Do TOUR pros hit a sweet spot amateurs never see?

Since pros do everything 99.99% of the population is incapable of (altogether), I'm wondering if they find a sweet spot on hits that amateurs may hit by accident 1 out of every 200 hits?

Just wondering to what extent "pros hit the sweet spot" comments refer to the exact geometric center, +/- <1mm?

(Or even +/- micrometers). Makes sense; worlds best archers can fire an arrow to a - inch circle 70 meters away, etc.

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

Years ago Fred Couples once said he hit the sweet zone ABOUT 92 swings out a 100. Of course, like most of his answers or comments over the years, his actual statement was much more wordy and made very little sense.

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

 

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

 

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

Is that even possible on a centre strike?

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

 

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

 

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

Was this the same video where he had like a 1.4x+ smash factor with a full swing putter? Downright crazy to think about.

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

 

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

 

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

 

Is that even possible on a centre strike?

Yes...?

Also keep in mind the "sweet" spot varies driver to driver and may not be in the geometric center of the club face.

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

 

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

 

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

 

Is that even possible on a centre strike?

Yes...?

 

Also keep in mind the "sweet" spot varies driver to driver and may not be in the geometric center of the club face.

I thought anything over 1.5 was a toe strike, because of the way clubhead speed is measured, versus the longer distance the toe travels on an in-to-out path.

Absolutely.

I think it depends on what system is used. With HMT and that system, yes I believe so, but somebody can correct me... I Think this test he was using trackman in conjunction with one of those biometric body tools to measure hip rotation speed, etc.

Either way, even if it was 1.50... that's pretty darn good to average what is essentially a perfect strike for 17 swings in a row.

They do hit the sweet spot an uncanny high percentage of the time off of a good driving range surface or teed up. If you change the lies, footing, and add tournament pressure they start to look more human

This thread is right there with the guy I heard loudly stating in our pro shop Saturday " those tour guys are using Cheater clubs. No way they are same as you and me .. that's why they hit it so long ". As he then said " no way I'm only swinging 92 mph. As the outdoor track man claimed he was. Speak for those ams and you may be correct. But for others. Not so much

So yes if you are talking chuckle head AMs like that ...sure. But the wear spots on my irons say I hit it more than 1out of 200 swings. Its all subjective. Never good to paint with a big brush.

^ The average golfer isn't a 1.6 like you. I'd bet the typical chuckle head like that is probably about 50% of the public golf course populace, give or take a little bit. Most have probably never gotten an efficiency on their driver of 1.5. I'd definitely say they are closer to getting 1.5 smash 1/200 drives than they are 1/17 times.

^ The average golfer isn't a 1.6 like you. I'd bet the typical chuckle head like that is probably about 50% of the public golf course populace, give or take a little bit. Most have probably never gotten an efficiency on their driver of 1.5. I'd definitely say they are closer to getting 1.5 smash 1/200 drives than they are 1/17 times.

i guess.. i thought about my post afterward and realized it was just as off as the OP post.... Im not the average for sure.. BUT i would still argue that the woods are full of low singles like me that can hit the center... being an AM doesnt make you a poor ball striker automatically and declaring pro doesnt increase your ball striking capability... Thats really what i mean to get at ...

I think most guys who can break 90 hit the sweet spot like pros from time to time. You can feel it and hear it when you catch it solid. We just don't feel it and hear it as often as tour players.

Just look at the ball contact wear marks on a Tour Pro's (male or female) clubs. It is right in the middle. There may be a triangle shaped wear area on the face due to the iron cutting into the ground. Golf is their livelihood. They better have the talent to hit the sweet spot or they ain't cashing too many cheques!

Of course, like most of his answers or comments over the years, his actual statement was much more wordy and made very little sense.

Just look at the ball contact wear marks on a Tour Pro's (male or female) clubs. It is right in the middle. There may be a triangle shaped wear area on the face due to the iron cutting into the ground. Golf is their livelihood. They better have the talent to hit the sweet spot or they ain't cashing too many cheques!

Just googled this when I started reading the thread...

The crazy thing is these guys can tell where they hit the ball by the groove.

