rgk5
Mar 13, 2007, 08:51 AM
We all know that age can negatively affect flexibility and I have gone the preventative route, stretching daily, lifting weights, treadmill, Swedish exercise ball, ad nauseam. I still have not recovered the 20 yds. off the tee that I lost three years ago after double hernia surgery. When I played Jr. ORFU and university football I weighed 197 and today am 201, so that is not an issue. On to the fix.
I was prodding my mind for details in Hogan's Five Fundamentals book and remembered what he said about using the feet, specifically the front foot. Hogan said he did not care whether the front heel lifted off the ground or not. Nicklaus always did this in his prime and I remember Johnny Miller referrencing this move as good if you have lost flexibility.
Sunday morning I zipped over to the store before it opened and after hitting 20-30 warm-up shots out comes the Ignite 9.5* 410/V2 "S" to see if there is any merit to this theory. Here are the results on the Vector using Volvik Crystal Prospec 3 pc. balls which are about 2-4% shorter than my favorite Bridgestone B330.
Front Heel Down
Ball Speed 137-141
Distance 234-238
Front Heel Up
Ball Speed 147-149 :eek:
Distance 244-250 :)
I would add that no accuracy loss was indicated which has always been my strength and the launch angles were virtually identical, from 11-13*, mostly the latter.
I am going to keep doing this but the key is to absolutely ensure that the back knee remains cocked inwardly to prevent rolling on to the outside of the rear foot, thereby losing coil.
I was prodding my mind for details in Hogan's Five Fundamentals book and remembered what he said about using the feet, specifically the front foot. Hogan said he did not care whether the front heel lifted off the ground or not. Nicklaus always did this in his prime and I remember Johnny Miller referrencing this move as good if you have lost flexibility.
Sunday morning I zipped over to the store before it opened and after hitting 20-30 warm-up shots out comes the Ignite 9.5* 410/V2 "S" to see if there is any merit to this theory. Here are the results on the Vector using Volvik Crystal Prospec 3 pc. balls which are about 2-4% shorter than my favorite Bridgestone B330.
Front Heel Down
Ball Speed 137-141
Distance 234-238
Front Heel Up
Ball Speed 147-149 :eek:
Distance 244-250 :)
I would add that no accuracy loss was indicated which has always been my strength and the launch angles were virtually identical, from 11-13*, mostly the latter.
I am going to keep doing this but the key is to absolutely ensure that the back knee remains cocked inwardly to prevent rolling on to the outside of the rear foot, thereby losing coil.