Like I said - further debate would likely be pointless, but still ...
Bill, Yes - you CAN (and DO) apply forces in a direction into the ground. The wedge shape of the club does not change that. The MOTION of the wedge shape is relevant, and being downward as well as forward, it applies forces in both directions. Putting a static club head next to a ball is completely irrelevant. The club head MOVES at the time of impact, and during the time the ball is compressed. It moves forwards and DOWNWARDS.
Get a soccer ball. Put it on the ground. Place one finger on top of the ball (not necessary if you have 5000fps eyesight). Put your other hand - in a wedge shape - behind the ball, below the equator. Press directly forward. Will the ball slide? Yes - quite easily.
Now do the same, but instead of pushing directly forward with the "wedge hand", now press forward as well as downward. Will the ball slide? Yes it will. Just as easily? Not it won't! Why? Because the downward forces you apply to the ball is causing increased friction between the ball and the ground.
Try it with a balloon, you will easily see it compress into the ground.
The forces are there, and they are more than marginal.
Read bullet #3
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3. At address place the ball in a position where it is slightly behind where the club will make contact with the ground – keep your hands slightly ahead of the club. This allows the club to connect with the ball on the downswing creating a divot after you have struck the ball. This forces the ball either into the ground or to “climb” back along the club face over the grooves. As the ball cannot go into the ground it is forced to climb over the club face where the grooves grip the ball and create the backspin. One of the reasons it is so difficult to get spin out of a fluffy lie is because hitting down on the ball allows the ball to go forward into the grass (rather than back over the grooves), and the grass getting between the grooves and the ball limits or negates backspin.
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Greg Norman has some feelings about this.
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It's also important to hit slightly down on the ball. One of the reasons I'm able to apply so much spin is that I have a fairly upright swing which enables me to hit down rather steeply on the ball. When I want to, I'm able to make impact with the top-back quadrant of the ball. I actually squeeze the ball down against the turf, applying enormous friction and backspin. I don't take much of a divot; it's more like a crease in the turf or a slackening down of the grass.
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Short Game guru
Dave Pelz:
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Use a sand or lob wedge, move your hands and weight slightly toward the target, and play the ball well back in your stance so you're sure to trap it between the clubface and the ground.
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That last article is actually a very good answer to the original question in this topic.
Oh - and for golfingguy - I don't think anybody is talking about distance. It's purely about spin-rate.
I choose to believe the combined knowledge of Tiger, Greg Norman, Dave Pelz and my high school physics teacher.
