Gonna be an expensive night.
 

You're joking right?

Get your wallet out and while you've got it out, I'd like one too please. :)

That's exactly what it does.

In fact the next version, will actually draw the lines on video for those with a poor imagination.

I'll call for a quote and demonstration.

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.

Daryl,
That day may be here sooner than you might think.

A friend of mine,GSEM, told me a story. He was visiting the show at Orlando last january. he went to the range to see some action. He stopped at one of the biggest brands since they had a Trackman and they where offering a "try out" to anyone who wanted.

He told me that they did fix peoples ball flights within 15-20 minutes and that without any "technical" advice given. Amazed by that, he did have a chat with the boys running the TM. None of them was instructors but they did know HOW to read the numbers and WHAT was needed to change for better ball flights. It did not matter which ball flight that was requested by the student, they did "deliver".


With the knowledge that you and many others here have, I hope that you get a chance to spend a couple of hours on a machine. I would also say that having a person who actually knows how to read the numbers is an imperative!

Interesting . . . . HOLLA . . . .

That IS teaching. I've been teaching that way for 20 years. Quality instruction should always be based on "improving" the ball flight and requires a good working knowledge of the impact collision conditions that create ball flight. Heck, I can tell you what your Plane, Path, Clubface, Angle of Attack, and impact point is, within a few degrees, WITHOUT a TrackMan. For example, I can tell you that your Path is too far left and your clubface is too open to that Path. But that doesn't mean you'll have any idea how to change that. I could simply say aim more right and close the clubface more at set-up. And if that works, fine. But a great teacher will more quickly and effectively guide you to produce the desired impact collision conditions, with a plethora of proven techniques, than you could ever do on your own.

A little precise info sometimes makes a big difference
 

This summer I explained to a couple of kids how side spin is created. They were attending a summer golf schoole and had no previous experience with the game. One of the kids had good moves but he sliced the ball big time.

I spent about 60 seconds, explaining the basic impact geometry to him, and how a slice sidespin was created and how he needed to impact the ball to produce a draw. I compared with soccer.

He said that he understood, and proceded to ..... <drumroll> .... hit nice draws straight down the fairway.

I don't know who were most amazed - he or me - but that was pretty awsome.