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A complete golf article library

The science, history & art of golf — examined.

Rigorous long-form writing on golf physics, ball flight, club engineering, scoring, the mental game, and the history of a sport unlike any other. By David Butler.

Ball Flight Impact Physics Club Engineering Scoring Mental Game History Ball Fitting
Featured articles
Physics & Ball Flight
The Physics of Ball Flight

The moment a golf club strikes the ball, the entire shot is determined. Five measurable conditions — ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, altitude, and temperature — define everything that follows. A deep look at what governs every shot you hit.

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Impact Physics
Smash Factor and Center-Face Contact

Measuring impact efficiency and why the sweet spot changes everything.

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History
The Origins of Golf

From shepherds, stones, and the open fields of Scotland.

Read

Golf Article Topics: Physics, Equipment, History, Performance, Mental Game, Ball Fitting

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Ball Flight Physics
Launch · Spin · Trajectory
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Impact Physics
COR · Smash Factor · Spin Loft
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Club Engineering
Design · MOI · CG
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Ball Fitting
Compression · Aerodynamics
▲
Scoring & Performance
Distance · Gapping · Control
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Mental Game
Focus · Routine · Commitment
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"

Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots — but you have to play the ball where it lies.

— Bobby Jones

About this library

Written for players who want to understand the game

The Golf Journalist is a long-form article library by David Butler — covering the engineering, physics, psychology, history, and performance of golf with the depth the game deserves. No tips, no listicles. Just serious writing for serious students of golf.

Visit mastergolffitter.com
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Our Story
AI Master Golf Fitter Logo

From the Driving Range
to the Physics Engine

AI Precision. Perfect Fit. Peak Performance.

David Butler — Golf Journalist, Master Clubfitter, BSME MBA

David Butler — Master Clubfitter

David Butler's NHRA National Champion Fuel Dragster #198

NHRA National Champion · Car #198

David Butler — BSME, MBA, California PGA Master Clubfitter

His career spans engineering, aerospace, automotive, semiconductor operations, and high-performance competition. His path started at Ohio State in the 1950s, watching a young Jack Nicklaus play.

Decades later his wife Mary told him to find something to do. He walked into a San Mateo golf store, saw "Help Wanted", took the job — and that's where Dr. Grip was born.

That led to Butler Irons, a Half Moon Bay fitting studio where even Neil Young stopped by, a Miura dealership, TrackMan, and Golf Digest recognition as one of the top fitters in the country.

One question kept nagging: the clubs are fit — what ball should the player use? So he built a physics model validated against Tour player data, and rebuilt it with AI into the tool you're looking at now.

Education BSME & MBA — Engineering foundation and business leadership
Chrysler Corporation 15 years Chief Engineer · 8 years South America & Europe
NASA / Lockheed Honorary Member — Magellan 2 Venus Probe
Silicon Valley 25 years engineering consulting
National Semiconductor VP of Operations
Golf Master Clubfitter · Miura Dealer · TrackMan Specialist · Golf Digest Top Fitter
✈️  Pilot 🏁  NHRA National Champion · Fuel Dragster #198 ⛳  Dr. Grip Master Clubfitter 🐶  Dog Lover

That's The Golf Ball Fitter.

More from David Butler

A network of specialist golf websites covering every aspect of fitting, performance, and science.

●
The Golf Ball Fitter
thegolfballfitter.com
Golf ball fitting based on compression, spin, and aerodynamics matched to your launch conditions.
Visit site →
◈
The Golf Club Fitter
thegolfclubfitter.com
Complete club fitting covering shafts, heads, loft, lie, and measured launch conditions.
Visit site →
⚙
Master Golf Fitter
mastergolffitter.com
The complete golf fitting resource — clubs, balls, and performance analysis in one place.
Visit site →
▲
Golf Ball Optimizer
golfballoptimizerfordistance.com
Optimise your golf ball selection for maximum carry distance based on ball speed and launch data.
Visit site →
◎
Science Golf Library
sciencegolflibrary.com
A science-based golf library covering the physics, engineering, and mathematics behind the game.
Visit site →
◯
Wedge Fitting Studio
wedgefittingstudio.com
Specialist wedge fitting: spin loft, descent angle, stopping power, and short game performance.
Visit site →

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© 2026 The Golf Journalist · By David Butler · Part of the David Butler Golf Network · thegolfjournalist.com

The Golf Journalist provides free golf articles covering golf physics, ball flight physics, smash factor, spin loft, coefficient of restitution, moment of inertia, club engineering, golf ball fitting, golf history, origins of golf, golf scoring, distance control, club gapping, mental game, golf psychology, impact physics, launch angle, spin rate, ball speed, carry distance, descent angle, peak height, Magnus effect, golf aerodynamics, featherie ball, gutta percha, linksland Scotland golf. Written by David Butler at mastergolffitter.com.

The Golf Journalist
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  • Equipment
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