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what does lowering the center of gravity to a golf club do to the spin?

by Odell Deckow I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Low CG, meaning towards the clubhead bottom, results in a higher launch with less spin. High CG, towards the clubhead top, gives you a lower launch with more spin. CG back placement, meaning away from the face, increases both the launch settings and spin conditions. And this is what makes the golf club more forgiving.

CG Back (away from the face) will increase launch and spin, and generally make the club play more forgiving. CG High (toward the top of the club head) will cause the ball to launch lower and spin more. CG Low (toward the bottom of the club head) will cause the ball to launch higher and spin less.Apr 7, 2020

Full Answer

How does center of gravity affect golf clubs?

For instance, when the center of gravity is closer to the shaft, your chances of pushing or fading the ball are less likely. On the other hand, CG farther away from the shaft increases push/fade tendencies. Center of Gravity In Golf Clubs Also Affects Feel!

Why is the center of gravity closer to the shaft?

The reason is that the closer the center of gravity is to the shaft, the lower the moment of inertia about the shaft axis will be, and the greater the tendency will be for the golfer to rotate the face of the club less open/more closed by the time the head gets to impact with the ball.

What is draw-bias center of gravity in golf clubs?

Several manufacturers make drivers with a draw-bias center of gravity, meaning the center of gravity is moved toward the hosel of the club so it's easier to promote a closed -- or at least more square -- clubface at impact. On irons, most golfers again want a low and back center of gravity to help them get the ball in the air and flying farther.

How does center of gravity impact performance?

The more weight you can move over a greater distance, the more the CG will shift. Moving heavy weights over a comparatively small distance, or comparatively light weights over a greater distance doesn’t actually accomplish much. The above chart illustrates how changes in center of gravity impact performance. Here’s a quick summary.

How does gravity affect golf?

On a driver, most golfers will benefit from a center of gravity that's low and back, meaning it's situated closer to the sole and back of the crown of the driver. With this CG position, a golfer is able to hit the ball higher with more backspin, meaning it'll be more controlled and more likely to stay in play.

What causes too much spin on a golf ball?

Most recreational golfers have a negative attack angle, but a major source of their excessive spin comes from swinging over the top with an open face.

What is the center of gravity in a golf club?

CG stands for centre of gravity and in a golf club head it is the point that all of the weight is acting through. If you drew a line through all the different vertical and horizontal balance points of the club then the intersection of all those lines is the centre of gravity.

What happens when a club is too upright?

But if your clubs are too upright, the toe would be off the ground, and you'd have a tendency to pull the ball (inset, top). Too flat, and the heel would be up, and you'd tend to hit pushes (inset, bottom). Starting with the face slightly off can produce exponential misses, so make sure your clubs fit.

Does lower loft driver reduce spin?

Reducing loft WILL decrease spin loft, it will also lower the launch of the ball. Cranking the loft down on its own will reduce spin loft, but the ball won't launch in the air. In order to achieve maximum distance, we need a HIGH launch and a low spin rate (and max ball speed).

How can I improve my golf spin rate?

Practice taking one or two clubs more (5 iron instead of 7 iron) and swing easier. The will help you control your ball flight and distance. More loft generally increases spin rate. All things being equal, more club speed will also increase spin rate.

How does CG affect ball flight?

CG Back (away from the face) will increase launch and spin, and generally make the club play more forgiving. CG High (toward the top of the club head) will cause the ball to launch lower and spin more. CG Low (toward the bottom of the club head) will cause the ball to launch higher and spin less.

Where is the center of gravity in a golf swing?

While CG is mostly found near the middle of an object, it is generally found closer to the face of a golf club due to the face being the thickest and heaviest part of the club. The hosel is also a heavy part of the golf club and this too is located closer to the face.

Does weight Affect center of gravity?

For simple, solid objects, such as a baseball or a brick, the center of gravity is located at the geometric center. If an object does not have a uniform weight distribution then the center of gravity will be closer to where most of the weight is located.

Does upright lie promote a draw?

The upright lie also promotes a left tilting spin axis, which leads to what's generally described as draw spin. An upright lie angle basically gives you a head start, but depending on the severity of the slice conditions the golfer generates, it certainly won't guarantee a draw.

Does 1 degree upright make a difference?

Yes it will make a difference, I play 2 degree upright and +1/2. If your hitting the ball left all the while (I am guessing your right handed) won't be to do with having the lye angle to flat.

Does 2 degrees upright make a difference?

What Does 2 Degrees Upright Mean On A Golf Club? If a club is 2 degrees upright that can mean a couple of different things depending on the context. Most likely, it means that a club is 2 degrees more upright than the standard lie angle for that brand and model.

How do you control the spin on a golf ball?

1:483:17How to control spin with your wedges - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLittle low shot it's kind of pitched on to the grain worked its way down towards the hole as.MoreLittle low shot it's kind of pitched on to the grain worked its way down towards the hole as. Absolutely. Right it took the spin off it made.

