The Science of the Perfect Golf Shot

The simple concept of getting a golf ball from tee to green and in the hole can be devilishly frustrating, even for seasoned professionalseven without the unpredictable weather that could face golfers at this week's British Open. Mark F. Smith delve

1 of 12
Perception Problem
Athletes in the zone tend to report exaggerated perception: The baseball looks to be the size of a grapefruit as it's coming toward the plate, or the basketball hoop appears to be a foot wider than it truly is. It's no different for golfers. Smith cites a study showing that golfers scoring lower (better) perceive the 4.24-inch-diameter hole to be bigger than its true size, whereas struggling players saw a much tinier target on the green.

The red line in the graph above shows how scores climb as perceived hole size shrinks. So if you hit the links and start seeing a 3-inch hole, it might be best to call it a day and head to the clubhouse.
2 of 12
Smooth and Steady
All the body's moving parts must work together to achieve the perfect swing. The key is maintaining a balance of mobility and stability through a "connected swing." Smith writes that connectedness will "produce a consistent, powerful, and synchronized series of muscular activation patterns necessary for an efficient movement."

To put that a little more clearly, the picture above shows which parts of the body should be in motion (blue) and which joints should be stable (red) during the backswing (left) and impact with the ball (right).
3 of 12
4 of 12
Wrist Action
When swinging for distance, holding back with the wrists can provide a little extra power. In (Golf Science), Smith describes the delayed wrist action release, which causes a later hit on the ball and creates more torque than a natural release. As seen above, the player must use his or her wrists to hold the club back until the left arm reaches the 8 o'clock position. At that point, the player should release the club through the ball. Timing is everything because releasing the wrists too early means losing the extra torque.
5 of 12
Driver vs. Iron
Drivers are usually made of three pieces of titanium alloy and designed to be more forgiving in off-center impacts. Iron heads, Smith says, can be made by investment casting or by forging. Investment-cast heads are typically made from stainless steel but can also be made from chrome-plated carbon steel, copper-based alloys, or titanium. Forged irons are made by passing a billet of soft carbon steel through dies in a forging press. They are then hand-ground and chrome-plated.
6 of 12
Pants for Any Job
You care about putting in the work. And whatever you’re throwing yourself into, Dickies are up to the task. Whether you’re in the field, the shop, or on the links, Dickies has you covered. Versatile, comfortable workwear that will help you get the job done. Shop Now
7 of 12
The Grandstand Effect
Getting a ball onto the green is difficult enough, but toss in the grandstand effect and it can be near impossible. The grandstands on golf courses alter the wind flow around the hole, funneling it in one side and blasting it out the other. The wind then spirals in different directions and is notoriously hard to predict. Gusts only complicate the situation.
8 of 12
Over time, the golf ball has changed from a smooth natural latex sphere into the dimpled plastic ones we see today. According to Smith, a golf ball with dimples will fly farther than one with a smooth surface. Air flowing closest to the ball's surface, the boundary layer, separates from the surface around the back of the ball as it flies through the air, creating a turbulent wake and considerable drag. With dimpled balls, the boundary layer sticks to the ball longer than it does on a smooth ball, as seen in the illustration on the left, resulting in a smaller wake. The dimples also exaggerate the upward force on the ball. A ball with backspin distorts the airflow and causes the air pressure below the ball to be greater than the air pressure above it, resulting in lift.
9 of 12
Sand Trap
Landing the ball in a bunker is one of the most frustrating things in golf. Making a good shot out of the sand can be even more frustrating. However, Smith says, the sand that has trapped your ball could also help get it out of the bunker. A thin layer of sand between the clubhead and ball acts like a strip of sandpaper, creating more friction and generating more backspin and speed. Swat at too much sand, though, and it'll sap energy from the swing, lessening the force with which the club strikes the ball.
10 of 12
Make Any Job More Comfortable
Every job has its challenges. That’s why it’s nice to have a pair of pants that keep you comfortable when you’re giving your all. Dickies are easy to wear, and tough to wear out. They’ve got comfort that puts in as much work as you do. And you can relax in them after a job well done. Shop Now
11 of 12
Spin Doctor
For getting out of a tight spot, the wedge is a golfer's best friend. It helps provide more loft to the ball by generating more backspin with its sloped head. A wedge also strikes the ball below its center of gravity, providing more lift to add some hop to your short game.
12 of 12
Soft Touch
Nothing is more demoralizing than watching a dead-on putt sail right at the hole … only to pop back out. The difference between a made putt and a mulligan is getting the ball's equator to fall below the rim of the cup. If the ball travels too fast, it'll hit too high on the rim of the cup and bounce over instead of falling in.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Outdoors