How do pro golfers get the major roll on their drives?

[cliffp]

Just wondering from a simple tgm perspective how the pga pros get that 30+ yard roll on a lot of their drives. I understand they play on some firm fairways, but even on normal fairways they get major roll.

[alex_chung]

The fairways are well manicured. I mean they run as fast as some of the greens that we normally play on
Other than that the Pros tend to hit the ball better as a rule than us mere mortals.
Alex

[annikan skywalker]

High launch ....low spin ....

Average mortal...low launch high spin around both the vertical and the horizontal axis

[metallion]

High launch ....low spin ....

Average mortal...low launch high spin around both the vertical and the horizontal axis

I'd be interested to hear your take on how the high launch and low spin is achieved.

I made these two exaggerated alternatives of the angle of approach v/s loft at the moment of impact, i.e. just before the ball deforms. Hope the idea gets through.

Would you be able to comment on which of these - if any - better represents a typical pro impact - in particular regarding spin and launch angle.

[Matt]

They hit draws with lots of topspin.

[annikan skywalker]

If they truly had topspin...the ball wouldn't have "lift"... or would it????

Draws have a lower spin ratio vertical to horizontal than fades...Right????

As far as the nice illustrations...I cannot make an educated comment...I don't understand ...I'm not an expert on Chapter 2

Skywalker

[metallion]

We have all hit balls with topspin and know they go absolutely nowhere - or very far, but low.

Here's a pic I made for a similar discussion on a Swedish forum. Legend in Swedish, but you'll get it. Basically Ch2 stuff.

[jim_0068]

I'm pretty sure matt was joking about the "top spin," notice the smiley lol.

ANYWAY

The whole "high launch/low spin" thing helps YES, but even those hitting super high fades with higer spin rates are STILL ROLLING IT OUT 20-25+ YARDS!

The simple reason why is due to the fairways. They cut them short as hell (3/8" i believe) and then they bake them out so that they will run FAST. It makes it harder to keep the ball in the fairway.

For instance i made a post on FGI a long time ago asking who has played before/after a MAJOR GOLF TOURNAMENT. Whether it be an amatuer event, PGA event, LPGA, Nationwide, Hooters Tour, ETC and i asked how much further were they hitting the ball on account of the "conditions."

The low was 15 yards further than they were used to and the high was almost 25 yards further than they were used to simply due to the faster fairways.

HOWEVER

Optimizing your launch conditions through swing changes and proper equiptment should help you yield the longest distance possible. then when you get on a baked fairway, the extra roll is a bonus

[mb6606]

I know it has been debated over and over but here are pics of H Keune
and he is defintely hitting up on the ball. Not that I recommend.
http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/84599/1/2942907
http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/84599/1/2942905

[Delaware Golf]

I know it has been debated over and over but here are pics of H Keune
and he is defintely hitting up on the ball. Not that I recommend.
http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/84599/1/2942907
http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/84599/1/2942905

Doesn't look like he is hitting up on the ball to me.....

DG