More About Hitting Up with the Driver
Posted by Double Eagle in Driving Tips
I was interested to read an article at the Grouchy Golf Blog this week about the topic of hitting drives with an ascending blow. Golf Grouch dug up an article from the January 2008 issue of Golf Magazine that shows, via scientific launch monitor testing, that a ball struck with an ascending blow will carry several yards further than a drive struck with a level blow and even further than a drive struck with a downward blow. This holds true for club head speeds ranging from 75 mph to 120 mph.
I have no idea how I missed the article in Golf Magazine early this year. Hop over to the Grouchy Golf Blog and check it out.
I must confess that I still need to read Bobby Clampett’s book where he covers hitting drives with a descending blow. However, since I covered this topic originally, I have yet to see any of the “hit down” advocates present any scientific evidence that shows that hitting drives with a descending blow will result in more distance.
However - and this is important - this doesn’t prove that hitting with a descending blow won’t make you a more accurate driver. It also doesn’t prove whether the swing required to hit with a descending blow somehow helps a player make more consistent contact in the sweet spot. That would have the effect of increasing a player’s average distance because solid contact with a descending blow will probably trump poor, inconsistent contact with an ascending blow. This is far from optimal, though.
It does show, however, that hitting down with a driver imparts more spin on the ball and for people that slice, more spin will compound the problem.
I’m a big fan of scientific study. That’s why I like Dave Pelz so much. Golf Magazine did just that to show that hitting drives with an ascending blow will provide more distance - well over 20 yards hitting with an angle of ascent of 5 degrees versus hitting on a descending angle of 5 degrees. At higher club head speeds, it can be over 30 yards more carry.
Why does this happen? It comes down to a few simple bits of physics: spin rate, launch angle, and ball speed. Hitting up is the best way to achieve optimal results with those things. It may also have something to do with modern drivers being designed to respond optimally with an ascending blow.
I welcome anyone to present evidence that striking drives with a descending blow will result in longer drives. As it stands, the only evidence I’ve ever seen shows that the opposite is true.
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