Alright, so today I wanna talk about something I’ve been messing around with in my golf game – the center of gravity (CG). I’m no pro, just a regular dude trying to get better, so this is all from my own experience.
It all started when I was slicing everything. Like, seriously, my ball was spending more time in the woods than on the fairway. I knew something had to change. I was watching some videos online, and kept hearing folks talk about CG and how it affects ball flight.
The Deep Dive (YouTube Rabbit Hole)
I spent a good chunk of a weekend just watching videos. It was a lot of tech talk about MOI (moment of inertia) and CG location, and honestly, half of it went over my head. But the main takeaway was: where the weight is in your club can dramatically change how you hit the ball.
- Lower CG = Easier to get the ball in the air (good for forgiving shots).
- Forward CG = Less spin, more distance (potentially less forgiving).
My Experiment: Driver Adjustments
My driver was the main culprit for my slice. It’s an older model, not super adjustable. But, it did have a weight port in the back. I figured, hey, what’s the worst that could happen?
Step 1: The Baseline
First, I went to the range and hit a bunch of balls with my driver as-is. I was focusing on my normal swing, trying not to change anything. Just wanted to see what the “normal” results were. Predictably… a lot of slices.
Step 2: Adding Weight Back
I bought a heavier weight to install in the back of the driver head. The idea was to move the CG further back, hopefully making it easier to close the clubface and reduce the slice. I was kinda nervous messing with my club like this. Was I gonna break it? Would it even make a difference?
Step 3: Range Time (Again!)
Back to the range. And… wow. The difference was noticeable immediately. The ball was launching higher, and the slice was significantly reduced. It wasn’t gone completely, but it was manageable. I even hit a few that were actually straight! This was a total game changer.
Step 4: Fine-Tuning
I played around with my grip and swing a bit. Found that I needed to be careful not to overcorrect, as I started hooking the ball occasionally. It was all about finding the right balance.
What I Learned
So, messing with the CG of my driver really helped me get my slice under control. Here’s the gist:
- CG Matters: Seriously, it does. It can drastically affect your ball flight.
- Experiment! Don’t be afraid to try different things. That’s how you learn what works for you.
- Small Changes: Make small adjustments at a time. It’s easier to see the impact of one change versus a bunch all at once.
- It’s Not a Magic Bullet: Adjusting the CG didn’t magically fix my swing. It just made it easier to hit the ball straighter. You still need to work on your technique!
This whole CG thing has opened my eyes to how much the equipment affects the game. I’m now thinking about how CG might play a role in my other clubs, too. It’s definitely something I’ll be experimenting with more in the future.
Hope this helps some other weekend warriors out there!
