What Effects The Distance A Golf Ball Travels

No matter what a golfer concentrates on when trying to improve their drive it all boils down to one thing—making the ball travel the furthest with the most accuracy. There are basically four points of interest to golfers who are working on their driving skills. It is common for a player to focus more heavily on one of these aspects than the others where it would behoove them to pay attention to all four parts of the equation. The main ingredients to attaining a perfect drive are: the club swing speed, the angle of contact, driver technology, and finally golf ball technology.

Club Swing Speed

Technological advances in shaft materials have created some game improving aspects to the clubs that were never before possible. The rigid steel shafts of your grandfather's golf set can still be found but people who wish to improve the power in their swing look for more pliable shafts. Clubs made with graphite shafts are not only lighter making it possible to get more power from your own muscle power they also provide a whipping action. The pliable graphite bends slightly as it meets wind resistance during your swing and as it comes to its final contact spot it whips forward into position to give further impact power. Impact power translates into a heavier hit that sends the ball into the air faster – and further.

Angle of Contact

Higher handicap golfers are best advised to use a set of clubs with a bigger degree of offset. The more angled the club head the more the ball is swept up into the air in a 'shovel action.' This is a double edged sword because the larger the offset the less control a golfer has over their shots and angles can be difficult to navigate. Lower handicap golfers tend to prefer less offset in favor of more control because their stance and swing control gives them enough of a boost that they can forego the scoop in trying to get the ball further down the fairway.

Driver Technology

This is an area where there is a great deal of diversity and true game improving possibilities for all levels of players. Manufacturers work hard to provide advanced technology from scooped muscle backs to all forms of cavity backs, balanced weighting, perimeter weighting, deep center of gravities, pushed back center of gravity, weighted bars, cushioning behind the sweet spot, weight at the toe and heel to balance the club head at impact, and many other aspects to improve a player's game. Each player needs to accurately judge the problems they are having with their swing in order to pick a set of clubs that will assist them in overcoming those problems and get the best performance. From big manufacturers like TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, and Titleist use their top tour players to give them feedback on what might improve their games and that trickles down to their entire line of clubs. Smaller manufacturers like Nickent, Wilson, and Cleveland have some incredible niche products that have unique and substantial game improving qualities.

Golf Ball Technology

An often overlooked aspect of distance acquisition is the golf ball itself. The uninitiated may not know why golf balls have the little dimples all over them that they do. Those are more than just decoration; they provide aerodynamic qualities to the little round spheres. The more dimpling a ball has the further and faster it will travel. Another aspect manufacturers are always trying to improve on is the material that makes up the center of the ball. Nike uses a polybutadiene center that makes the ball lighter in order to give it a faster speed.

Here more than any other area mentioned above is a fine and shady area as many companies make balls that are indeed designed for maximum distance but they are illegal for use in official games. Some golfers still prefer to use these balls in their own personal games and get a thrill from the lower scores they are able to achieve as a result of it, but can be disappointed when they go to play in a tournament or against others who demand the use of only regulation balls and they lose that advantage.

Going the Distance

Pick and choose your game improving technologies wisely in accordance with your personal habits and skill level and you can do great things. As even more innovations come along manufacturers are quick to pick up on them and pass them on to you. The most intelligent use of these mechanical enhancements is to let them assist you in making appropriate adjustments to your game. Then not only will golfers get the maximum benefit from their swing at the moment, they will develop even better game skills for the future.