The doughnut effect

A golfing friend recently relate to me about an interesting article that he has read on the internet:

An American NASA scientist analyzed and came to the conclusion that a flight of 4 golfers would leave more than 400 foot prints on a green during putting. Most of these foot prints are concentrated around the cup because every golfer removes his ball from the cup after putting. He does it in a certain fixed sequence of movements, usually ending with one foot in front (leaning on his putter?!) and the other foot behind him as he bends to retrieve his ball from the cup. This very posture causes the green around the hole (18" radius) to be compressed more than the rest, forming what is termed a "doughnut". In fact the grass around the hole never had a chance to recover sufficiently so that a circular impression is left permanently around the cup until its location is changed by the green keeper by digging a new hole at a new location on the green. This same doughnut will be formed around the new hole within one day.

This doughnut shaped patch of grass around the cup causes all slow putts to break to both sides near the hole so that the ball appears to avoid the hole. A golfer thinks that he has read the green incorrectly (he hasn't). We call this the doughnut effect! It has fooled many unwary golfers. To overcome this doughnut effect on the green, for short putts, we charge the hole, aiming to stop at a spot 18" behind the cup. This way, the ball does not turn sideways and away from the hole.

(contributed by Tsun Kong)

How to hit a straight ball

Many golfers make the common mistake of trying to coordinate too many variables into their swing e.g: grip, foot position, line up to target, set-up, bent knees, straight back, chin up, straight left forearm, wrist cocked, slow back swing, accelerating down swing, in-to-in swing, weight transfer left to right, weight transfer right to left, moving the left hip out of the way, head very still, rotate, follow through, hit down, take divot with iron, release on impact, right wrist rolling over left at impact, full release and use no more than 70 % full power.

Types of golf shots

Fade and slice
An out-to-in swing of the golf club with respect to the target line, produces a slice which bends the ball to the right. A less severe slice is called a fade. Some times a slice is caused by not moving the left hip out of the way towards the left during the down swing. This error is not too obvious unless a high speed video is available for analyzing the fault. No matter what the cause, a slice is always the result of hitting the ball with an open club face. This part is always true.

How the game is played

Most golf courses are designed with a mixture of holes of different lengths. The majority are par 4 (12 holes) The rest are par 5 and par 3 (6 holes).
Par 4 holes are usually between 250 and 380M in length. In any case, the average golfer requires at least two strokes to reach the green. Then he putts the ball twice on the green with his putter and it falls into the hole and he makes par. (4 strokes)

Why so many clubs?

A golf set is designed in such a way that each club is intended to hit a golf ball to a certain distance at a certain height. The game is simple if the golfer uses exactly the same swing with exactly the same power every time. The shaft length decides the distance the ball travels; while the face angle decides the height of the ball trajectory. In other words a golfer allows the club to decide the distance and trajectory. The longer the club the further the ball goes. The bigger the face angle the higher the trajectory of the ball. All that is required for the golfer to do is to hit the ball consistently with exactly the same power every time.

Ode to the game of GOLF

In my hand I hold a ball ....
white and dimpled, rather small

Oh, how bland it does appear...
this harmless looking little sphere

By its size, I could not guess

The awesome strength it does possess
But since I fell into its spell I've wandered through the fires of hell ...
My life has not been quite the same ...

Since I chose to pay this stupid game It rules my mind for hours on end

A fortune it has made me spend....
It has made me swear and yell and cry I hate myself and want to die
It promises a thing called par If I can hit straight and far....

To master such a tiny ball should not be very hard at all.

But my desires the ball refuses And does exactly like it chooses
It hooks and slices Dribbles and dies And even disappears before my eyes
Often it will take a whim To hit a tree or take a swim....
With miles of grass on which to land It finds a tiny patch of sand Then has me offering my soul If only it would find the hole....
It's made me whimper like a pup And swear that I will finally give it up...

And take a drink to ease my sorrow ....

But the ball knows ....

I will be back tomorrow !!!!

(Contributed by Uki)
Note : This Ode was taken from a scrap of old sport page of a magazine of an unknown origin that I found while playing this "stupid game" at a club I don’t remember exactly where.

Control of the ball

The secret of playing consistent golf is gaining control of the ball. This can be achieved easily if a golfer uses only 70% power and not his full strength. As a golfer gains confidence and control of the ball he may increase power progressively up to a maximum of 90%.
Do not try to increase distance by increasing power. Simply use a longer club and hitting the ball in the same way as always, using the same power, same grip, same swing, same set up every time. Let the club decide the distance.