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From a guy known as Mack:
Terms and definitions:
1. COG: Center of Gravity. This refers to the spot on the club that has the most concentrated mass behind the face of the club. This is the “balance” point of the whole club head, it is where the mass is centered and where the best contact would occur if the ball were to be hit in this spot.
2. Low COG: Low center of Gravity. The lower the “mass” is located on the club head, the easier it will be to hit the ball higher. A low center of gravity promotes higher ball spin since the ball is stuck “low” then move up the club face adding more spin. When the ball is struck, it will spin backwards in rotation. It takes a split second of time for the ball to begin to rotate. The higher the club face, the higher the spin if the ball is struck low on the club face. As the club move forward after initial contact, the ball will move up the club face (again, a split second of time) and this determines partial launch angle per the loft degree of the club. I say partial launch angle since the shaft has something to do with launch angle as well, but for now we will assume that the shaft is “rebar” and does not flex. The higher the loft (club face angle compared to a vertical plane) the higher the launch. Notice that most higher lofted club heads has larger club faces; this facilities more spin and a higher ball flight.
3. High GOC: High center of gravity. This means that the central “mass” is located higher in the club head. Balls struck lower on the club face will have less spin and will no travel up the club face as stated above. Ball flight will be lower since there is less spin of the ball at initial contact. The major difference between LCOG and HCOG is spin rate and launch angle. Spin creates loft thus higher ball flight.
4. Blade or muscle back. Irons that have no cavity are considered “blades”. Blade irons have small faces with a low COG, mass is placed directly behind the center of the face. Blades tend to be small in nature from heel to toe. Since the head size is small when compared to “modern” irons; shots hit off center create more spin since there is little “face” for the ball to run up on. Since it’s easier to “spin” the ball using blades, blades are the iron of choice for very low handicap golfers and golf professionals for “shaping shots” (side spin). You hear the term “not very forgiving”, well that is true since it requires a precise stroke to hit a blade type iron well. A slight miss hit will send the ball spinning either left or right. Distance suffers on miss hits with blade type irons since the mass is located in the center of the club, not on the perimeter. Mass equals distance.
5. Many wedges are designed as a ”blade” style even today. The higher the loft of the club, the more spin the club creates. So we know that wedges tend to hit the ball high. Wedges impact “Backspin”, this is what makes the ball climb in the air, backspin. When backspin is “high”, it’s very difficult to impart “side spin”. Think of a bicycle tire, when the tire spins it is held in place by inertia, this is the force that keeps the tire upright. The faster the tire spins, the more inertia is exerts thus the tire rolls straight and true. The same can be said with a golf ball. The higher the back spin, the higher the inertia so the ball goes straight and not to the side. It is very difficult to “shape” a wedge shot due to the high amount of backspin. Notice that wedges have a “tall” face when compared to a five iron, the taller face helps to increase backspin. Wedges also have low COG’s to help get the ball in the air.
6. Cavity back irons. Up until the release of the Ping Eye iron, almost all irons were blade style in various forms. Karsten Solheim designed an iron head where the mass was removed from the back of the club face and distributed on the parameter of the club head. Redistributing the mass to the periphery of the club added material to the heel and toe area of the club and helped to reduce distance loss on miss hits. The additional mass also reduced side spin on miss hits keeping the ball on the intended line. Since side spin was reduced, shot shaping became more difficult as ball ended up going in a straight line unlike the blade style head. Cavity back irons have long heel to toe measurements to create an even more forgiving club face. The biggest contribution of the cavity back iron is forgiveness on miss hits out of the toe or in on the heel region of the club face. Cavity back irons help to keep the ball on the intended flight line and reduce side spin. The longer the distance from heel to toe, the more forgiving the iron plays.
7. Leading edge. All irons have a leading “edge”. The leading edge is where the club face meets the sole of the iron. The leading edge is what cuts through the turf or dirt when the ball is impacted. Irons heads are designed to hit golf balls with a descending blow; at impact the ball moves up the club face and is then releases. Without a leading edge; the ball would be hit just off the surface of the turf with little spin.
