Club head speed, the single most important factor in generating power and distance in your golf shots, can be compromised by any one of a number of flaws. Mis-hits, shots hit off center on the club face, do not cause reductions in the speed of the club head through impact.
About Club Head Speed
The stored energy created in the coiling of the body during the backswing serves as the potential for club head speed. As the downswing begins, the unwinding of the body in the proper sequence -- hips, then torso followed by arms and hands -- accelerates the club head through impact with the ball, as described by golf expert Ben Hogan. It's worth noting that the nature of this acceleration is powerful and not easily deterred or stopped.
Mis-Hits
Shots hit off the sweet spot or center of the face almost always travel a shorter distance than those hit squarely, as described by Lee Pearce in his book, "Golf Club Bible." The reason behind this is not to do with club head speed, but rather with the fact that the sweet spot on the club face is the part engineered to launch the ball. All portions of the club face surrounding the sweet spot don't possess the same capacity to impart energy to the golf ball.
Causes of Mis-Hits
Poor swing path accounts for most mis-hits. Pearce points out that more forgiving golf clubs -- those which have a larger effective sweet spot -- can lessen the effect of these swing flaws, but the ball still won't fly as long and true as a purely hit shot. Additionally, the poor mechanics of a swing that results in a mis-hit will very likely cause diminished club head speed, as opposed to the mis-hit itself.
Modern Driver Technology
As Peter Kostis writes on Golf.com, one of the advances in golf club technology has led to bigger sweet spots, reducing the likelihood of a mis-hit. This engineering process, however, has altered the location of the sweet spot on most modern drivers to the upper part of the club face and not in the center as you would expect.
References
- "Golf Club Bible: Choose the Best Clubs to Improve Your Game"; Lee Pearce; 2009
- Golf.com: Find Your Driver's Hot Spot; Peter Kostis; December 2006
- "Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons"; Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind; 1957
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