In The Weeds Golf Podcast

Ben Nelson
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  • Golf

Welcome to the In The Weeds Podcast hosted by me, Ben Nelson! While I am best known for my knowledge on golf clubs, club fitting, and instruction nothing golf is out of bounds on this podcast!

Episodes

  1. 04/17/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 10 - Special Guest Jeff Greenswag - Talking more business and thoughts on The Masters

    In this episode, the In The Weeds Podcast welcomes back Jeff Greenswag!  Jeff and I follow up on our Masters picks, our thoughts on the tournament and a few more cool business questions and ideas.  It was a great conversation!  Check it out!

  2. 04/08/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 9 - Special Guest Jeff Greenswag - Talking Business Entrepreneurship and The Masters

    In this episode, the In The Weeds Podcast welcomes its first-ever guest, Jeff Greenswag.  In addition to being a super cool dude, Jeff is also starting his own golf business, Sauce Golf Co.  We talk about Sauce golf, his product, The Cooler Towel, and what it's like to start a business.  In the second segment, we talk The Masters.  Who do we like, who do we think is going to win, some bets, and even some fun tier picks for the week.  Check it out!

  3. 04/04/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 8 - When should you get fit?

    In the previous episode, we covered all of the benefits of custom-fitted golf equipment and this episode only builds on that.  When should you get custom fitted for equipment.  The quick answer is as fast as you can but if you need more convincing you'll have to check out this episode.

  4. 03/24/2021

    In the Weeds - Episode 7 - The benefits of club fitting

    The benefits of club fitting are too numerous to fathom.  Check out the episode to learn all of the reasons why the only club you should ever buy is a fitted golf club.  Once you've been fit, you'll never go back. Check out the corresponding blog post at https://vanquishgolfworks.com/blogcast/

  5. 03/23/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 3 - Shaft Anatomy

    Butt The name of the end of the shaft with the larger measured diameter and the end where the grip is installed Middle The middle of the shaft Tip The end of the shaft where the clubhead is installed.  It also has the smaller measured diameter of the two sides Weight Simply how heavy the shaft is.  It is almost exclusively measured in grams.  A heavy shaft for irons and wedges is 130g and a lightweight would be 70 or 80g.  A heavy metal wood shaft would be 85 or 90g while a light shaft could be as light as 40g.  While evolving manufacturing and material combinations are somewhat changing this, a shaft weight is still highly correlated to the overall flex of the shaft.  A stiff flex shaft that is 100g is almost certainly going to be stiffer than a stiff flex shaft at 80g.  In my experience, getting the weight of the shaft correct is the single most important factor in a shaft fitting. Flex The flex of the shaft is a metric that attempts to educate the player on how flexible the overall shaft is.  In General, a more flexible shaft will help a player draw the ball more easily and hit it higher while the opposite is generally true with stiffer shafts.  The flex of the shaft is usually indicated by a single word or letter.  The order of general flexes from most flexible to least is L or Ladies, A or SR flex for senior, R for regular, S for Stiff, and X for Extra Stiff.  There are other methods for indicating flexes and there are additional shaft flexes apart from those provided but those are what is seen the majority of the time.  Shaft flex is not standardized from one company to the next or even from one product line to the next.  Shaft flex is most useful for quickly narrowing in your selection of shaft that will potentially fit you as a player and while it is not a perfect indication of performance having that and a narrower range of weights will give you a very useful starting point. Torque Torque is the rotational twisting of a shaft along the length axis of the shaft.  While a club is being swung it not only bends but also twists.  Torque is measured in degrees and a shaft with a higher number is going to twist more and will likely also have a softer shaft flex.  A shaft with a lower torque number twists less and will likely have a stiffer shaft flex. Kickpoint Kickpoint is a term for the general location on the shaft where it is designed to flex the most.  Generally, shafts can have high, middle, or low kick points although middle positions are also fairly common.  There are no standards for kick point and each company will have a slightly different take.  However, it is a common convention that a shaft with a higher kick point will make the ball fly lower and a shaft with a lower kick point will generally make the ball fly higher. Flighted shafts Tip sizes Parallel tip vs. taper tip shafts Tip trimming  Butt trimming Raw length and cut length Swing weight Counterbalanced Materials Shaft PUREING Made-For / OEM shafts vs. Aftermarket Step vs. Stepless shafts

  6. 03/17/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 6 - Launch Monitor Metrics - Part 2 - Club Metrics

    Check out https://vanquishgolfworks.com/blogcast/ to view not only this episode but also the blog post for this episode! If you have a comment or question let me know on my website!  If you like the show and want to help it grow, subscribe! The latest episode is part 2 of a 2 part series on launch monitors and the numbers they spit out.  This episode focused on the numbers relative to the golf club and what the club is doing.  Obviously, what the club is doing determines what the ball is doing so it is important to know what those factors are and how they influence how the ball flies!  Check it out!

