球頭角度和擊球角度

以下的圖片是當鐵桿"正確"的放在地面時的樣子. (球頭底部跟地面平行)

每一個球頭都有它自己的度數, 分為通常分為
1) Loft(球頭度數, 高擊斜面;擊球高度) ,

2) Lie(桿身對地的度數) ,
3) 鐵桿通常還會多一個Bounce的度數Loft角度 就是當球頭擊到球的那一瞬間, 球頭面是多少仰角. 度數越高球越高.
Lie角度 就是當球桿放下時, 桿身跟身體的角度對比. 通常不同拿桿方式和球員身高對Lie的要求不一樣.
Bounce角度 是球頭邊緣(Leading Edge)跟地面的差距角度. 通常會在買挖起桿時需要注意.
Bounce(9 ~ 14度) 高的球頭是通常用於深草和沙坑的球. 因為球會高於地面.
Bounce(-4 ~ 6度) 低的球頭試用於一般Fairway 和下坡地. 因為球就位於地面或低於地面.

Sand Wedge 通常是High Bounce. 而許多Lob Wedge 是 Low Bounce 下次你可以看看你的Wedge
Bounce 是大概多少.

Club Face Angle / Loft Angle

So, Here is a picture of an iron. If you put down the club "correctly" when the buttom/sole of the club to the ground. You should able to see the club from the side like the picture above.

Every club has its own design angle(Loft and Lie) plus the Bounce(I will mention later). The loft of the club will affect to the trajectory of the ball will flight. The higher(More open) the loft is, the more higher the ball will flight.

However, not every golfer created equal. Therefore, swing will change from player to player. Some golfer will always hit the ball higher than others even they are using the same club. Why? Because when the club-face made the impact with the ball, the "effective loft" is what really counts!

Example:

Lets say that my #7 Iron loft is 34 Degree.

I suppost to hit the ball with 34 degree when impacting the ball. However, I rotated my wrist too much open when I am hitting the ball. therefore, the real (effective loft) is actually 39 degree. So now the ball will flight 5 degree higher than what it should be.

34(Original Club Loft) + 5(My wrist too open) = 39(Real effective Loft)

So, if I complain about my balls flight too high, I can try to get a set of iron that is designed stronger(less Loft). In many case, it will be the LT(Low Trajectory) series. Maybe in the LT series, the 7 iron is 30 degree. So with my open wrist hobby, I will get 35 degree effective loft.

Vala! The balls flight about the right high now!

The Ball Flight Laws

Above are the shots that a golfer can create from a swing. There are total 9 different ways of the ball flight.

1st) Pull Hook : Close Face + Outside-In Swing Path
2nd) Pull : Square Face + Outside-In Swing Path
3rd) Hook : Close Face + Inside-Out Swing Path
4th) Draw: Close Face + Straight Swing Path

5th) Pure: Square Face + Straight Swing Path

6th) Fade: Open Face + Straight Swing Path
7th) Slice: Open Face + Outside-In Swing Path
8th) Push: Open Face + Straight Swing Path
9th) Push Slice: Open Face + Inside-Out Swing Path

The direction of the ball fly can be effected by two factors. They both measure in degrees.

1st) The Club-Head (Swing) path/Path of Hand. Which meaning how did the club contact the ball. And there are 3 ways that a "SWING PATH" can be produced. The swing path is measure from usually the distance/track between player's two feet.

a. A Straight Path. This is what every golfer's good swing path. If the Face is Flat when contact. The ball will travel nice and straight.

b. A Path from Out-side to In-side. Usually happened to most of the golfer because the right arm is stronger than left arm. (Right-Handed) Sometimes it can be generated also by "pulling" the club down or "chopping" the club down from the top. More than 80% of the beginners have this type of the swing path. The initial of the ball fly will goto the left side.(right-handed)
c. A path from in-side to Out-side. Usually can see from player that also play other sports that have the pulling out motion. Also from better players will favor in this style of the swing path.The initial of the ball fly will goto the right side.(right-handed)

2nd) The Club-Face Angle. There are basically three way you can impact the ball for the club face angle. OPEN, SQUARE, and CLOSE. However, degree of open and close can be different from swing to swing. The more degree it open, most likely the ball will spin to the open direction more later after the ball fly out.(Fade or Slice). The more degree it close, most likely the ball will spin to the close direction. (draw or hook).


