What the F?!?!?

Sooooo.... college is over and I'm getting back into my game. I went to the golf store I frequent the other day to use their simulator to see how I'm hitting it. Well, I'm back to hitting my irons fairly long and straight, but I've lost distance somehow with my driver off the tee. The most I could get out of a TM Draw 10.5 driver at the store was 250. Now, I can hit my 3w that far off of the deck. I'm finally comfortable with my swing again too because I've been practicing more lately. The tech working the sim said it looked like my problem was my weight transfer ratio. He said it needed to be around 150 (whatever that means). I was at 137 or so. So I tried a few more and it increased to about 143-ish when I was trying to fire my left hip through. That's when I got it to about 250. But the tech said that with my swing speed, I should easily be getting 300+ out of it. I normally swing 100+. Probably average 105 or so. Any suggestions for more distance? BTW, my shots were straight. Also, I don't push off with my right foot and sometimes my right knee breaks down in the backswing unless I make a conscious effort to prevent it and notice where my weight is when I complete the backswing. I'm almost there. Just need some pointers.

This is going to be a two part post. The tech recommended I buy a Momentus Power Hitter, and I've been debating it. I don't see anything negative about a weighted club that I can hit balls with. The advantages seem very worth it. Any advice with this would be appreciated. The power hitter of course comes with the weighted lob wedge which will probably do wonders for my short game. I putt like champion when I have confidence everywhere else in my game. It's just everywhere around the greens.

Thanks in advance.

-John

Hi John,

I have this problem too sometimes plus I can sway a bit to far right. These are major power robbing defects in my swing that might be causing your lack of distance too. I have been told to slighty open my stance a bit more, plus too really slow my backswing down and get my left shoulder under my chin. For my practice the pro has told me to use a mirror with holding my club over my shoulders and slowly turn as you would in your back swing.

Hope it helps
Cheers
Mark

Weight transfer ratio or Power Transfer ratio (aka 'smash factor')?

Your PTR should be 1.50 when hitting the driver on the screws. This means that for every 1 mph of clubhead speed, you get 1.5 mph of ball speed.

So for a 105 mph clubhead speed, this means 157.5 ball speed if struck flush. Even under 'ideal' launch conditions (158 ball speed, 16 degree launch angle, 2500 rpm backspin) this will give you 270 yards of carry. With a 1.43 PTR, your ball speed drops to 150 - your carry is now 254.

With a tail wind and firm fairways, yep, 300+ is achievable at 105 mph. Otherwise, 270 is about tops on a no wind day. I'm always kinda leery of the kids running the sims at the big box stores. They've all been taught how to sell a driver, not necessarily how to interpret the numbers properly to fit you. If they're pointing out how far you hit it, check your lateral dispersion. If they're talking up how tight you group 'em, look at how far you may (or may not be) hitting it.

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It really seemed like he knew what he was talking about. He never really mentioned anything about total distance. I was concerned with that and accuracy because I've been pushing my driver off the tee to the right. He was talking more about the smash factor being 143 or what not and how that's probably the reason why my distance was only about 250 or so.

He steered me away from my first choice which was a replacement for my hibore with a new hibore xl. Maybe I should go back to using a TM driver. It was the draw biased club with 10.5 loft. That's a full degree more than what I normally hit. It was the factory stiff as usual even though I think I prefer a grafalloy shaft.

I think I should buy a power hitter though for sure. Maybe a power hitter and greg norman's secret. Don't think I have much of a prolbem with my right wrist though. I think I have an issue holding the lag, but I'm not sure. I'd have to video myself.

You're just a little rusty... After a few practice rounds see what happens.

This should be obvious, but you’re just not hitting it flush and/or square and/or in the sweet spot. There are too many possible causes at the root, but the bottom line is that you’re not making ideal contact. I point this out just to make sure you don’t waste your time trying to increase your clubhead speed, but rather look at things that will lead to more ideal contact at impact. Good luck.

Smash factor, CoR equation, same thing.

CoR equation:

v = V * ((1+e)/(1+(m/M)))

v = velocity of the ball after impact
V = velocity of clubhead immediately before impact
m = mass of ball in gram
M = mass of clubhead in gram
e = CoR (coefficient of restitution of the clubface)


Example of a 100mph clubhead speed assuming perfect contact:

v = 100 * ((1+0.83)/(1+45/200)))
v = 149mph

105mph:

v = 105 * ((1+0.83)/(1+45/200)))
v = 157

You produce 143mph ball speed with 105 clubhead speed. Some momentum is lost through bad contact. 95mph clubhead speed produces 141mph ball speed assuming perfect contact. 95mph is easier to do than 105mph. Easier means more controllable means better accuracy means better scores. But this is long driving forum so you're not interested in scoring, only in sending the ball far. Even then, striking the ball properly will transfer more momentum than otherwise as we've seen with the CoR equation.

Ultimately, striking the ball properly sends it farther.