Supposedly, books used by The PGA of America, in the past, stated, that the Clubhead Path was responsible for the starting direction of the ball's flight. Path was one of 5 "Ball Flight Laws". When folks talk about the so-called "new" Ball Flight Laws, there are referring to this one. Except that the science showing that the ball starts between the Path and Clubface, when the two are not square during collision, is not "new" at all. It was clearly shown in "Search For The Perfect Swing" from 1968.
Also, "Search" did show that a small misalignment from square of the Clubface to Path would create a rather prominent curve. It was clear that the Path direction would have to be aligned farther from the target than the Clubface was misaligned to the Path. But we really didn't know how much. We have a better idea now, thanks to TrackMan. As a general "Rule of Thumb", the Path should be aligned TWICE as far from the Target as the Clubface is misaligned to the Path. MORE when loft is less, like with driver.
TrackMan is wonderful and anyone wanting to learn more should read all of their newsletters on their website. It truly does "locate" the inclined plane. The Plane Line is termed Horizontal Swing Plane and is measured in degrees to the Target Line, which is user-specified. But TrackMan is not the first or only machine to measure Path and Clubface angle. In fact, TM doesn't actually "measure" Clubface, but rather, deduces it from other measured conditions. P3PRO can actually measure Clubface, with Path and Angle of Attack as well, for under a grand. I can tell you what the swing plane is with my V1 video analysis software. But I do want a TrackMan.
Supposedly, books used by The PGA of America, in the past, stated, that the Clubhead Path was responsible for the starting direction of the ball's flight. Path was one of 5 "Ball Flight Laws". When folks talk about the so-called "new" Ball Flight Laws, there are referring to this one. Except that the science showing that the ball starts between the Path and Clubface, when the two are not square during collision, is not "new" at all. It was clearly shown in "Search For The Perfect Swing" from 1968.
Also, "Search" did show that a small misalignment from square of the Clubface to Path would create a rather prominent curve. It was clear that the Path direction would have to be aligned farther from the target than the Clubface was misaligned to the Path. But we really didn't know how much. We have a better idea now, thanks to TrackMan. As a general "Rule of Thumb", the Path should be aligned TWICE as far from the Target as the Clubface is misaligned to the Path. MORE when loft is less, like with driver.
TrackMan is wonderful and anyone wanting to learn more should read all of their newsletters on their website. It truly does "locate" the inclined plane. The Plane Line is termed Horizontal Swing Plane and is measured in degrees to the Target Line, which is user-specified. But TrackMan is not the first or only machine to measure Path and Clubface angle. In fact, TM doesn't actually "measure" Clubface, but rather, deduces it from other measured conditions. P3PRO can actually measure Clubface, with Path and Angle of Attack as well, for under a grand. I can tell you what the swing plane is with my V1 video analysis software. But I do want a TrackMan.
Thank you Max,
I think V1 is a real teachers tool.
I've never read the old laws but they don't seem to be Laws. I would like to study them anyway to find out where the glitch was.
I've studied "Search" for many years and keep a copy by my desk.
One thing we know for certain is that curving the ball is a matter of Clubface/Path and many other things, some more important than others.
But John says "The day any human lines the club face accurately to a target over 100 yards away will be the day." That's true if we're aiming at a pinpoint but it's not so bad when we're aiming at a zone. The same reality is true for someone aligning the clubface to a path he hasn't yet created. And that seems to be the procedure with the new Ball Flight Laws. My TGM Swing Pattern Alignments have never let me down.
But we have experience on our side and can adjust our Plane, Ball Position and Target Line fairly accurately.
Cam someone define "Target Line" and "Line of Flight" in "the world according to Homer"?
Target Line is an invisible straight Line from the Ball to your intended Target. Line of Flight is the initial straight-away flight of the Ball in the context and aligned to the vertical Plane.
Target Line is an invisible straight Line from the Ball to your intended Target. Line of Flight is the initial straight-away flight of the Ball in the context and aligned to the vertical Plane.
Daryl,
In the world according to Homer:
That's not correct - hopefully someone else can verify via book quotes the right answer.
The drawing's you did are really awesome - great skills to have - although they are not correct - again - you guys are wearing me out - maybe someone else can bring up the issues that are incorrect in them.
__________________
Life Goal- Developing a new theory of movement based on Brain Science
Interests - Dabbling with insanity
Hobbies- Creating Quality
The divergent Impact and Separation Vectors (2-C-1-1/2/3) are always equal in Angle and Force and therefore produce a bisecting Resultant Force Vector, square to both the Clubface and Leading Edge, and the Line of Flight Vector will be on a Centerline parallel to that Vector.
