Short Game · Technique

Release the club to soften pitches on firm greens

Smash factor is ball speed relative to club speed. As greens firm up the instructor wants the ball going through the air slower, so he lowers smash factor to around 1.0 by releasing the club more; in winter on soft greens his smash factor runs much higher, about 1.15, so the ball comes off hotter. Releasing the club more takes speed off the ball for a softer-landing pitch.