Question:
You would do well to purchase any one of a gazillion golf books that explains the ballistics of club-ball contact. A good one is "Golf for Dummies." It’s not the best INSTRUCTION book, but it’s got a pretty fair explanation of this phenomenon I call "golf ball ballistics." But there are others that explain it, too. Put simply, the path the clubhead is traveling at impact will determine to a large degree the direction at which the ball travels initially. The angle where the club face is aimed relative to that path will determine the sidespin imparted to the ball. The ball will descend in the direction of the sidespin. So if the club path is square to the target but the face is open to that path, the ball will start out toward the target, but will descend to the right. If this is a gentle movement, it’s known as a fade. If it’s a severe angle, it’s known as a slice. A right-to-left (for right-handers) movement is known as a draw (if it’s gentle) and a hook (when it’s more severe). The ballistics are the opposite — the face is closed to the path at impact. For a more detailed explanation on how to control these flight patterns, may I direct you to my website. The URL is below. Navigate to the section on instruction, and then find the pages on "working the ball." It’s all free. Nothing to sell. Nothing to sign up for. No spam. No salesman will call. Batteries not included. Member FDIC. Use only as directed. Operators are standing by. Not available in stores. Closed Sundays. 
Randy One of the web’s most-visited personal golf websites Featured in USA TODAY, and in the USGA’s official publication, "Golf Journal" http://wwwgolfer.home.mindspring.com RSG Roll Call profile: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/brownr.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone,as the header says, I’ve recently taken the game up, and excursions into the trees/bushes!!<g What I want to know is, what golf ball should I start off with, one that is optimised for distance, or one that is optimised for spin, etc….. Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I drive off the tee, every now and then my ball travels the first 100yds or so perfectly straight, before it banks heavily right (slices). What could be causing this?? Like I said this happenes every now and then, and what confuses me is that I don’t seem to be doing anything different, obviously this isn’t so!<g Thanks in advance, and apologies to anyone, if these questions have already been addressed. Lor.
Response:
Hi Loren: I’m a 5 handicapper and I could care less what ball I hit. Other players say that I should play the same ball. I buy about 100 used balls at the beginning of the season. My four boys get the less than perfect balls and I play with the rest. I usually buy another bunch of balls during the season and this gets me through to the end. I wouldn’t worry about the ball at all. Learn your stroke from a teaching pro and then hit the range for practice practice and more practice. Stuart
Response:
Years ago when I was also playing to the rarified level of 5, I had the same attitude. I have now gone back to the game after 12 years off and find that the same tactics don’t work for me know and I have settled on the Titleist Tour or Tour Distance. I certainly notice a big difference in the stopping power of the 3 piece ball as against the 2 piece distance balls but the biggest difference is on the green where I am now certain that playing the same ball (or perhaps to stretch a point – "ball type") is essential. Golf is a game where we are all looking to reduce the variables. I find that playing the same ball assists in this area. One thing is for certain, there is no one ball for everyone and the distsnce vs control/ability to work the ball is always a trade off. Get hold of a copy of Titleists Ball Catalogue. It makes interesting reading. MRM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Loren: I’m a 5 handicapper and I could care less what ball I hit. Other players say that I should play the same ball. I buy about 100 used balls at the beginning of the season. My four boys get the less than perfect balls and I play with the rest. I usually buy another bunch of balls during the season and this gets me through to the end. I wouldn’t worry about the ball at all. Learn your stroke from a teaching pro and then hit the range for practice practice and more practice. Stuart
Response:
Hi As a reletively new golfer myself, I tend to be starting to look at balls that I can afford. Although I am quite taken with the spaulding top-flite 2000 extra distance, as I am not a hard hitter, as a new golfer, there is a tendency to drop the odd ball in water, or into the serious rough out of bounds areas and never see them again. but hell, its the best fun I have had in years wla
Response:
Hi everyone,as the header says, I’ve recently taken the game up, and excursions into the trees/bushes!!<g
Don’t worry – that fervor for shrubbery will subside NI! What I want to know is, what golf ball should I start off with, one that is optimised for distance, or one that is optimised for spin, etc…..
Go with a distance ball. I’m a fan of the Titleist HVCs and DTs – good all-around ball. The ‘titanium’ and other fancy stuff doesn’t mean anything substantial, so don’t spend extra $$ on that. Try starting with a 90 compression (red numbered) balls, they’re a bit softer on impact, but it really doesn’t matter much. You might want to avoid TopFlites since their balls are often harder than other balls. Only low-hcp amateurs and pros have the control to justify using a spin ball. IMHO, the way to spend money on equipment is simple: buy inexpensive balls, comfortable shoes, putter, and save your money for _custom fitted_ clubs and lessons. You shouldn’t need to buy clubs every year or two – too many weekenders fall into the ‘fashionable bag’ trap or believe the marketing that says that equipment is a shortcut to improvement. It’s not. Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I drive off the tee, every now and then my ball travels the first 100yds or so perfectly straight, before it banks heavily right (slices). What could be causing this??
That’s your textbook slice. It’s good that you’re aware of the difference in initial direction and the curve of the ball. This means that your clubface is square at impact, but you need to alter the motion of the clubhead a slight bit. Your slice is created by sidespin which arises from your clubhead moving slightly right-left as it sweeps through impact. If you watch a consistent straight-ball hitter, you’ll see a path like this: [View from above the ball] . . . . ball: O O . . . . . Straight shot Slice The straight shot swing approaches the ball slightly from the inside, actually imparting a bit of hook to the ball, and follows through impact several inches perfectly on line with the target. Watch for a slice by seeing how quickly the club pulls left during/after impact. The slight inside-out swing is needed to counteract the natural outside-in effect of swinging along an arc. Contrary to some beginners’ intuitions, trying to hit it to the left only makes it worse. The key is to find what little thing is causing this slicing path. I could discuss a bunch of possibilities (hands too far ahead, weight on left side too early, too steep of a swing plane), but the plain fact is that nothing beats good instruction. (It’s also hard to write about this stuff without pictures) Lessons with a pro are no ego-buster, fact is, any good golfer appreciates the value of instruction. With a good understanding of why a slice occurs, you could probably fix it yourself, but a pro will be a knowledgeable, unconfusing shortcut to the answer. A pro will also be able to say what part of your game needs refinement first, another timesaver. Considering that most of us don’t play or practice for free, you could argue that lessons can save money. Like I said this happenes every now and then, and what confuses me is that I don’t seem to be doing anything different, obviously this isn’t so!<g
It’s taken me years of practice to get the general idea of why I slice. For me, it varies since I fiddle with all different styles of swings, and my mistakes are rarely the same. A friend (who knows how to not say too much) or pro can quickly point out what’s happening. Thanks in advance, and apologies to anyone, if these questions have already been addressed.
They have been, will be, and are always important. You might have a look at: http://www.purgatorygolf.com/booklet/complete.htm, a solid introductory tutorial. Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lor.
Response:
Hi everyone,as the header says, I’ve recently taken the game up, and excursions into the trees/bushes!!<g What I want to know is, what golf ball should I start off with, one that is optimised for distance, or one that is optimised for spin, etc….. Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I drive off the tee, every now and then my ball travels the first 100yds or so perfectly straight, before it banks heavily right (slices). What could be causing this?? Like I said this happenes every now and then, and what confuses me is that I don’t seem to be doing anything different, obviously this isn’t so!<g Thanks in advance, and apologies to anyone, if these questions have already been addressed. Lor.
Response:
What I want to know is, what golf ball should I start off with, one that is optimised for distance, or one that is optimised for spin, etc…..
Until you’re fairly experienced and hitting the ball consistently, you probably will not notice a whole lot of difference in actual play between different kinds of golf balls. Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I drive off the tee, every now and then my ball travels the first 100yds or so perfectly straight, before it banks heavily right (slices). What could be causing this?? Like I said this happenes every now and then, and what confuses me is that I don’t seem to be doing anything different, obviously this isn’t so!<g
I’d been playing for 5-6 years before last Spring, and I had never had a regular series of lessons. I had had some lessons here and there, but never stuck with it or practiced enough for the lessons to help. I wish I hadn’t waited so long — my swing improved a lot over the summer, but part of the struggle was trying to break bad habits I’d been drilling in over 5-6 years. If you could set aside a couple of months this spring, find a good teaching pro, and commit to one lesson and one practice session a week (each of these will take about an hour), you will be doing yourself a big favor in the long run. Enjoy. Before you buy.