[bengtson14]

can someone please explain to me what balloning means

[PatScan]

ballooning is a term used to reference a particular ball flight. for the most part it's a negative term. I'm sure you've seen or experienced it yourself. it is when the ball "climbs" higher than a standard flight, i.e. the ballflight "balloons" or expands. think of a bell curve. it usually happens into the wind. as far as the causes i'm not going to try to answer.

[TourPro]

That is pretty much it. It will often start out normal or even low, then climb fast and fall. This is usually caused by too much spin.

[steve81]

the easiest way to define ballooning.....

when your driver ballflight matches your lob wedge flight.

it's a distance killer and is normally a result of WAY too much spin.

[bengtson14]

ok thanks a lot guys!

[spk74]

Yes: Ballooning can be caused by excessive spin, or playing into the wind. Because the lift acting on the ball depends on the spin rate of the ball and its linear velocity relative to the air around it. Playing into the wind increases the velocity of the ball relative to the air.

Ballooning is bad....

I believe spin-associated lift acts on the ball somewhat perpendicular to the line of motion the ball is traveling through the air. If the ball is traveling horizontally (i.e. at the apex of flight), the vertical component of the ball's velocity is zero and all of the lift will be directed upwards (perpendicular to the horizontal velocity). This is good because it keeps the ball off the ground.

But if the ball is rising (positive vertical velocity), then the lift will still act on the ball perpendicular to that motion...and will apply an upward force that is directed partly back in the golfer's direction.

Similarly, if the ball is falling (negative vertical velocity, like after the apex in flight), the lift forces will push the ball upward and away from the golfer (toward the target).

Unfortunately, the spin rate and linear velocity of the ball are greatest right as the ball leaves the club face. So all the way up to the apex, there is a lift force being applied slightly back toward the golfer (slowing the ball down). As the ball falls to the ground, the spin-associated lift is weakened significantly because both the spin rate and velocity have decreased.

In a ballooned shot, the spin is so excessive, the lift is so excessive, that the ball turns up toward the heavens and the lift quickly reduces the horizontal (useful) velocity of the ball...and it just drops down out of the sky.