Rolling distance ???

[prakcom]

I get 250 yards with my driver but this is the CARRY distance and the ball may just rolls additionally about 5 yards. There seems to be some back spin on my shots.

I was told that to add rolling distance I need to generate top-spin. My driver direction is mostly straight, hence I do not want to introduce any draw to my shots.

Fyi
Ball position: Left heel
Ball height: medium, equator aligned with top edge of the driver
Driver: 9 deg
Ball trajectory: about 35-45 deg

PLEASE advise how to get the ball rolling to give additional distance.

Thanks

[slater170]

Re: Rolling distance ???

I get 250 yards with my driver but this is the CARRY distance and the ball may just rolls additionally about 5 yards. There seems to be some back spin on my shots.

I was told that to add rolling distance I need to generate top-spin. My driver direction is mostly straight, hence I do not want to introduce any draw to my shots.

Fyi
Ball position: Left heel
Ball height: medium, equator aligned with top edge of the driver
Driver: 9 deg
Ball trajectory: about 35-45 deg

PLEASE advise how to get the ball rolling to give additional distance.

Thanks

learn to draw the ball
drawspin will add distance

[RandomHero1090]

Re: Rolling distance ???

I get 250 yards with my driver but this is the CARRY distance and the ball may just rolls additionally about 5 yards. There seems to be some back spin on my shots.

I was told that to add rolling distance I need to generate top-spin. My driver direction is mostly straight, hence I do not want to introduce any draw to my shots.

Fyi
Ball position: Left heel
Ball height: medium, equator aligned with top edge of the driver
Driver: 9 deg
Ball trajectory: about 35-45 deg

PLEASE advise how to get the ball rolling to give additional distance.

Thanks

Best thing I ever did was get fitted for a driver. I would recommend taking your existing club to any golf shop/range that has a launch monitor.

I am going to assume that you swing around 90-95 mph (maybe even faster if you are getting a ton of backspin) with that carry. If you shaft has a low kickpoint and you are catching the ball on the upswing, you could be launching the ball to high with too much backspin (exactly what I was doing). If your drives "appear" to be launching to 45*, that sounds way too high to me.

I went from a 10.5* driver with a LOW kickpoint shaft to a 9.5* driver with a MID-HIGH kickpoint shaft. My backspin went from 3200'ish RPMs down to 2600'ish RPMs. Both carry and roll increased by about 10 yards a piece. I got a 20 yard gain according to the launch monitor. And I do notice it on the range.

There are so many variables to take into consideration. Best thing to do is get fitted. Trying to adapt your swing to a club is the wrong thing to do. Buy a club that fits your swing.

[LowPost42]

Re: Rolling distance ???

I get 250 yards with my driver but this is the CARRY distance and the ball may just rolls additionally about 5 yards. There seems to be some back spin on my shots.

I was told that to add rolling distance I need to generate top-spin. My driver direction is mostly straight, hence I do not want to introduce any draw to my shots.

Fyi
Ball position: Left heel
Ball height: medium, equator aligned with top edge of the driver
Driver: 9 deg
Ball trajectory: about 35-45 deg

PLEASE advise how to get the ball rolling to give additional distance.

Thanks

Ah. A fellow shortknocker. Welcome.

Whoever told you to generate topspin is a fool. No disrespect if he's a buddy, but he (or she) is wrong. How you generate topspin on a golf ball is to hit it above its equator with an upward blow. We've all hit shots with topspin. We call it blading or skulling it.

Roll is produced by a few things. The hardness of the fairways, for one. The amount of spin, for another. Your incoming trajectory also plays a part. To increase roll, the only thing you can control (without changing your equipment) is your incoming trajectory (tee the ball lower for a flatter flight. However, you may give up carry for this).

Next to increase roll is to generate less spin. In general this means either a lower lofted driver with an increased angle of attack (hit up more on the ball), and/or moving to a lower spinning ball. The problem with that is you may lose holding power around the greens. But you need to figure out what you really want.

Lastly, If you have a 35-45 degree trajectory (as you suggest), you're already hitting up on the ball well. I'd wager that your trajectory is much lower than you suspect (consider a 45 degree launch off the tee for a second, and you'll agree).

You need to find yourself a launch monitor - bring your current club and balls. See what your numbers are. Then we'll have something to work with. And just because a big box store has a launch monitor doesn't mean they have guys that know how to use it - fair warning. Try to find a certified clubfitter. Even a launch angle mat and a swing speed radar can be used to fit a driver - as long as the fitter knows how to interpret the numbers. (Granted, if they've got a LAM and SSR, they probably do).

Good luck in your search!

[BrianW]

Re: Rolling distance ???

Achieving maximum carry and roll depends on a number of compound factors that affect launch angle, spin, ball speed, ground condition (wetness, hardness).

For example, on a day where the ground is dry and hard a lower trajectory will create less carry but more roll, a higher trajectory more carry and less roll, when the fairways are wetter a slightly higher trajectory will create less carry but more roll than a lower trajectory.

It has been found that on average the best mean ball trajectory to give the best carry and roll is around 20 deg. To achieve this with a driver with say a 10 deg loft you will need to tee the ball fairly high and hit it with a slightly ascending blow.

So setting the ball high and keeping it forward does assist in longer drives but not because additional spin is applied but due to the fact that your 10 deg driver (for example) can then create a 20 deg launch angle this way. Now, you may ask "So why not have a 20 deg loft on the driver and hit through level" good question! The reason is that in doing so you will create more spin on the ball due to the additional loft which will create too much lift and make the ball carry and roll shorter.

I hope this helps you.

[RandomHero1090]

Re: Rolling distance ???

Achieving maximum carry and roll depends on a number of compound factors that affect launch angle, spin, ball speed, ground condition (wetness, hardness).

For example, on a day where the ground is dry and hard a lower trajectory will create less carry but more roll, a higher trajectory more carry and less roll, when the fairways are wetter a slightly higher trajectory will create less carry but more roll than a lower trajectory.

It has been found that on average the best mean ball trajectory to give the best carry and roll is around 20 deg. To achieve this with a driver with say a 10 deg loft you will need to tee the ball fairly high and hit it with a slightly ascending blow.

So setting the ball high and keeping it forward does assist in longer drives but not because additional spin is applied but due to the fact that your 10 deg driver (for example) can then create a 20 deg launch angle this way. Now, you may ask "So why not have a 20 deg loft on the driver and hit through level" good question! The reason is that in doing so you will create more spin on the ball due to the additional loft which will create too much lift and make the ball carry and roll shorter.

I hope this helps you.

...and don't let that loss of roll "grind you down"

[BrianW]

Re: Rolling distance ???

...and don't let that loss of roll "grind you down"

Never let them grind you down mate!

[prakcom]

Re: Rolling distance ???

Thanks for your suggestions.
Wet course and soft ball (pro-v) must be the reason for lack of rolling distance. Today I tried different ball (DT) which gave me good roll and distance (283 yards). But I was not comfortable with this ball for my approach shots, it did'nt hold even on soft greens.