EFFECTIVE LOFT AT IMPACT
This will determine the height the ball will fly. If, at impact, the hands are behind the club-head, the loft will be increased and the ball will fly higher. In another hand, if, at impact, the hands are ahead of the club-head, the loft will be decreased and the ball will fly lower.

SWEET SPOT
This is the focal point of your club-face(usually in the center) and, if struck there, you will get solid contact and maximum distance. Also today, there is a measurement call M.O.I. this is also the measurement of the size of the sweet spot. So, when a golfer hits a off-center shot. Today's high M.O.I. driver will still hit the ball far and not lose much distance.

CLUBHEADSPEED
This will determine the distance your shot will travel with a given club, assuming you make solid contact.

新的高爾夫球球桿打擊的更遠?

嘿! 該換一個新的球桿了, 你的打不遠了!
真的嗎? 為什麼新的才打的比較遠? 難道科技真的進步了這麼多.
我來用以下的表來比較一下這些年來角度做的調整:

男用木桿和鐵桿的桿面角度進化史 – 業界的平均數字
球 桿	1960/1970〈桿面角度〉	1980 (桿面角度)	1990早期〈桿面角度〉	1997年以後〈桿面角度〉
一號鐵桿	17	17	16	16-17
二號鐵桿	20	20	19	18-20
三號鐵桿	24	23	22	20-21
四號鐵桿	28	26	25	23-24
五號鐵桿	32	30	28	26-27
六號鐵桿	36	34	32	30-31
七號鐵桿	40	38	36	34-35
八號鐵桿	44	42	40	38-40
九號鐵桿	48	46	44	42-44
劈起挖起桿	52	50	48	46-48
G 挖起桿	沒有	沒有	52	50-52
沙坑挖起桿	56	56	56	55-56
開球木桿	11	11	10	9-10.5
三號木桿	16	15	15	13-14
五號木桿	22	21	19	17-17
七號木桿	28	27	23	20-21
以上的數字是以大部份廠商的成品為標準, 不同廠牌和樣式會有一些不同.

那我們來比較看看1970 的 7 號鐵桿不就是跟現在的9號差不多? 而且還有一點, 1970的 7 Iron 長度是 36" 而現在的7 Iron確是 37"-38"
所以現在的9 號鐵桿打個跟以前的7號鐵一樣遠. 知道原因了嗎?

我們再來研究一個新的鐵桿. "GAP WEDGE". 這是一個近幾年開始流行的挖起桿. 因為鐵桿的度數越來越低, 所以在PW 和 SW 中造成了一個"斷層" 現今的PW 是 46度, SW 56度. 中央差在10 度左右, 所以需要一個新的之間的挖起桿. "GAP WEDGE" 就是這情況下的產物.

那我需要買新的球桿嗎? 反正不是真的打的比較遠.....真的, 不要小看科技的進步, 其實還是有差的. 新的球頭對大部份打不到中心點的擊球會有較多的幫助. 對這類的擊球, 距離不會失去太多而且方向也不會偏差太遠. 對大部份的球友來說還是會有許多的幫助的.

Why New Clubs hits the ball Further?

So we all know the new irons hit the ball further. But do you know what is the majority reason behind the new "hitting further" secret? This chart should give you an idea about how the Golf Makers of the world play around from the past.

Men's Club Loft Angle for average Brands
Club / Degree	1960/1970	1980〉	Early 1990	After 1997
1 Iron	17	17	16	16-17
2 Iron	20	20	19	18-20
3 Iron	24	23	22	20-21
4 Iron	28	26	25	23-24
5 Iron	32	30	28	26-27
6 Iron	36	34	32	30-31
7 Iron	40	38	36	34-35
8 Iron	44	42	40	38-40
9 Iron	48	46	44	42-44
Pitch Wedge	52	50	48	46-48
Gap Wedge	None	None	52	50-52
Sand Wedge	56	56	56	55-56
Driver	11	11	10	9-10.5
3 Wood	16	15	15	13-14
5 Wood	22	21	19	17-17
7 Wood	28	27	23	20-21
Driver Length	43.5	44	44.5	45-45.5
7 Iron Length	36	36.5	36.5-37	37-38
These are the average specs from different brands. They could be all slightly different due to different models.