  7. 03/11/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 5 - Launch Monitor Metrics - Part 1 - Ball Metrics

    Ball speed The measurement of how fast the ball travels through the air.  Measured in MPH.  Depending on which launch monitor you are using it is measured at slightly different points but it is taken very quickly after the ball is hit.  As the ball flies through the air it slows down so when it lands it is moving much slower than it came off the face.  The faster a player swings the club, the more potential ball speed they can generate.  The speed is also affected by how much loft you are hitting it with, how center the contact is, what type of club and ball you are using, and more. Launch Angle The angle, relative to the ground, that the ball traveled after the initial strike of the ball.  Measured in degrees.  Don’t get confused with Peak height as launch angle is only an initial measurement.  The higher the ball took off, the higher the launch angle.  Launch angle can be manipulated by the player's angle of attack, club loft, shaft properties, club CG location, and more. Side Angle Similar to launch angle but this is the measurement, in degrees, of how much the ball launched to one side or the other, relative to the launch monitor's centerline.  Side angle is the same as push and pull.  If the ball starts to the right 5 degrees, that is said to be a 5 * push, for a right-handed player. Spin rate How much backspin the ball had on it during the initial part of its flight.  This is measured in RPM’s.  No matter what, the ball will have backspin on it.  Backspin is what creates lift on the ball and is responsible for keeping it in the air.  A ball that has lots of spin will have a flight that rises as it travels.  A ball with not enough backspin will look like a knuckleball and will fall out of the air.  Optimal spin rates, depending upon your goals, of course, are usually fairly flat in flight.  The desired spin rate changes greatly depending upon the club and if you are looking for maximum distance or stopping power.  Spin rate has a massive influence on how far the ball travels.  As you increase in the loft you will always increase the spin rate. Tilt Axis This is the measurement of how much the ball is tilted relative to perfectly upright while it spins and flies through the air.  This is also generally measured in degrees.  Tilt axis is responsible for the curve on the ball.  The more the ball spins on a tilt the more it will curve.  A ball with its axis parallel to the ground will be spinning on a perfectly vertical orientation and will not curve to one side or the other.  When you tilt the axis away from parallel it begins to curve. Carry Distance Carry distance is simply how far the ball flies through the air before it hits the ground.  This is measured in yards unless you are using meters.  Carry distance can be estimated if you know the ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate of the ball. Total Distance Similar to carry distance, total distance is simply how far the ball travels before it comes to rest. Landing Angle The angle that the ball takes as it hits the ground. Peak Height The maximum distance the ball reached in the air.

  8. 03/04/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 4 - Grip Anatomy

    Butt cap The butt cap is the closed end of the grip at the end of the club shaft.  It is important to note that the butt cap thickness is different across different grips and can affect the final length of the grip Different grip sizes Undersize Standard Midsize Oversize Putter grips do not operate this way and have OEM or model specific sizes Ribbed grips Ribbed grips are grips that have a ridge of extra material on the underside of the grip.  If you rolled up a piece of tape to make a long string and put it on the underside of the grip that is what ribbed grips are meant to emulate. Grip weights All grips are measured in grams and different grips have different weights.  This is an especially important factor when you consider swing weight.  With grips varying in weight by more than 20 g in some cases, it can have quite a large impact.  Oversized putter grips are going to be especially important to look after as they are generally heavier than others.  In general, the larger the grip the heavier it will be.  There are other models that are made to be lighter, however.  Sometimes even different colors from different models have different weights. Putter grips Putter grips are the only grips that are allowed to not be round.  Putter grips are allowed to have one flat side that you can use to help align your hands. Grip materials The material in grips varies greatly in order to change the feel and performance, however rubber mixtures, synthetic leather, and real leather make up the vast majority of grips that you will find.  Each has its pros and cons.  Typically leather is softer while rubber is more flexible and more durable. Grip texture Texture is added to grips in order to help people align their hands and to increase performance.  Similar to a car tire texture on grips not only allows people a more firm grip but also wicks away some of the moisture.   In addition to textures, cord can also be added to the grips for extra absorption and grip.  Cord is essentially string that is sewn into the grip.  Wrap patterns are also quite common.  Wrap patterns have material that spirals around the grip as it moves along the length. Grip taper Almost every grip tapers from the butt cap to the end of the grip, however, there are a few models that have less taper built-in.  Overall, there is not a performance difference and it is a feel preference. Grip tape Double sided tape is used to adhere the grip to the shaft.  In addition to that job, you can use extra tape in order to build up or thicken the overall grip.  You can get as creative as you want with this and several famous players have unique combinations of tape.  The bottom hand thicker than the top to reduce taper or more tape on one side over another.  4 wraps of tape is generally going to increase the size of the grip by one. Counterbalanced grips While specialized grips with counterbalancing weights do exist.  Especially if you are a tall golfer or have over length equipment, counterbalancing may help you create a more playable swing weight. Grip Core size

  9. 02/25/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 2 - Club Head Anatomy

