Page 42 - Golf Champion - December 2019

[ GOLF LESSON ]

Compress for Success by Mac Powell, Ph.D.

• PGA Master Professional
성공을 위한 압축 • Dean of The National University
Golf Academy

ne of the byproducts of launch monitors and the numeric Compression is the engine of the golf ball, and maximizing com-
Ovalues assigned to the elements of the golf swing is optimi- pression and spin are critical for longer and more accurate shots.
zation. We’ve known for quite some time that different compres- Returning to what we’ve learned as a result of launch monitors
sions in golf balls allow players with different swing speeds to is that the best players in the world maximize the force of their
maximize the effect of the moment of impact, a moment when a swings by swinging left in the downswing, attacking the ball with
golf ball is nearly half flattened before exploding off of the club- a downward attack angle and flattening the golf ball – compress-
face. ing it or covering it with their irons in order to create the ideal
Lower compression golf balls often feel “softer” and are cer- shot. Many amateurs have a sense of what this feels like when
tainly easier to compress; higher compression balls typically feel they’ve “pulled” an iron shot. It feels like the ball has been fired
“firmer” and require more force to compress the inner core of out of a cannon and often travels a club or two farther than their
the golf ball. A decade ago, manufacturers would publish the typical shot. For a touring professional, the downward strike on
compression of their products to help players make purchasing a pitching wedge is on average about 5-degrees, but may be as
decisions (a 90 compression ball was generally for players with much as 8-degrees. Compare that to many amateurs who try to
a swing speed in the 90-100mph range, a 100 compression ball lift or scoop a pitching wedge, creating no downward angle of at-
was used by players with swing speeds over 100mph, and lower tack (and very little chance of compressing the ball successfully).
compression balls were available for players with swings under To begin to experiment with compression and creating a down-
90mph). Modern manufacturing techniques have in some ways ward angle of attack with your irons, I recommend two practice
made these generalizations impossible, as golf balls can be made elements. The first is the most critical, it is absolutely ensuring
to “feel” and react to a variety of players swings. that your hands are leading the club – that your wrists retain
However, what is critical is that the core of the ball compresses. some hinge through impact and that your hands are forward

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