As you can see. A 7 Iron from 1970 most likely have Loft Angle of 40 and Length of 36. Now you look at our 9 Iron from today, Loft 42 Degree and Length of 36. Is there something funny here? The club numbers are moving through time or we hitting further everyday?

And why we need a "GAP" wedge now? So from 1970 the gap between my PW and SW is 4 degree. Really! There is not a "big gap" it is quite standard. Look today's Iron. My PW is 46 and my SW is 56. My God! There is 10 degrees inbetween them. I really need something to fit into the gap! That is why!

Ofcause! I know the material changed and Tech really improve. That is also some factor of why we all hit the ball further. But the really improvement of the club is the forgiveness. Today we have a fancy term call M.O.I. (Moment Of Inertia) Which really mean that if I make a "bad" shot. I hit the ball somewhere around my sweet spot. I will not lose too much of distance and the direction of the ball fly will not be off completetly. Woo! That wil save my day somehow right?

So the question is that "SHOLD I GET A NEW SET OF IRONS?" The answer is most likely to be "YES". Because it will increase your happy days because it is really "more forgiving".

"ARE NEW DRIVER HIT THE BALL FURTHER?" The answer is also "YES" because most of the golfer dont hit the ball inthe dead center of the club-face. Therefore, we will find with the new driver, we dont"lose" much distance base from a higher M.O.I.

If you are a professional player. Always hit the ball at the sweet-spot and know what you doing. (like the people you see one TV playing for Million dallor) Keep using the new model of the clubs does not really help them much. They dont really hit the ball further by switching the clubs......Dont forget, playing golf is their job. They just pick the club which give them the most sponsorship money. So, Ernie use his new Callaway Iron now because it is much better than his old clubs? Hmmm.....I am guessing because he gets paid for using them? That is why now some people will be willing to pay for big money to use the same clubs that he used right? You tell me...

揮桿重量 Vs. 球桿重量

揮桿重量 (Swingweight)
揮桿重量測量的方法是以一種特殊的磅秤測量(以下圖畫為例). 找出桿子對稱的平衡點.
平衡點月靠近球頭, Swingweight 越重, 反而則越輕. 而較重的揮桿重量在揮桿時會懹球友
感到更多球頭的重量. 原因是因為球桿的大部份重心較靠近球頭.
我們把球桿的零件分為握把, 桿身, 球頭三大樣. 其他有微小的差異在膠帶, 膠水, 和Ferrule.
在平衡點前的握把與桿身重量統稱為握把重量，平衡點後所有的重量 ( 包括桿頭 ) 稱為桿頭
重量，任何一個配件重量的改變將會影響到揮桿重量。
揮桿重量的單位為一個英文字母加上一個數字，如 C-9 、 D-0 、 D-1 ， D-9 . 以上四樣中
最輕的單位C9， D-9 為最重的單位，以此類推。簡單來說，越接近桿頭的重量越重，揮桿重
量就越重，接近握把的配重越重 , 揮桿重量就會越輕。
通常的情況下男性的桿子會從C9 到 D5, 而女性的會從 C2 到 C9. 在一些情況下, 通常短桿會
比長桿有較重的揮桿重量.

來做一個舉例:
一個七號鐵桿 球頭重 270g, 桿身 125g, 握把 52g, 長度 37" Swing-Weight D2
如果我在握把內部加上一個4g (公克)的鉛帶, Swingweight 就可能變成D1

如果要更改揮桿重量, 以下的公式可能用:

球頭重量(Head) +2gr = +1 swingweight; -2 gr = -1 swingweight.
球桿重量(Shaft) +9 gr = +1 swingweight, -9 gr = -1 swingweight.
握把重量(Grip) +4 gr = -1 swingweight, -4 gr = +1 swingweight.
球桿長度(Length) + ½” = +3 swingweight points, - ½” = -3 swingweight points.
(當然有時膠帶和膠水等東西也會有一些影響)

所以最好的揮桿重量是什麼????
沒有什麼是一定的, 重點是你喜歡什麼重量. 如果你是新球友, 不要想揮桿重量的問題.
先把球打好吧. 如果你已經打的不錯了, 而你在揮桿時如果會有想要感覺較輕或較重的情況
的話, 你就可以找一些高爾夫技師來幫你更改. 又或是你覺得揮桿時有些球桿感覺好, 但是
有些球桿感覺重量怪怪的, 也應該去檢查一下.