Terms and definitions:
1. COG: Center of Gravity. This refers to the spot on the club that has the most concentrated mass behind the face of the club. This is the “balance” point of the whole club head, it is where the mass is centered and where the best contact would occur if the ball were to be hit in this spot.
2. Low COG: Low center of Gravity. The lower the “mass” is located on the club head, the easier it will be to hit the ball higher. A low center of gravity promotes higher ball spin since the ball is stuck “low” then move up the club face adding more spin. When the ball is struck, it will spin backwards in rotation. It takes a split second of time for the ball to begin to rotate. The higher the club face, the higher the spin if the ball is struck low on the club face. As the club move forward after initial contact, the ball will move up the club face (again, a split second of time) and this determines partial launch angle per the loft degree of the club. I say partial launch angle since the shaft has something to do with launch angle as well, but for now we will assume that the shaft is “rebar” and does not flex. The higher the loft (club face angle compared to a vertical plane) the higher the launch. Notice that most higher lofted club heads has larger club faces; this facilities more spin and a higher ball flight.
3. High GOC: High center of gravity. This means that the central “mass” is located higher in the club head. Balls struck lower on the club face will have less spin and will no travel up the club face as stated above. Ball flight will be lower since there is less spin of the ball at initial contact. The major difference between LCOG and HCOG is spin rate and launch angle. Spin creates loft thus higher ball flight.
4. Blade or muscle back. Irons that have no cavity are considered “blades”. Blade irons have small faces with a low COG, mass is placed directly behind the center of the face. Blades tend to be small in nature from heel to toe. Since the head size is small when compared to “modern” irons; shots hit off center create more spin since there is little “face” for the ball to run up on. Since it’s easier to “spin” the ball using blades, blades are the iron of choice for very low handicap golfers and golf professionals for “shaping shots” (side spin). You hear the term “not very forgiving”, well that is true since it requires a precise stroke to hit a blade type iron well. A slight miss hit will send the ball spinning either left or right. Distance suffers on miss hits with blade type irons since the mass is located in the center of the club, not on the perimeter. Mass equals distance.
5. Many wedges are designed as a ”blade” style even today. The higher the loft of the club, the more spin the club creates. So we know that wedges tend to hit the ball high. Wedges impact “Backspin”, this is what makes the ball climb in the air, backspin. When backspin is “high”, it’s very difficult to impart “side spin”. Think of a bicycle tire, when the tire spins it is held in place by inertia, this is the force that keeps the tire upright. The faster the tire spins, the more inertia is exerts thus the tire rolls straight and true. The same can be said with a golf ball. The higher the back spin, the higher the inertia so the ball goes straight and not to the side. It is very difficult to “shape” a wedge shot due to the high amount of backspin. Notice that wedges have a “tall” face when compared to a five iron, the taller face helps to increase backspin. Wedges also have low COG’s to help get the ball in the air.
6. Cavity back irons. Up until the release of the Ping Eye iron, almost all irons were blade style in various forms. Karsten Solheim designed an iron head where the mass was removed from the back of the club face and distributed on the parameter of the club head. Redistributing the mass to the periphery of the club added material to the heel and toe area of the club and helped to reduce distance loss on miss hits. The additional mass also reduced side spin on miss hits keeping the ball on the intended line. Since side spin was reduced, shot shaping became more difficult as ball ended up going in a straight line unlike the blade style head. Cavity back irons have long heel to toe measurements to create an even more forgiving club face. The biggest contribution of the cavity back iron is forgiveness on miss hits out of the toe or in on the heel region of the club face. Cavity back irons help to keep the ball on the intended flight line and reduce side spin. The longer the distance from heel to toe, the more forgiving the iron plays.
7. Leading edge. All irons have a leading “edge”. The leading edge is where the club face meets the sole of the iron. The leading edge is what cuts through the turf or dirt when the ball is impacted. Irons heads are designed to hit golf balls with a descending blow; at impact the ball moves up the club face and is then releases. Without a leading edge; the ball would be hit just off the surface of the turf with little spin.
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