Peter Finch: How Impact Varies from Club to Club

Ball position is vital in dictating ball flight as it influences angle of attack and dynamic loft. Peter Finch explains how impact varies from club to club

impact varies from club to club

Ball position is vital in dictating ball flight as it influences angle of attack and dynamic loft. Peter Finch explains how impact varies from club to club

HOW IMPACT VARIES FROM CLUB TO CLUB Ball position in relation to your body is crucial in determining ball flight as it dictates angle of attack and the dynamic loft on the clubface at the point impact.

Ball position and angle of attack The ball on the left in the centre of my stance highlights where it should be for a standard shot with a wedge or short iron.

If it’s further back, your path will be a little bit more downwards and from an inside position – that’s why when tour pros move the ball back to play a punch shot, they’ll aim a little further left to counteract the swing moving more from the inside.

Ball position moves gradually forward in the stance from wedge (ball on left in photo) to driver (ball on right)

Ball position then moves progressively further forward as you work up through the bag to your driver, represented by the ball on the right here. The further forward the ball is, the more you’ll start to swing off to the left and up on the ball.

Watch all 7 videos in Peter's 'Keys to Consistency' series...

Ball position and dynamic loft Ball position also affects dynamic loft. If your hands stay ahead of the ball at impact with the shaft leaning towards the target, the dynamic loft on the club will be lower than its static loft.

The further back the ball is, the greater the difference between dynamic loft at impact and static loft. The ball will also then come out a little lower, and with a full swing, you’ll take a bigger divot but also send the ball a little further.

The further back the ball is, the greater the difference between static loft and dynamic loft at impact (shown here)

Impact varies from club to club, and ball position in relation to your body and where it is at point of impact affects line, path, dynamic loft and angle of attack, all of which combine to produce your overall ball flight.

 

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response