球桿重量(Club Weight)
顧名思義是球桿的重量. 理論上來說越輕越好. 打個比方如果給你兩隻球桿
一隻300克, 另外一隻600克. 那一隻可以揮的會比較快? 當然是300克的.
但是如果給你一隻100克的球桿的話, 你可不可以做出完美的揮桿動作? 還是會因為太
輕而反而失去控制力.

Swingweight Of Club Vs. Club Weight

So, There is two "weight" you can find from a golf club. One is the "swingweight" and another is just "weight".
Weight is simple. It is the total weight in "gram" for a club. It is added together from following:
club-head + shaft + grip. (Also ferrule, glue, and tape inside the grip) Usually, an iron should be around from 300g~500g and wood might be from 250g-400g.
Swing-weight in another hand is a measurement of a golf club when it is swung. It is to find out the balancing point of the club. It is measure by C0, C1, C2 ~ C9, D0, D1 ~ D9, E0, E1~ E9.
People mention that heavier swing-weight referring to more toward E, Lighter is toward C.
Usually, a man's club would be from C9~D5 and lady's club will be from C2~C9.
Heavier swing-weight meaning whena golfer swings his club, he feel the head more.

Lets make an example:
Take a club, say a 7-iron. Imagine adding lead tape to the 7-iron. No matter you put the lead at club-head, shaft, or grip. The actual weight of the club will be identical. However, swing-weight will be totally different. if the lead tape is on the club-head, the swing-weight will be heavier because now the balancing point will be more toward to the club-head now. In another hand if the lead tape has been put at the grip, the swing-weight will be lighter because now the balancing point of the club is more toward to the end(grip) now.

The key application of swing-weight is in matching the clubs within a set. You want all your clubs to feel the same weight during the swing.(Especially most of the irons). If you are replacing a club or adding one, you want the new club to match the swing-weight of your current clubs.
Lots of golfer will make the short irons have heavier swing-weight because it can be more easier to lift up the ball since it can feel easier swing into the ground.

So, HOW IMPORTANT IS SWING-WEIGHT?
Well, lots of recreational golfers who fancy themselves equipment "experts" (You know who..) might argue that it is "extremely" important, and for many golfers, they actually might be right.
But the research show that majority of the golfer cannot feel anything different if the measurement is less than Two swing-weight measuring point. Even professional players cannot tell the difference between one swing-weight measurement. However, most people can feel the different once the swing-weight is moving more than 3 measurement.
For example: If your 7-iron swing-weight is C9 and your 6-iron swing-weight is D3.... I am sure you will feel something is weird. Even your distance will be funny because the swing-weight of your irons are big different.
Therefore, if you feel that your irons are giving you weird feeling when you swing different clubs. You should go check them.

HOW ABOUT TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE CLUB?
In theory, the lighter the club. the potential of distance will produced. Why? because the swing-speed can be faster. A person can surely swing a 300gram club faster than a 600gram club right?
That is why most of the driver today use "ultra light weight shaft + Titanium Head + light grip". So I can swing harder and faster with my light club.


COMBINATION OF WEIGHT AND SWING-WEIGHT?
Well, sorry guys..... Golf is personal. You just have to find out yourself. If money is not an object. Doing some good experiment with your club-maker will be a good choice!
In general, a better golfer will toward to lighter swing-weight club and slightly heavier in total weight. (Just most of them. Not everyone!)

My personal opinion.
Beginner Male players - Heavier weight + HeavierSwing-weight.
Reason? Heavier Feel for everything. Easier to "hack" the club!

Easy Players (Teens, Ladies, Senior) Mid-Weight club with Lighter Swing-weight.
Reasons? Less effort to swing. Dont worry about feeling the club-head "dragging" behind.

Better players (12-0 handicap) - Find out what you like!