How do I stop my golf ball from spinning on the side?

3:556:46Minimize side spins on your Driver! | Golf with Aimee - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for in order for you to feel the one-piece takeaway it's very simple you want to grab your driverMoreSo for in order for you to feel the one-piece takeaway it's very simple you want to grab your driver a little short make sure the butt end of the grip you stick it in your belly button.

How do I get less spin on my irons?

2:555:01Hit The Golf Ball Lower When Playing Golf in The Wind - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLower all right a nice smooth tempo. Keeping it very easy low spin flat shots the more you kind ofMoreLower all right a nice smooth tempo. Keeping it very easy low spin flat shots the more you kind of get that feel the more control you'll have when the wind is circling. Around.

What is center of gravity in golf?

Center Of Gravity is the point in the golf club head where half of the weight lies on either side. AKA the Balancing point of the club.

Why move the CoG closer to the face of the putter?

Many studies have been done on this and the consensus is that moving the CoG closer to the face of the putter can improve launch conditions and even aid the stroke. Moving the CoG toward the heel or toe can even cause side spin to be imparted on the ball during a putt.

Why are bladed irons so hard to hit?

One of the reasons that bladed irons can be so hard to hit is because the CoG is much lower in them. Think about that chunky portion on the back of the club and how that brings the weight center down. Cavity backs have high CoG because weight is distributed differently.

What does a low CoG mean on a golf club?

This may be the most important factor behind the performance of a club. A low CoG nearer the club face can reduce spin and increase distance, it can also makes the club less forgiving. A club with a CoG that is off-center would impart side spin on the ball and make it hard to hit it straight.

What is the CoG of a golf club?

In simple terms, the CoG of anything is the point at which the weight of an object is perfectly balanced. This definition, extended to golf, means the point of your club where the weight is concentrated and often balanced, this is usually in the center of the club head. Many manufacturers would have you believe that you can move ...

Do golf clubs have moveable weights?

Anyone who has ever had a club with moveable or adjustable weights has had the ability to move the CoG of their driver. It is arguably the most important factor in the performance of a club yet it is something that most golfers don’t know much about and you certainly should care about it if you want to find your potential in the game.

Is buying golf clubs complicated?

Golf clubs are complicated things and buying them seems evermore complicated. As technology develops we have more and more to think about when it comes to choosing the correct clubs for our games. Thankfully people out there are trained in helping us get it right and cutting through the noise.

Where is the CG on a golf club?

The CG of a golf club head is typically very close to the center of the head, as you’d expect, but the exact CG location is extremely important. Any minute changes in CG can have a drastic effect on performance.

What does CG stand for in golf clubs?

When it comes to golf club technology, the term “center of gravity” — “CG” or “CoG” for short — gets thrown around quite a bit, but it isn’t often explained to the average golf consumer.

What degrees are lower lofted wedges?

That’s because lower-lofted wedges (46-54 degrees) are played more often on full shots where higher launch is beneficial, and higher-lofted wedges (56-60 degrees) are used on shots where lower launch and higher spin is important for control. CG is also closely related to MOI (moment of inertia), which we’ll cover in-depth on the next installment ...

What is CG forward?

Here are some basic rules of CG as they relate to golf clubs and performance at impact: CG Forward (toward the face) will lower launch and spin, and generally make the club play a bit less forgiving. CG Back (away from the face) will increase launch and spin, and generally make the club play more forgiving. CG High (toward the top of the club head) ...

Why is CG important?

While CG may seem like marketing speak based on how frequently golf club companies mention the term, CG is actually incredibly important when it comes to performance and feel. Where CG is located on a golf club influences launch, spin, feel, sound, forgiveness, how a shaft performs in conjunction with the club head, and so much more.

Is a low forward CG better for golf?

When it comes to drivers, a low CG design has proven effective for almost all golfers, and most modern driver companies in 2020 have very low CG designs. The challenge for golfers is to determine whether a low-forward CG design or a low-rearward design is better for their game.

Do irons have CG?

Game-improvement irons typically have lower and more rearward CGs throughout an iron set, while players irons have higher and more forward CG locations for greater workability. CG location also influences performance on wedges and putters, too.

Where is the center of gravity on a golf club?

As you might expect given its label, the center of gravity is always located very near the center of the clubhead. The CG of every driver measured for this series of articles is located within a box that’s 14mm front to back and 12mm top to bottom.

How does CG affect golf?

On a comparative basis: 1 Drivers with forward CG locations often feel heavier than those with rear CG placements 2 A forward CG location will cause the shaft to feel stiffer. 3 Because of the effect on closure rate, forward CG drivers may be harder to square, and some golfers will find it difficult to control the club during swing

What is the center of gravity?

Center of Gravity (CG or CoG) is the point at which all of the weight of an object appears to be concentrated. An object can be balanced on a small flat point placed directly beneath its center of gravity.