    In this episode, we get into the weeds on golf club heads!  Listed below are the names and brief explanations of each of the different components and features of golf club heads that were covered in the episode Face - The face is the part of the club that is meant to strike the golf ball.  The heel is the side of the face nearest the connection to the club shaft while the toe is the opposite or outside of the clubface.  The high and low parts of the face are simply called high and low.  These words can be combined and are often used together to help more accurately describe which part of the face you are referencing.  High toe, low heel, high heel, and low heel are some examples. Crown - The crown is the name for the top of the clubhead on all woods, including hybrids, fairway woods, and drivers. Sole - The sole is the name of the bottom part of every clubhead.  Regardless of the club, the bottom is called the sole. Leading and trailing edge - The leading edge is the curved surface the transitions the sole to the face.  The trailing edge is the transitional edge between the sole and the back of the club. Topline - The top line is the name of the thin strip of metal on top of all irons, wedges, and driving irons.  Metal woods do not have toplines and instead have crowns. Offset - Offset is the transition from the hosel of the club to the face.  A club is said to have offset if the face is set backward and behind the most forward part of the hosel Hosel - The hosel is the name for the circular part of all club heads that accepts the shaft of the golf club and hold it in place Loft - Loft is the angle of the face.  A club is said to have a lot of loft if the face points more towards the sky and a minimal amount of loft if the face points towards the target.  All golf clubs have loft and loft is a major determining factor in the distance a golf ball will travel off of any club.  Drivers will have the least amount of loft and wedges will have the most. Lie Angle - Lie angle is the angle that is created between the hosel and the ground.  Generally, longer clubs will have smaller lie angles (57*) and shorter clubs will have larger lie angles (64*). Face angle - Face angle is where ever the center of the clubface is pointed.  If used dynamically, face angle is a major factor in determining where the ball starts off the clubhead.  When used when describing equipment, face angle is the angle that the face points when the club is resting on the ground without influence from the player. FP Face progression - Face progression is generally only found on metal woods and is when the leading edge of the club lies in front of the leading edge of the hosel. Volume and CC's - CC's is a measure of the displacement of a clubhead.  While every club has a CC measurement drivers and fairway woods are often the only clubs mentioned with volume.  The rule for maximum CC's is 460 CC which you will often see in advertisements. MOI - Moment of inertia or MOI is a measurement of the forgiveness level of a golf club.  MOI is related to CC's because as a club gets bigger its MOI will increase. Camber - Camber is the curvature of the sole of the club.  It can be both from heel to toe and also from front to back of the sole. Bounce - Bounce is the angle created between the lower trailing edge and the leading edge of the sole.  The more the leading edge sits in the air the more bounce it is said to have. Moveable weights CG

  10. 02/22/2021

    In The Weeds - Episode 1 - Intro to equipment

    Welcome to the In The Weeds Podcast! This is Episode 1 - Golf Club Anatomy I cover what the different parts of each club is called and answer the following questions: Why are there so many different types of golf clubs? -  There are many different types of golf clubs in order to make the game easier to play and so that there is less specialization that is required.  If you only had 3 different golf clubs you would have to hit those 3 clubs from a much wider variety of situations and locations compared to 14 clubs.  With 14 clubs, a standard swing will be your best option much more often which makes the game easier.  In addition to making the game easier there are many different types of clubs that specialize in certain conditions and situations.  A driver, for example, is made to almost exclusively be hit off of the tee and on a tee box.  Because the situation is so specialized designers have been able to make drivers accomplish the goal of hitting the ball as far as possible and have been able to pull more levers in doing so.  Since you don't have to worry about hitting a driver out of sand or deep grass, certain design features can be implemented that help the ball go really far from a specific situation.  Other clubs are made for a wider variety of situations and as a result look much different.  A wedge, for example, is made to be hit from any type of grass or sand and is most often the club with the most flexibility.  The design of the wedge has evolved over time and because of these conditions it looks and is required to be much different from a driver. What does each golf club do? - Generally, each golf club is made to go a specific distance.  The length and loft of each golf club vary in order to make each club go a different distance.  While other factors and conditions influence the design and intent of each club the most important thing is altering distance.  Each club is made with the purpose of slotting into a specific distance gap and while that exact distance will be different for every golfer the gap that it fills will always be the same.  A 7 iron will almost always go short than a 6 iron and a 6 iron will almost always go shorter than a 5 iron.  In order to get that to happen clubs graduate in length and in loft.  The length of the club is simply how long it is from one end to the other with the shaft being that part that lengthens the most.  As the shaft gets longer, it becomes a longer lever and it allows you to multiply the speed and force that your hands are applying to the golf club.  The loft is the angle of the face.  A club with a small amount of loft, like a driver, has a very vertical face that points towards the target more.  A club with a lot of loft, like a sand wedge, has a face that points much more towards the sky.  The loft does numerous things but the biggest factor it controls is distance.  The more vertical the face the more of the force you apply to the ball gets converted to forward motion.  The less vertical the face, or the more loft, the more the force applied gets converted into vertical or skyward motion.  Each club has a varied length and loft so that it fits into the desired distance gap and allows a player to hit that club a specific distance. What are the names of each club? - Driver - Fairway wood - Hybrid - Irons - Wedges - Putter - Driving iron

  • 10 Episodes

About

Welcome to the In The Weeds Podcast hosted by me, Ben Nelson! While I am best known for my knowledge on golf clubs, club fitting, and instruction nothing golf is out of bounds on this podcast!

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