Sorry Mike. I stand corrected. I tend to take for granted some things after years of this. That's a good reason to memorize the book.
Quote:
2-N-0 CLUBHEAD LINE OF FLIGHT The line of flight of the Clubhead and the Line of Flight of the ball are not the same but touch momentarily during Impact. 2-N-0 CLUBHEAD LINE OF FLIGHT The line of flight of the Clubhead and the Line of Flight of the ball are not the same but touch momentarily during Impact. The one has a vertical plane of action, the other an Inclined Plane.
TrackMan is wonderful and anyone wanting to learn more should read all of their newsletters on their website. It truly does "locate" the inclined plane. The Plane Line is termed Horizontal Swing Plane and is measured in degrees to the Target Line, which is user-specified. But TrackMan is not the first or only machine to measure Path and Clubface angle. In fact, TM doesn't actually "measure" Clubface, but rather, deduces it from other measured conditions. P3PRO can actually measure Clubface, with Path and Angle of Attack as well, for under a grand. I can tell you what the swing plane is with my V1 video analysis software. But I do want a TrackMan.
[Font enhancements by Yoda.]
In 1969, when conventional wisdom screamed that "Clubhead Path" determines the initial direction of the Ball, Homer Kelley published The Golfing Machine and said "No. It is the Clubface."
Today, Mr. Kelley is lauded as being both correct and well ahead of his time. His work done, those of us seeking Golfing Perfection now need only a 'nod' to Path -- downward and outward -- but then look to the Clubface alignment at Impact. In recent weeks, I have been to the top of the TrackMan 'food chain', and they accede that Max Impact's statement is true: Namely, that the Clubface 'at Impact' is not a measured alignment. Instead, it is a derived alignment.
So, please . . .
No more of this nonsense of the Clubface alignment being measured at Impact; or, at Max Compression; or, at Separation.
At least not where TrackMan is concerned.
Why?
Because those measurements do not exist.
I do know that, years ago, the U.S. Bureau of Standards changed their definition -- and physical measurement -- of the Impact Interval from 'point of impact' to 'point of maximum compression'. Why? Because Homer Kelley challenged their published measurements. And they changed.
Today, I know that TM is 'on call' on the practice tee at every PGA TOUR event. If you've been out there a while -- -- you've been there a bunch, and you've seen a bunch. Most important . . .
Know that the guys in the TOUR equipment vans are in the trenches every day. They are on the tee in 'real time', watching their players launch it and making recommendations. It is not unusual for a player to do so perfectly while generating some TM numbers that collectively make no sense. Their players know this, too.
TrackMan is an important input, but in the end, getting the right club into the hands of the player -- pro and amateur alike -- is, indeed, as much art as science. As is delivering competent golf instruction.
Point is . . . in all this stuff . . .
The jury is still out.
Let's find out exactly what is being measured and how.
Then, and only then, will we be able to compare "apples with apples".
If I may....It is a widely-accepted condition of the impact collision, scientifically, today, that the ball starts off in a direction which is, on average, in the neighborhood of 80% of the difference between the horizontal clubface alignment and the horizontal clubhead path, favoring the former. The actual number varies with friction. In fact, it is solely friction which causes the ball to leave the face at any angle other than 90*. That's true vertically as well as horizontally. But none of this is new, as it was well documented in "Search For The Perfect Swing", which came out in 1968, one year before Homer's first edition.
If I may....It is a widely-accepted condition of the impact collision, scientifically, today, that the ball starts off in a direction which is, on average, in the neighborhood of 80% of the difference between the horizontal clubface alignment and the horizontal clubhead path, favoring the former. The actual number varies with friction. In fact, it is solely friction which causes the ball to leave the face at any angle other than 90*. That's true vertically as well as horizontally. But none of this is new, as it was well documented in "Search For The Perfect Swing", which came out in 1968, one year before Homer's first edition.
You know, I have such a hard time taking all these "new" ball flight laws seriously. Thanks to Homer Kelley, I've been teaching them for more than thirty years.
Regarding Search For the Perfect Swing. Yes, it came out in the year before the first edition of TGM, but it was far from 'perfect'. In fact, in our January 1982 Master Class, though Homer applauded its efforts to quantify impact -- "We need more studies like this." -- he also used it as an example of how very smart, well-intentioned individuals couldn't get it right, especially regarding the application of Principle to Procedure.
He also said that, because of the inherent conflicts evidenced between the various authors/researchers, there would never be a second edition.
-- you've been there a bunch, and you've seen a bunch. Most important . . . 
Hybrid Mode
