Comments on: Ball Flight Laws #4 – 3D Club Path

By: Matt Saternus

Matt Saternus — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:13:41 +0000

In reply to Josh.

Josh,

To your second question (changing alignment versus changing swing), I prefer altering alignment/stance, but that’s a personal preference.

To your first question, I don’t know that it’s something you need to “correct,” it’s just something that’s inherent in the way we use different clubs. If you do want to get all your clubs on the same path, so to speak, I would make SMALL tweaks to my stance depending on the clubs.

Best,

Matt

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:39:05 +0000

Hi,

I think I understand, thanks for the advice! I find that I do draw my short irons more. How would you advise me to correct this? I see that to fix the shots off a high tee I should shift the path to the right to prevent a fade. So for irons should I be shifting the path left??

And lastly would you advise me to just stand more open (irons) and swing along this path or try to swing more out to in with a square stance?

If it helps I recently went to a launch monitor and the fitter told me I launch it high and spin it very high. Likely due to a steep angle of attack. My miss with driver is usually a huge hook or a block right. My irons are good but launch high

Love the articles
Thanks!!

By: Matt Saternus

Matt Saternus — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:28:00 +0000

In reply to Mark Dophied.

Mark,

Without launch monitor data, I can’t tell you if your ball flight is costing you distance. If you’re unhappy with your irons’ performance, I would suggest booking an appointment with a fitter like Club Champion to get them straightened out.

Best,

Matt

By: Mark Dophied

Mark Dophied — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:22:52 +0000

My irons go to high. 8i goes 150 yards which is ok but would like more penetrating ball flight. In a best ball tournament we where 5 yards behind a 30 foot tall tree 130 from green I hit pw over tree onto green. Is this normal ball flight? Or am I right I need lower flight into wind kills my distance.

By: Matt Saternus

Matt Saternus — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 20:58:25 +0000

In reply to Frank Barbehenn.

Frank,

I’m afraid that the hula hoop pictures and the video are the best I can do.

-Matt

By: Frank Barbehenn

Frank Barbehenn — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 03:04:32 +0000

I still don’t get how changing the direction of a downward swing for wedge to the left corrects the draw. Or to the right for driver. Please say it differently and create a word picture for me please like you’ve gone in other videos.

By: Matt Saternus

Matt Saternus — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 13:53:02 +0000

In reply to bobby.

Bobby,

I would suggest taking a look at the PING G400 or G series, and consider a 5W instead of a 3W. In my recent PING fitting, I actually carried the 5W farther due to higher launch.

Best,

Matt

By: bobby

bobby — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 08:21:30 +0000

by the way can you recommend a game improvement 3 wood for hitting off the ground. if I can fix that I think I could break ninety. I usually top it and the 5i only gets me about 150 yds same as the 4 hybrid I have.

By: Matt Saternus

Matt Saternus — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 01:39:10 +0000

In reply to bobby.

Bobby,

Thank you for your continued readership and trust.
I’m going to guess that you meant 14* launch angle, not angle of attack – that would be REALLY extreme.
Let’s start here: if you have an 80 MPH swing, your optimal carry would be at or slightly over 200 yards. 14* and 2500 at 120 MPH ball speed should be about 186 yards.
To get to 200 yards at 120 MPH, my simulator shows that you would need 24* and 1900 RPM, which might require a long-drive style upper cut swing.
If you keep your 120 MPH ball speed and 14* launch, I think going from 2500 to 3000 RPM would actually cost you a couple yards.
All that to say, your numbers are pretty good. I would not mess with my swing to try to get a couple hundred more or less RPM. If you want more distance, you’re much better off working on your swing speed.
I hope that helps.

Best,

Matt

By: bobby

bobby — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 18:03:07 +0000

hey matt,
just got fitted for a ping g driver with the stock Alta shaft and have some questions after reading your ball flight laws. i averaged an 80 mph swing speed a 14° angle of attack with 2200-2300 back spin. the guy tells me I need more back spin around 3000-3500 and lofts the head to 11.5 which brought it up to 2500-2600 he says i consestantly hit down on the ball so I need to widen my stance to get more spin this seems to be the opposite of what I’m reading here. what is the optimal back spin for an 80 mph swing if there is one. after following your reviews and instructions since 2014 I have way more trust in your judgement and advice.