SHOT-MAKING: Art or science?

Discussion

August 1, 2009

By Ray Sarno The Huntsville Item Sat Aug 01, 2009, 11:04 PM CDT

Getting the ball to go where you want is equal parts science and art. A professional golfer has a mastery of mind, body and club that is likened to an artist’s exquisite control of a paintbrush on a canvas, or a musician’s deft fingertips on an instrument.

When a pro fires a short approach shot, there is no easy way to judge whether the velocity, launch angle, and spin rate were optimal. We can only judge the results. If they are good, then we marvel at the shot-making ability that delivered that outcome.

The art of shot-making is about considering the best range of scientific strategies and matching it with our best artistry as a shot-maker.

There are a thousand different combinations of velocity, launch angle, and spin rate that will get the ball to the hole. The art of shot-making is choosing the combination that is best.

Although a professional golfer often has difficulty explaining the theoretical reason for a shot-making decision, he almost always has confidence that what he has in mind will work.

Scientifically, these skills are developed through observation and experimentation, the culmination of the development of a wide range of ball-striking skills and a deeper understanding of how the environment determines where the shot goes.

Text Only

Elkins Lake Golf Report

Golfers are mental masochists The majority of sports today require both the participant and the spectator to have masochistic tendencies.

December 5, 2009
The power of negative thinking This article is primarily for older and experienced golfers. Beginners and young people are concerned mainly in hitting the ball. They have not lived long enough, in the world of golf to have experienced the extensive trauma related to the game.

November 1, 2009
Seniors, you have it made As a man grows older he starts complaining about the things he can no longer do. He needs to look at the bright side and appreciate the advantages he has acquired.

October 18, 2009
A golf pro’s thoughts on important matters A vast majority of men, when turning on the radio or television in the morning, will turn to the sports news.
October 10, 2009
Nerves, our major enemy All participants in sports experience nervousness at the start of a game or contest. The nervousness usually leaves quickly after the contest starts and there is bodily contact.

October 3, 2009
Weapons of mental destruction The weapons of mental destruction are the 14 golf clubs in your golf bag.

September 20, 2009
The Obnoxious Golfer Golf, in the early stages, was considered a “rich man’s sport” or a “gentleman’s game.”

I have determined that being rich does not automatically qualify you as being a gentleman.

September 13, 2009
Choose the shot that best fits your capabilities The adage in golf has always been not how, but how many. There is no set rule as to how you get the ball close to the hole when just off the green, but the decision you make could mean all the difference in your score.

August 29, 2009
An adventure of a lifetime Last week, through the kindness of a close friend, I was able to spend five glorious days in Alaska. My journey started on Wednesday with a seven-hour flight out of Houston straight to Anchorage.

August 22, 2009
SHOT-MAKING: Art or science? Getting the ball to go where you want is equal parts science and art. A professional golfer has a mastery of mind, body and club that is likened to an artist’s exquisite control of a paintbrush on a canvas, or a musician’s deft fingertips on an instrument.

August 1, 2009
More Elkins Lake Golf Report Headlines

Elkins Lake Golf Report

Search Results

Discussion

SHOT-MAKING: Art or science?

Site Map

Contact Us