Last month, I showed data that indicates how important a positive Angle of Attack is if you are interested in optimizing your driving distance.  Achieving a positive Angle of Attack is not something that you can do with equipment - but is possible with some swing modifications.  This article shows what some of the world's experts in club fitting and golf instruction suggest if you want to achieve optimal driving distance.   

We had a very good AGCP forum discussion on this topic in December (thanks Bob Williams, Pasadena Clubfitter).  Dana Upshaw - one of the world's best clubfitters - agreed (thank you Dana!) that I could note his 3 keys for achieving optimal Angle of Attack AND Ball Spin with your drives:

• Set your driver ball position so that the ball is at least under your lead shoulder at impact:

• Make sure your upper hand (left hand for right handed golfers) wrist is slightly bowed toward the target at impact; and

• Contact the golf ball on the upper third of the clubface center. 

It is important to note that achieving an upward Angle of Attack AND a Low Ball Spin are equally important to optimize driving distance.  Having a slightly bowed wrist at impact, and hitting on the upper third of the club center, help to achieve lower ball spin.  

What does the setup and impact positions look like for golfers who wish to achieve an upward Angle of Attack?  Mike McFadden, a Master PGA professional in Germany and an excellent club fitter, allowed me to share this picture of what this setup position and impact position should look like:

The top picture is a standard driver setup.  The bottom picture - with the head a bit back, the back shoulder a bit lower, and the wrist slightly bowed - is the impact position that can help promote a positive Angle of Attack.  (NOTE this is revision from my original newsletter sent about 1/2 hour ago, I made a correction based on input from Mike, thanks!).

Another important element to hitting the ball straight when you are working on your driving setup is to remember the discussion that was in this newsletter on "D-Plane" - see July 2012 Newsletter for more details.  In brief - when you play the ball more forward in your stance, at impact you will be past the "low point" in your swing - and with a square stance setup the ball will go left.  You need to Slightly Close your stance and swing on that stance line when you play the ball forward in your stance - to hit it straight. 

I think you can see how this impact position can promote swinging a bit "up" on your drives and achieve a positive AofA.  Here is a link to a video for a great drill I found to help golfers get the feel for achieving a positive AofA - from Andrew Rice Golf:

     "Golf Ball Box Drill" - from Andrew Rice Golf 

Finally, to see how some of the Pros do this, here are videos of Bubba Watson and Jamie Sladlowski (2 time Long Drive Champion) hitting their driver.  Note their ball position and shoulder tilt at address:

     Bubba Waston Drives 

     Jamie Sladlowski Driver (Oops Golf Channel!)  

(You I hope know what I meant by Oops!!).

Now NOTE - this is what golfers need to do to achieve a positive AofA.  It will require proper practice - and getting proper instruction and another set of eyes to help you is highly recommended. 

Finally - if you were not convinced before, I hope you can see the value for most golfers of a Forward Ball Position with your driver. 

Making your putts roll with topspin - rather than skidding as they come off your putter - can help you to create more consistent putting results.  The Science and Motion (SAM) PuttLab folks have published the fourth in a series of articles on The Fundamentals of Putting - this one is on Spin and Launch - a very worthwhile read:  

     Fundamentals Of Putting - Spin and Launch   

The key fundamental that helps a golfer to create topspin in their putts is that the Putting Rise Angle at Impact should be greater than the Effective Loft of the Putter at Impact.   

I will not reproduce the information in the article, but here are a few of the more important things from it that you should remember:

• For fast greens about 2 degrees of rise angle seems to be about correct for proper ball launch.  As a result, many putter manufacturers are starting to make their putters with about 2 degrees of loft.  My fitted Edel putter has 1 degree of loft and it works very well for me;

• "Effective Loft" is the actual loft of a putter and any additional positive or negative loft that a golfer may add at impact.  I personally did not realize (until SAM testing) that I used to add loft to my putter at address - and I have seen others who do so when testing them.  Adding loft makes it more difficult to get putts to have topspin roll - get "another set of eyes" to see how you set up your putter at address;

• Moving the ball forward in your stance can add rise angle to your stroke - typically one ball forward will add about one degree of rise angle.  

 A "cool tool" for actually seeing if you create top spin or skid in your stroke is the Rife Putting Dew Board.  Glen Coombe - "The Putting Doctor" - created a little video that shows how this tool works:

     Rife Putting Dew Board 

Getting your putts to roll with top spin is achievable!   

Edel Wedges, Attending 2013 PGA Show  

Edel Golf has done an extensive and excellent update of their web site.  They now have a page where you can see the 8 different Edel wedge grinds and how they can help ALL type of golfers, here is the link:

     Edel Wedge On-Line Fitting Page  

Now you can either order these great wedges directly on line - or you can visit me - I have the full fitting cart - to hit each wedge grind and find out first hand how Edel Wedges make ALL wedge shots easy to hit.

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I will be attending the PGA Show in Orlando at the end of January.  It will be a VERY exciting week - Edel putter and wedge fitting training, PGA Demo Day, one day on the Show Floor, and one day of SAM PuttLab Certification Training.  I plan to report some great information from the Show to you next month.