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the bottom of the ball and a lift force greater than the weight of the ball. That allows a well-stru...
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are skilled swear that forged blades feel better than cast models, but I think you will find that wi...
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with will hit his shot and complain of topspin. Isn't it impossible to create topspin and get a ball...
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reverse the case. Some golfers who are skilled swear that forged blades feel better than cast models...
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l. That allows a well-struck golf shot to move through the air more like a plane than a stone. Of co...
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Because I find it more accurate on the long shots, I use a hard ball. But I lack control on the gr...
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I recently broke the shaft of my 3-wood at the hosel. Was there too much torque on my shaft? What is torque, anyway, and how does it affect the average swing?

The scientific definition of torque and how it's used in golf are different things. Torque is a measure of a twisting force, usually in units such as "foot/pounds." It is not the degrees a shaft rotates under a twisting load. Nevertheless, that's how golf marketing executives most often use the term. During the downswing, the club rotates about 90 degrees in a quarter of a second. If the shaft twists easily (has "a lot of torque"), the clubhead will lag behind the wrists in rotation, and the face will not be square at impact. Some manufacturers promote their shafts as having really "low torque." However, there is no proof that a shaft with high torsional stiffness does anything more for you than a shaft with moderate torsional stiffness. Hope this is not too twisted an answer.

If all things are equal, will balls struck by forged blades go farther than balls struck by cavity-backs?

D.K., Boise, Idaho

No. Nor is the reverse the case. Some golfers who are skilled swear that forged blades feel better than cast models, but I think you will find that with today's designs and materials used to cast clubs, there are few golfers who can tell the difference. Certainly, the performance differences are not measurable. Golfers often refer to blades as forged clubs only because many blades are forged, but one can easily cast a blade design. Some cavity-back clubs are forged, but that's more for marketing reasons than anything else. If you are a scratch player, you may think about playing with forged blades. However, even then, your choice is driven by preference, not performance.

A guy I play with will hit his shot and complain of topspin. Isn't it impossible to create topspin and get a ball airborne?

Brad Roberson, Raleigh, N.C.

There are television commentators who claim shots have topspin, too. The fact is, every ball is launched with backspin, even putts. You are absolutely right that a ball with topspin would not go very far. The only way that a ball achieves the lift force required to get it to carry 260 yards (about the average carry on tour) is with backspin. This creates the "Magnus Effect," which results in a difference in air pressure between the top and the bottom of the ball and a lift force greater than the weight of the ball. That allows a well-struck golf shot to move through the air more like a plane than a stone. Of course, some balls when struck above the equator of the ball with the leading edge of the driver may achieve topspin. And they'll hit the ground just inches from the tee.

Because I find it more accurate on the long shots, I use a hard ball. But I lack control on the greens. Would I benefit from switching to a putter with a soft insert?

Cade Morgan, South Africa

If you are a slower swinger, some softer golf balls may actually be better for your putts and your tee shots. I'd look at some of the newest low-compression balls, which are becoming more playable around the green. Of course, although a tour ball might hurt your wallet, it certainly won't hurt your game. An insert putter may give you more feel, but as the feel changes, your stroke may change, too. If you like your putter, you might get all you need just by changing the ball. But, by all means, experiment with the new putters. You may discover magic, at least for a little while.

Frank Thomas, technical director of the USGA from 1974-2000, is Golf Digest's Chief Technical Advisor. E-mail him at equipment@golfdigest.com.

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