to followthrough.
• To allow the rotational motion of the golf swing
  to generate centrifugal torque on both the
  backswing and followthrough making weight
  transfer a consequence rather than an action.
• To coordinate the motion from neutral to right
  and right to left in a balanced, coordinated
  sequence of events that appears to be seamless.
• Exercises Drills
• Hand Slap Drill with eyes closed
• Step swing drill
• Volleyball grapefruit drill

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Release

• Objectives
• To establish a mirror image hinge between the
  right arm and shaft on the followthrough that was
  present between the left arm and shaft on the
  backswing.
• To allow the clubhead to accelerate through the
  impact area delivering the maximum amount of
  speed at the precise moment of the downward apex,
  or impact position.
• To allow the clubface to rotate from open to
  square to closed where the clubface is square to
  both the swingpath and target line at the moment
  of impact.
• Exercises Drills
• Toe of club into wall drill
• Right hand swoosh drill
• Over the head clank drill (pole drill)

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Dynamic Balance

• Objectives
• To create an overall swing motion that is
  seamless in feel and appearance
• To create the maximum amount of rhythm and motion
  with the least amount of effort and distortion of
  balance.
• Exercises Drills
• Post impact to takeaway drill
• Full Finish to takeaway drill
• Full Finish to Full Finish Drill
• Slow motion drill

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Sequential Timing

• Objectives
• To establish a swing motion where there is a
  coordinated lag between body parts and club
  head both on back swing, downswing, and
  follow-through.
• To be able to feel the lag and snap that is
  created by proper sequential timing in the swing.
• Exercises Drills
• Step Swing Drill
• Upside down swoosh drill
• Whippy Club drill

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The Moment of Truth...

• Most of you are experiencing one of two feelings
• Excitement
• Confusion

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Where to go from here??

• I hope you leave here with an excitement to find
  out how good your golf game can become.
• I will be offering a wide range of instructional
  programs covering this and other exciting
  subjects.

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Instructional ProgramsTaking your game full
circle

• Please take along an information packet with a
  description of some of the instructional programs
  well be offering at Bens POWER GOLF Learning
  Center.
• Be sure to sign up on our email list to receive
  your free weekly golf tips newsletter.

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Thank You

• I hope you enjoyed my presentation and I want to
  personally wish you the best with all your golf
  in the coming year and hope to see you out
  driving your golfing buddies this spring.
• Ben Witter, PGA Professional

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The End