Page 19 - Summer2020GTP
P. 19
GENERAL SECTION HEADER
ALL
T B
WHY NOT BALL
WHY NO
FLIGHT LA WS?
FLIGHT LAWS?
By Melvin Blair
USGTF Certified Teaching Professional
Tampa, FL
ver the years, I invested in the launch why the ball goes
Omonitor FlightScope, and now the Mevo+ is in the direction it is
another part of the family. Now, things are better going. Without this
than ever! At BlairsGolf.com, we have the right knowledge, we
numbers. The pros only play with the numbers, and can’t give such
you and your students can, as well! Students ask information as
me all the time, “What element of my swing do I the true angle of
need to change?” attack, clubhead
My first question is, “How much knowledge or speed, club
understanding do you have of the ball flight laws?” path, face angle,
You would be surprised how many students and face-to-path or
coaches say, “Not much,” and that the numbers smash factor. I
are confusing. My answer is, “Without the numbers, tell students, if you notice your golf ball when it
your golf swing is confusing!” is in the air for a long time with your slice, there
Something I learned: the ball is an object! It is a good chance your spin is high. If your golf
cannot see how pretty your swing looks or how tall ball lacks rollout and seems to stop immediately
you are or how much you weigh or whether you when it lands, you are probably playing with
are playing well or poorly. It knows and responds high spin. If it seems like the ball lands softly
to only one thing – impact, from the moment and reacts immediately when it hits, there is a
the clubhead strikes the ball to the moment they strong indication that you have high spin. And
separate. The ball collects all the information understanding how spin works and where your
that it needs to determine which direction, what spin needs to be is the first step in fixing your slice,
distance and what trajectory to take. If the golf which is the evil of golf!
club strikes the ball with 120 mph of swing speed Golf instructors now know the important
in the center of the clubface with same loft, relationships between two critical things – the
clubface angle and swing path, it will go in the clubface angle and the club swing path. They
same place regardless of who is hitting it. know this is the key to understanding the slice. This
Ball flight laws are the most important can be done only with a launch monitor, because
information in which a teacher or student should your eyes are not that good!
have at least a reasonable level of knowledge.
The knowledge gives us a great understanding of Continued on page 17
16
SUMMER 2020 Golf Teaching Pro