What are the three things that affect CG movement?

The significance and impact of flipping, sliding, or any other type of CG movement depends on three things: 1. The direction the weight is being moved. 2. How much weight is being moved. 3. How far the weight is being moved. The more weight you can move over a greater distance, the more the CG will shift.

Why does CG location matter?

CG location matters because it heavily influences both performance and feel. How high your driver launches, how low it spins, how it feels, and how it sounds at impact, that all begins with its center of gravity. Before we dig deeper into the specifics of how CG location impacts both performance and feel, there are a few things we need ...

Why are forward CG drivers harder to square?

A forward CG location will cause the shaft to feel stiffer. Because of the effect on closure rate , forward CG drivers may be harder to square, and some golfers will find it difficult to control the club during swing. While it may not be universally true, I ...

Why does the driver head have a slight forward bias?

Now that said, the CG location of a driver head has a slight forward bias because: The face is much thicker and heavier than the rest of the body. The hosel (and all of its weight) is near the front of the club. 2.

Why is the center of gravity important in golf clubs?

It's a really important feature of a golf club, as the center of gravity -- often just called CG -- helps determine how easy it is to create ideal launch conditions for a golf shot.

Why do golfers need a low center of gravity?

On irons, most golfers again want a low and back center of gravity to help them get the ball in the air and flying farther. However, better players may want a set of irons with a progressive center of gravity, getting lower as the numbers get lower.

Why does the center of gravity move higher?

As the loft increases, the center of gravity moves higher because the golf ball will more frequently be struck higher up on the face, particularly as a chip or pitch shot is hit from rough and slides up the face at impact.

What is CG position in golf?

With this CG position, a golfer is able to hit the ball higher with more backspin, meaning it'll be more controlled and more likely to stay in play. However, some better golfers want a more forward center of gravity while keeping it low, so as to keep that point near where impact happens and lowering spin. That creates some more distance and ...

What is the center of gravity on a short iron?

On short irons, the center of gravity would be a little higher to correspond with where the ball will be struck. With wedges, the center of gravity will tend to move these days in a progressive fashion.

How is the center of gravity determined?

The center of gravity is entirely determined by the mass properties of a club. In other words, where the weight is concentrated in a golf club determines the center of gravity position. The more weight placed low and back in a club, the lower and further back the center of gravity will be.

Can you change the center of gravity on a wedge?

It's possible with some fairway woods and hybrids. Generally speaking, you can't move the center of gravity on irons and wedges.

CG Meaning – Center of Gravity In Golf Explained

CG or center of gravity is a very common acronym that is used by golf brands. For example, the low CG of irons more geared towards beginners. The center of gravity is low, deep (meaning pushed farther back), etc. So what does all this really mean?

How Golf Club CG Affects Shots and Performance?

Low CG, meaning towards the clubhead bottom, results in a higher launch with less spin.

Center of Gravity In Golf Clubs Also Affects Feel!

The courtesy of CG extends to not just trajectory and spin but also feel.

The Takeaway!

In summary, the role of CG in golf clubs is no light matter. More advanced technologies are coming up in order to further improve the location of the center of gravity. For example, now there are clubs with even lower CG placement to increase launch and minimize spin further just to boost distance more drastically.

What is the fade and draw setting on a golf cart?

Fade and Draw Settings (moving center of gravity) A lot of modern drivers come with settings that allow you to move the center of gravity horizontally. Moving around weights can favor more of a fade (left to right) or draw (right to left) ball flight.

What does loft do on a driver?

Woody says that getting the loft setting on your driver is the most important. Modern drivers allow golfers to move the loft around by several degrees now. Increasing or decreasing loft can change how far you hit the ball and the accuracy of your drives considerably. Also, moving the center of gravity around with weights can affect the shape ...

Does weights affect the shape of your shots?

Also, moving the center of gravity around with weights can affect the shape of your shots. A lot of drivers now come with fade and draw options . Woody says he is a little more hesitant to play around with the weights to move the center of gravity.

Is loft important in golf?

If you are looking to maximize your driver performance, especially for distance, loft is critical. There are so many misconceptions amongst golfers about how loft actually works in a driver. For starters, there is no such thing as a standard loft in terms of its performance.

Why do pros use driver shafts?

The problem is, many pros use driver shafts that are built to lower spin and keep the ball from drawing too much. They use stiff and stable profiles, often with very strong tip sections. To reduce a slice, you’ll want to do the opposite.

What is a slice off the tee?

The slice is undoubtedly the most common issue that plagues amateur golfers, and it costs them distance, strokes on the scorecard, and sanity. The best way to fix a slice, of course, is to take lessons from a teaching professional and spend endless hours on ...

Is a softer tip better for slicers?

But Tim Briand, the Senior Vice President of True Spec Golf (which is owned by the same parent company as GOLF) warns that a shaft with a softer tip isn’t great for every slicer.

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