So yes if you are talking chuckle head AMs like that ...sure. But the wear spots on my irons say I hit it more than 1out of 200 swings. Its all subjective. Never good to paint with a big brush.

I'm going to raise the BS flag here.

You're a wrx member, everyone knows we don't keep clubs long enough to see wear marks. :tongue:

I think most guys who can break 90 hit the sweet spot like pros from time to time. You can feel it and hear it when you catch it solid. We just don't feel it and hear it as often as tour players.

I think this is true. I hit one shot today that i considered perfect. 8 iron from about 145. Perfect flight and about 2-3 foot roll out. Usually about 1-2 shots a round i feel i hit absolutely pure.

Of course, like most of his answers or comments over the years, his actual statement was much more wordy and made very little sense.

Interesting. You and Fred Couples have something in common. :taunt:

"Well, the sweet spot is more near the center but near the bottom of the face, it's not something I always hit perfectly flush but sometimes I do, and when I do, the ball flies pretty good. Other times it doesn't fly pretty good when I don't hit it flush."

Got to love Freddie.

Amateurs sometimes hit that spot. Then blame the club for the "flier". Then go and play blades because they're so much more consistent.

Sure people hit the ball in the same clubface location as the pros some % of the time, however they never hit it with the same launch conditions.

If they didn't, they wouldn't be professionals

Just saw a recent video on Justin Thomas' swing. I think he hit 15 or so swings, and his average smash was 1.52 (driver). So, long story short, yes, most of the top ball strikers on tour hit the "sweet" spot probably very close to 100% of the time.

 

I saw this too. It was amazing.

17 shots 1.52 smash factor

Over 4 degrees up angle on the shots tested

 

For a tour player, he is doing some different stuff. They did a nice little piece on that I thought

 

Is that even possible on a centre strike?

Yes...?

 

Also keep in mind the "sweet" spot varies driver to driver and may not be in the geometric center of the club face.

 

I thought anything over 1.5 was a toe strike, because of the way clubhead speed is measured, versus the longer distance the toe travels on an in-to-out path.

Trackman reads club head speed right before impact and will normally under report it. The ball speed will 99% will be right so thats why you will get 1.5x smash factors. Anything above 1.48 on a driver is a center strike. There are some other factor as well, weight of driver, head shape, etc.

So yes if you are talking chuckle head AMs like that ...sure. But the wear spots on my irons say I hit it more than 1out of 200 swings. Its all subjective. Never good to paint with a big brush.

 

I'm going to raise the BS flag here.

 

You're a wrx member, everyone knows we don't keep clubs long enough to see wear marks. :tongue:

I can post pics. But heads will implode.

Pics or it didn't happen.

Now, sweet spots were smaller then, but I remember reading where Hogan said he absolutely flushed the ball 3 times per round.

Pros could probably swing blindfolded and hit the sweet spot consistently.

No, they miss the sweet spot quite often. The 'sweet spot' is actually the size of roughly a needle point, so even Tour players miss it frequently. The difference is that they miss it by a smaller margine, they are more consistent in where they strike it and they find that tiny sweet spot more often.

The other difference is that they have other impact conditions that are different and create more margin for error such as forward shaft lean, attack angle (hence, spin loft), parametric acceleration, rate of closure, launch angle, club speed, etc.

Justin Thomas' smash factor is over-inflated due to Trackman's inability to accurately measure club speed. Trackman measures more off the heel of the club and thus creates a lower club speed than stated which in turns over-inflates the smash factor. And with some drivers, Trackman really struggles to get the club speed (it's good with irons though).

However, he still has one of the highest smash factors on Tour as every Tour player is being measured by the same device. Thomas hits up about 4 degrees with the driver and has a moderate dynamic loft. This creates a low 'spin loft' and all things being equal, the smash factor (quality of strike) increases with a lower spin loft.

I play to a +2. I usually hit up about +2 degrees on the driver. But, my dynamic loft is higher due to my inability to get more forward shaft lean. That creates a higher spin loft which means a lesser quality of strike and my smash factors are usually around 1.47 on Trackman. I'm still hitting the sweet spot frequently, it's just that my quality of strike is not as good as Thomas' due to other factors.

RH