Why tee up the ball at all?

[Weightshift]

In order to achieve maximum distance, you need high launch and (appropriately)low spin. A lot of pros, and long drive pros in particular, position the ball in such a way that they can contact the ball on the upswing, in order to produce this condition. Could that be a "special effect" that Homer is referring to?

Good point! Let's wait and see what the experts say.

[Mathew]

Because the sweetspot is higher up the clubface on a driver at impact point than the ball sitting on the ground..ie like an iron would be designed....

Those that think most pros hit on the upstroke should watch the swing visions on youtube without listening to the commentary and use their own eyes to see....

[Mathew]

Heres some pics for you

[Sonic_Doom]

Heres some pics for you

These photos seem subjective to me in that the camera angle must play a part in the relative motion. Scott pic looks deceiving (maybe just me)

Seems to me that this should or could be proven empirically with swing machines like PING MAN or similar. Dispersion rates either increase or decrease depending on stroke.

CW

[Weightshift]

Heres some pics for you

Thanks Mathew! Except for Phil's they show that the clubhead is moving slightly downwards and that it is the face of the club that is causing the ball to rise, as in "let the club do the work". So there is no need to hit the ball on the upswing, and that Homer's statement "The ball should always be struck prior to the low point of the Downstroke, even when using the Driver" is not in dispute. Am I imagining it, in seeing some evidence of ball deformation?

As Milrat has said the camera angle can play tricks, but nevertheless we are that much further ahead than simply opinions and/or the written word. I wonder what sort of camera speed and setup is required (and I wonder who has those resources) to set the record straight once and for all.

[Mathew]

Thanks Weightshift - cos Phil Mickelson is a left hander and thus hitting the other way - its still downwards....

Millrat - Whilst I can agree that perspective can play tricks on particular things (ie side view and inclined plane) - I can't see how any illusion that could be present to decieve the viewer. Because we can be pretty positive that the camera view is taken at a parallel plane to the horizontal ground at approximately ball height. Whilst the camera may or may not be rotated away and thus not nessesarily be absolutely dead square on to the inclined plane, it will do nothing to decieve on the clubhead going downplane. You can see clearly that the clubhead is getting closer to the ground - no camera deceptions are going on.

[chestnuts]

A Ball cant fly if it does not have backspin how can you impart back spin if you hit the ball with the clubhead travelling upwards.

[Mathew]

On another note in practical terms for a golfer engineering his address. When the ball is teed higher than the sweetspot on the club - which can be desirable, the adjustment is made in the secondary hinge which lifts the primary lever assembly up and down whist staying in the vertical plane of the primary hinge in a circular motion around the left shoulder, so in effect you tee it slightly off the toe of the club by means of adjusting the secondary hinge...

[Mike O]

In order to achieve maximum distance, you need high launch and (appropriately)low spin. A lot of pros, and long drive pros in particular, position the ball in such a way that they can contact the ball on the upswing, in order to produce this condition. Could that be a "special effect" that Homer is referring to?

Bigwill wins the Bigprize!

[Weightshift]

Thanks Weightshift - cos Phil Mickelson is a left hander and thus hitting the other way - its still downwards....

Left hander! Of course! I can be so dumb at times.