I asked Mark Crossfield and Nick Clearwater for some advice on my road to 180 recently!

Mark has gone on his own journey to more speed so I was curious what he would think about what I was working on.

It was a really useful convo with a GREAT drill I've been doing ever since.

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After you watch that vid make sure to keep scrolling down in this email to check out the key stat to track and the drill you should be doing!

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⭐️ Interesting ideas from the week:

• NLU just posted a great video visiting TPI. Look forward to a follow up episode to see how it's going!
• We released a putting cheat sheet to go along with last weeks putting video
• Always been interested in trying jumbo grips. Jumbomax came out with a new app and Rick Shiels posted a video about it last week. Anyone play Jumbo grips?
• The new PXG Allan putter (here's a vid) has some interesting specs and tech behind it.🤔 I want to get my hands on one of these.

Ballnamic @BallFitting Every golfer knows that playing into a headwind is extremely difficult For a PGA Tour golfer, a 15-mph headwind reduces carry by 30 yards and increases offline dispersion by 20% 12:38 PM • Sep 10, 2024 1 Retweets 4 Likes Read 1 replies

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➡️ The Importance of Face-to-Path Variability

This article and idea comes from a recent podcast with Dr Sasho MacKenzie. You can listen here. ​

Face-to-path variability refers to the degree of consistency—or inconsistency—between the club face angle and the swing path during impact.

Face-to-path variability is crucial because it influences both the start direction and the amount of curve on the ball.

For elite players, this variability tends to be very low, allowing them to control their ball flight more effectively.

If you can reduce face-to-path variability, you improve your ability to hit the same shot repeatedly. This is particularly important for those looking to go from a 15 to handicap or from being a top-50 player in the world to a top-10 player.

🤔 Is “Rate of Closure” the Key Factor?

Rate of closure refers to how quickly the club face closes through impact, influencing the ball's direction and spin. It's a common belief that reducing the rate of closure will lower face-to-path variability.

However, data shows that there's no strong correlation between a high rate of closure and increased variability.

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🛠 Drill to Assess and Improve Face-to-Path Variability

Setup:

• On the range, select a target distance (e.g., 172 yards) and use a mid-iron (like a 7 or 8 iron).
• Focus on hitting your stock shot shape, whether it’s a draw or a fade.

Execution:

• Hit 10 shots, focusing on replicating the same shot each time.
• Between each shot, perform another task like hitting a putt or taking a short walk to simulate in-game conditions. This helps replicate the variability you might experience during an actual round.

Measurement:

• Use a launch monitor to record the face-to-path data for each shot. The goal is to minimize the variability in these measurements.

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What Is a Good Result?

According to Dr. MacKenzie, a "good" face-to-path variability is typically under 2 degrees.

Sasho adds that for those aiming to be "super elite," you would want your face-to-path variability to be so low that it’s within the "fuzz of the machine," meaning it’s approaching the limits of what the launch monitor can accurately measure.

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Face-to-Path Variability Challenge: Find Your Go-To Shot

• Select Three Shot Shapes: Draw, straight, and fade.
• Hit Five Shots of Each: Record the face-to-path variability for each set.
• Analyze: Determine which shot shape has the lowest variability and consider making that your go-to shot under pressure.

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By focusing on reducing your face-to-path variability through these drills, you can gain greater control over your ball flight, improve your consistency on the course, and ultimately lower your scores.

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Go check out the full podcast and let us know how this drill goes!
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Thanks for tuning in this week! Have a good one.

-Cordie

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✍️ Written By: Cordie Walker.
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