Help I'm confused!

[Ken_In_CA]

Driver sweet spot

OK, I'm a dufus. I have always thought that you are to hit the ball on the driver's face in the upper half with an ascending blow. Now in Golf magazine about the 4 longest drivers, that you should hit the ball more in the center, otherwise you'll lose spin and not get your maximum distance.

Where is the proper place to hit the ball?

BTW I have SS of ~103-105
Driver is Cobra pro x-speed S.

Thanks,
Ken

[titaniummd]

I have read that you hit the center of the face. If you hit above the sweet spot, you are adding loft. I have the latest Golf Digest which shows Ernie Els swinging a driver and the still shows the equator making contact with the center of the driver face. Not too many of the 'swing sequence' pictures I see show the 'contact' shot.

[TEConnor]

I discussed this subject with a fitter recently and we tested which of the contact areas would give me the best launch/spin/carry numbers. The higher impact had a approximately equal carry overall to the mid-center impact but slightly longer roll. If you place a straight edge across your driver, you will notice a sizable crown with the upper portion at about 1 degree extra loft. Hence, if you catch the ball slightly above center you are going to hit it higher. This will slightly offset the amount of spin (or lack thereof) imparted. If you've been fitted and you are hitting the ball above the center line in this session and your rates and launch angles are ok, then no biggie. However, if you are already hitting it high enough with center contact, then the above center contact will bring your ball out of the air due to lack of spin. Hope this makes sense.

Tim

[Ken_In_CA]

This does make sense, cuz when I'm hitting on the range, I try to notice where on the face I'm hitting. The slightly higher than center contact goes higher(mid to high trajectory), but carries further, but very little roll for a total of ~250-260. The center hits don't carry quite as far (lower trajectory, and maybe about 10-15 yards shorter), but rolls a heck of a lot more, by at least 15-20 yards for a total of 270-280.

Never made that correlation of where the contact is and my total distance.

Thanks for the info.

[JfBrshie56]

[quote name='Ken_In_CA' post='820935' date='Dec 11 2007, 07:09 PM']OK, I'm a dufus. I have always thought that you are to hit the ball on the driver's face in the upper half with an ascending blow. Now in Golf magazine about the 4 longest drivers, that you should hit the ball more in the center, otherwise you'll lose spin and not get your maximum distance.

Where is the proper place to hit the ball?

BTW I have SS of ~103-105
Driver is Cobra pro x-speed S.

Thanks,
Ken[/quote]
A hypothetical:

You go to a fitter and get fitted for a club with optimal launch angle, but you're making contact higher on the face (where the curve gives you a higher launch than the stated loft of the club specifies). When you finally decide "Hey! I'm going to hit more in the center of the face to get longer distance!" you may very well [b]decrease[/b] your distance because when you hit in the 'sweet spot', you're now dropping maybe a degree or two off of your launch angle. You're no longer at your optimal launch, and it's time to head back to the clubfitter.

Theoretically - the center of the face will give you a better launch, so long as it is the proper loft for you.

Hope that helped.

[pocketfulladoubles]

Really interesting thread. I'm a big believer in using impact tape at the range. I'm going to experiment with adjusting the tee heights to adjust the face impact location vs. flight/carry. Anyone else want to try also, I'm really curious to see the concensus.

[Ken_In_CA]

[quote name='JfBrshie56' post='821695' date='Dec 12 2007, 09:06 AM'][quote name='Ken_In_CA' post='820935' date='Dec 11 2007, 07:09 PM']OK, I'm a dufus. I have always thought that you are to hit the ball on the driver's face in the upper half with an ascending blow. Now in Golf magazine about the 4 longest drivers, that you should hit the ball more in the center, otherwise you'll lose spin and not get your maximum distance.

Where is the proper place to hit the ball?

BTW I have SS of ~103-105
Driver is Cobra pro x-speed S.

Thanks,
Ken[/quote]
A hypothetical:

You go to a fitter and get fitted for a club with optimal launch angle, but you're making contact higher on the face (where the curve gives you a higher launch than the stated loft of the club specifies). When you finally decide "Hey! I'm going to hit more in the center of the face to get longer distance!" you may very well [b]decrease[/b] your distance because when you hit in the 'sweet spot', you're now dropping maybe a degree or two off of your launch angle. You're no longer at your optimal launch, and it's time to head back to the clubfitter.

