[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Where is the Sweet Spot?"

The driver's sweet spot is located at the center of the club.

'Sweet spot.'

It refers to the center of gravity of the clubface. Naturally, it is located at the dead center of the hitting surface. When you place the face facing the sky and bounce the ball, the spot where you hear a solid 'thud' sound is the core spot. It's interesting that the area is only about 6mm, very narrow. To hit a long shot, you need to strike the ball at the center of the club's sweet area that sends the ball the farthest during impact (The key is to strike the ball on the sweet spot).

'The Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau (USA) explained the secret to his long drives: "Above all, you must hit the ball on the sweet spot to get maximum energy." When the ball is struck on the sweet spot, it causes an increase in the clubhead speed due to the club's weight, resulting in maximum ball speed and accuracy. Also, the spin applied to the ball is consistent, preventing excessive shock to the wrists, arms, and shoulders.

If you fail to contact the sweet spot, the clubhead twists, causing significant energy loss. In fact, experiments show that "for every 0.5cm away from the sweet spot, the distance decreases by 6 yards." The sweet spot exists not only on drivers but also on woods, irons, and putters. The same applies to baseball, tennis, table tennis, and badminton. Other expressions for the sweet spot include 'on the centroid,' 'on the screw,' and 'squarely.'

A: That's a perfect drive shot.

B: Thanks. I hit it right on the sweet spot.

A: Does every club have a sweet spot?

B: Yes, they do. You can't hit a long ball unless you hit it on the sweet spot.

A: Is there any other name for the sweet spot?

B: It is also called the 'centroid.'

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist