Do you know enough about swinging the golf club?
In researching the best golf balls for women, we have talked about a range of different things that affect golf balls.
A lot of comments have been made about swing speed, compression, spin and a whole host of other techie terms that relate to the subject.
So, I decided to write about swinging the golf club to explain some of these issues.
Thus, when you are out there choosing the best golf balls for you, along with other golf equipment, I hope this will help you to make considered choices.
Just What Is The Difference Between A Slow And A Fast Swing Speed?
Professional golfers are generally blessed with a fast swing speed. What is fast? You may well ask.
Well, if you take Tiger Woods, for example, his top swing speed is somewhere around 130 mph!
Most male golfers will be swinging the golf club at between 90 and 110 mph.
The occasional female does, too. Laura Davies – one of Britain’s Golf Legends – is known to have a swing speed in excess of 100 mph!
When thinking about swinging the golf club, a slow swing speed would sit somewhere between 70 and 85 mph. Most women golfers would fit into this category.
This is why it is important to choose the right golf balls to match the slower swing speed of the golf club.
Of course, it is not only female golfers who have a slower swing speed.
It may be that some men, who fit into the “senior” golfing category, could have lost some power from their swing.
If that is so, then they, too, would benefit from using golf balls manufactured specifically for slower swing speeds.
You may be wondering “how on earth can I check my swing speed”?
Well, some golfing facilities and pro shops have great technology these days that can take those sorts of measurements.
So, if you really want to know, you can also get a professional fitting.
In this way, you can learn about your swing speed, as well as assess the right golf clubs to use.
Understanding Compression and Spin
The compression rating of a golf ball is determined by the hardness or softness of the inner core of the golf ball.
Compression ratings of golf balls sit somewhere between 50 and 110.
The speed at which the club head strikes the golf ball causes the ball to compress and generate some serious energy while spinning off the club face.
Too much spin at the moment of impact will make the ball fly too high and lose distance. I call this a “sky ball”!!
Golf balls come in two, three and four pieces. The two-piece golf ball comprises the core and the cover.
In three and four piece balls there are one or more inner covers, known as mantles, that surround the core before the outer cover goes on.
These mantles work in conjunction with the core and the cover to help reduce spin on the ball.
Two-piece golf balls, with a softer core and cover, are much more appropriate to slower swing speed golfers than the three and four piece golf balls.
A slower swing speed imparts less spin onto the ball with the driver and will ultimately result in greater distance off the tee.
About Swinging The Golf Club The Right Way
Playing a good golf game is really dependent upon developing and maintaining a consistently good swing with the golf club.
And this can only come from much practice and maybe some lessons from a golf pro.
The more you are able to practice swinging the club, the more “muscle memory” will be retained and the more likely you are to consistently swing in the same way and at the same pace.
Always try to make sure that you “address” the ball properly and appropriately.
(For non-golfers, this means how you stand over the ball when making a shot).
Your club face should be aimed at the target and everything about your set-up – your feet, your hips, your shoulders – need to be aligned properly for the best result.
Even when this occurs, some golfers still manage to slice the ball.
(This means that the ball curves off to the right after launch).
The slice is often caused by what is called an “outside-in” swing.
And the golfer will swing across the ball rather than through it, the club face will be open at impact which will cause the ball to slice to the right.
The effect of the slice is to reduce the distance that the ball travels off the tee.
And if the slice is severe it can result in a golf ball lost in the rough.
My dear husband and golf partner, Rick, manages to slice the ball more often than he should and has lost many golf balls over the years.
There are ways to prevent a slice, but that is a topic for those more experienced than I!
I hope this has helped you to understand that this is about swinging the golf club the right way.
This will always give you the best result.
Don’t Use The Wrong Golf Balls
Of course, you won’t get the best result with the wrong golf balls even if you are swinging the golf club the right way!
Using a ball with a harder core, if you have a relatively slow swing, will not get you more distance.
Quite the contrary!
We have already discussed why it is important that golfers with slower swing speeds need to choose softer, preferably two-piece golf balls.
Go here to read more about this.
So, playing good golf is not only about swinging the golf club the right way.
It is also about having the right equipment for the type of golfer you are.
Once you understand your own golf game, it will be a breeze for you to choose the right equipment. Moreover, your game will improve and become more consistent.
The Final Thrust
Modern technology has ensured that golf is now a highly technical game.
It’s important to choose the right balls to suit your golf game, but also other equipment choices will be vital.
For instance, choosing golf clubs with the right type of shaft will also be important. Not surprisingly, we no longer use golf clubs with wooden shafts!
The shafts of golf clubs today are made from three different materials.
Steel, which is the heaviest, Graphite, which is the lightest and then a combination of Graphite and Steel.
Each of these materials have a different effect on how you swing the golf club and ultimately on the type of golf game you play.
Undertaking the research to learn all this technical stuff about golf balls and other equipment has been great fun!
The more I delve into it, the more interesting it becomes.
I hope that you’ve had fun, too, reading about all the stuff I found out so far.
I know that there’s lots more to learn, so I shall keep going to bring you information that will help you to better understand the game of golf.
Personally, I don’t know much about golf, but my old man plays and I enjoy watching him swing the club. Years ago, anytime I saw him looking closely at the balls and weighing them with his hands I felt it was an unnecessary inspection. Then one day I decided to ask why he always checked the balls? he said “the ball is the game, pick the wrong ball you play the wrong game…”.
My niece have picked interest in the golf game and she has already started swinging the club like a pro. I love seeing them (my niece and my father) discuss in low tones when talking about their games like a serious business.
Thanks so much for your comments Peter. Even though I’ve been playing golf for a while, until I started researching this topic, I had no idea how important it was to play with the right balls for your particular swing speed. Your niece could check out details about the right golf balls right here. My golf game is improving by the minute!