Theoretically - the center of the face will give you a better launch, so long as it is the proper loft for you.

Hope that helped.
[/quote]

I actually got fitted twice. Once with just the club using whatever golf balls they had on the floor, and so the basic set up worked just fine with the 10.5* head & stiff shaft. Then I did the bridgestone challenge and got fitted to either the B330 or B330's (same overall distance). The "s" went slightly higher and carried more, with a little less roll, which was fine with me, cuz I liked the "softer" feel around the green, plus as a bonus I was able to spin the ball a little more.

The one thing I remember is that they used the rubber tee and I hate that cuz the ball sits lower than I would normally tee it. So maybe I was making contact more center in the shop than when I tee it at the course. Hmmm, sounds like I need to hit the range today...

[TEConnor]

[quote name='pocketfulladoubles' post='821789' date='Dec 12 2007, 01:33 PM']Really interesting thread. I'm a big believer in using impact tape at the range. I'm going to experiment with adjusting the tee heights to adjust the face impact location vs. flight/carry. Anyone else want to try also, I'm really curious to see the concensus.[/quote]

For most drivers, there is no need to use impact tape. Just start with a clean titanium face, lightly spit on it, wipe it once with a sleeve, hit a clean range ball. Repeat until rich. You'll see where you hit it just as well as with impact tape, in my experience.

Tim

[Lake]

[quote name='Ken_In_CA' post='821804' date='Dec 12 2007, 12:56 PM']Hmmm, sounds like I need to hit the range today... [/quote]

Must be nice!!!!!!!! I'm parked under a big ol' cloud and the COLD is on its heels

Has anyone purchaed the impact tape that was featured on The Golf Channel's Inventor Show? If so, where to get it and what the was name of the company...I remember him saying they spent a million buckaroos on that stuff

[Ken_In_CA]

Strike N Swipe:

Golfsmith for $10

[url="http://www.golfsmith.com/products/291128"]http://www.golfsmith.com/products/291128[/url]

[Lake]

Thanks Ken....don't forget the sunscreen ya lucky dog

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='TEConnor' post='821808' date='Dec 12 2007, 01:59 PM'][quote name='pocketfulladoubles' post='821789' date='Dec 12 2007, 01:33 PM']Really interesting thread. I'm a big believer in using impact tape at the range. I'm going to experiment with adjusting the tee heights to adjust the face impact location vs. flight/carry. Anyone else want to try also, I'm really curious to see the concensus.[/quote]

For most drivers, there is no need to use impact tape. Just start with a clean titanium face, lightly spit on it, wipe it once with a sleeve, hit a clean range ball. Repeat until rich. You'll see where you hit it just as well as with impact tape, in my experience.

Tim
[/quote]

I do the same thing! Works, too.

To the original question:

The Cg of early 400 and 460CC drivers was higher on the face and in order to get the high launch/low spin effect and maximize carry, you had to hit it high on face. Recent generations of drivers have the Cg lower and more centered on the face. So the answer greatly depends on the specific model of driver you are using.

[Ken_In_CA]

[quote name='hoganfan924' post='821869' date='Dec 12 2007, 11:54 AM'][quote name='TEConnor' post='821808' date='Dec 12 2007, 01:59 PM'][quote name='pocketfulladoubles' post='821789' date='Dec 12 2007, 01:33 PM']Really interesting thread. I'm a big believer in using impact tape at the range. I'm going to experiment with adjusting the tee heights to adjust the face impact location vs. flight/carry. Anyone else want to try also, I'm really curious to see the concensus.[/quote]

For most drivers, there is no need to use impact tape. Just start with a clean titanium face, lightly spit on it, wipe it once with a sleeve, hit a clean range ball. Repeat until rich. You'll see where you hit it just as well as with impact tape, in my experience.

Tim
[/quote]

I do the same thing! Works, too.

To the original question:

The Cg of early 400 and 460CC drivers was higher on the face and in order to get the high launch/low spin effect and maximize carry, you had to hit it high on face. Recent generations of drivers have the Cg lower and more centered on the face. So the answer greatly depends on the specific model of driver you are using.
[/quote]

Ok, I'm confused...

Here's my spec's:
Driver: 10.5* Cobra pro x-speed S
Shaft: Stock speeder stiff

Swing speed: 103-105 ish
Moderate to smooth swing tempo.

Right now I'm averaging 260ish overall