Launch angle launch angle and spin rate chart here is the launch angle and spin rate chart supplied with the golf achiever launch monitor. This particular driver was hit by rick hartmann my boss and the head professional at atlantic golf club. To acheive maximum distance, one needs the combination of maximum ball speed and optiumum launch angle for that speed. In arizona, we found that the optimum launch and spin at 90 mph is. Everyone in freshman physics learns that the optimal launch angle for a projectile the angle that makes a ball. Jul 02, 2018 drivers made for pros are finely tuned to produce the ideal launch angle and spin rate based on how fast that particular player swings. Is the optimum launch angle the same for every golfer or does it vary depending on ball speed. Flightscopes trajectory optimizer is a golf ball flight trajectory program. Golfers today are much more aware of what ideal launch conditions should be on a driver. The nominal launch angle for a 10 degree lofted club is 8. Are these optimal launch monitor numbers for 95 mph swing. In its place tour players started launching the ball higher, 1112 degrees, and spinning it lower, 25002800. The low loft of a golf driver is very surprising from the perspective of physics.
With the increased awareness in golf periodicals and television coverage, plus the recent advent and access to affordable, portable launch monitors, launch angle is getting much. If you know your club speed, you can determine what loft driver optimizes distance for your swing. Here you will find advice on golf instruction, golf course management and golf tips. Rick played on the european tour for ten years and is a fantastic driver of the ball. Andrew rice golf is located at the westin savannah harbor resort and golf club. Driver loft is the angle in degrees between a plane that touches the center of the striking face and a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the sole line. The angle in which the ball comes off the club face is called the launch angle. Many golfers lose distance with their driver because they hit the ball with too high a launch angle. Golf writer steve newell quantifies the launch angle as the balls trajectory over its first 20 yards. Apr 29, 20 the low loft of a golf driver is very surprising from the perspective of physics. Gone was the low launch, 89 degrees, and high spin, 30003500. How to lower the launch angle of my drive golfweek. A club fitter will use a launch monitor to analyze how the golf club is impacting ball flight. I hit several golf balls aiming to swing at the following common 7 iron swing.
Improvements in shaft technologies and the increased use of launch. If golf were a simple game, we would be able to provide you with the ideal launch angle for your driver and you could head off to the range to work on finding it. The 917 d2 seems to launch the ball a bit lower than the 915 d2. Jul 16, 2019 in todays golf world, maximizing your driver distance is truly a matter of science. I went on a launch monitor the other day with my titleist driver, and had numbers like 104 club speed, 150mph ball speed 1415 launch angle and 4000 spin. The only way to get the most out of your drives is through the use of a launch monitor. Below is an image of a driver approaching the ball with a descending angle. Providing golf instruction for all levels of golfers. Maximizing driver distance using a trackman or flightscope.
Optimal driver numbers golf instruction andrew rice golf. In todays golf world, maximizing your driver distance is truly a matter of science. Until you get to the 110 mph and above range, you need to focus on launching the ball as high as possible with the optimum spin rate. The optimum launch angle for both irons and woods is based on ball speed. Its the optimum combination of ball speed with launch angle that produces the greatest carry. Club fitterstaff instructor, pga tour golf academy world golf village. If you play to a 4 hc, you probably hit it fairly consistently on the club face at least within a 14 inch area. Physics shows the optimum launch angle depends on ball speed. Mar 14, 2019 golfers today are much more aware of what ideal launch conditions should be on a driver. Notice that as ball speed decreases, the optimum launch angle must increase and backspin must increase as well. If you can keep the spin below 2000 the launch angle hardly matters until you go extremely high or low. Optimalflight recognizes that there exists a unique landing angle profile for a given ball speed, launch angle, wind, and altitude. In golf, the launch angle is the initial trajectory of the ball relative to the ground, according to pga pro mark blakemore. If you swing over the top with an outside in path, it is likely you would have a downward angle of attack.
A 3wood has a spin rate of 3655rpm, where a 5wood is measured at 4350rpm. This page describes the optimum launch conditions with a golf driver to hit the ball further. The following table shows the optimal launch angle for a 6 iron and a driver at certain ball speeds. Launch angle deg carry yards club speed mph 75 80 85 90 95 166 178 187 176 187 197 199 211 223 215 228 239 243 244 256 total yards driver fitting chart. Launch angle is measured from the loft of the club and the attack angle into the ball. While there have been many points of views and arguments, i wanted to take a stab at trying to explain this conversation from a scientific perspective with a realworld application. Ive just recently switched from the titleist 915 d2 to the 917 d2. This calculator has been updated to include carry distances and total distances for drivers of different lofts and different club speeds.
This causes the ball to float in the air and land with minimal roll. Desired launch angle, spin rates change based on driver. In this segment, we are going to talk about the optimum launch angle for your club speed. So, as the driver loft increases, ball speed decreases and the launch angle increases. Based on scientific algorithms, flightscopes trajectory optimizer will help you find your optimal ball flight trajectory to add distance. Threeday golf school information may also be found here.
Desired launch angle, spin rates change based on driver speed. Launch angle and launch direction are largely influenced by the club face and i like both here. I also know that many questions do not have a logical answer. Ideal spin rates and launch angles for driver sign in to follow this. Golf simulator forum is the center point for discussion on golf simulator products, brands, manufacturers, launch monitors and everything else related to golf simulation. Nov, 2018 launch angle can be considered one of the critical components of your golf shots. Average golf ball driver spin rate is your rpm high or low.
Remember, to maximize distance, it is a combination of ball speed, launch angle and spin rate. While the statement is generally true, golfers need to match. High launch, low spin is what you always hear is the secret to more distance and its not so secret anymore to distance. The average golfers problem is not so much a lack of ability as it is. Dustin johnsons driver is a reminder that optimal launch conditions boost yards. Oct 19, 2018 in this video, we examine the type of swing characteristics that lead to a high ball flight, and then look into the types of driver models and configurations that can drastically reduce the launch. It seems the general opinion for optimum launch conditions for a driver to obtain maximum distance are 12 to 14 degrees. Youll get different spin rates depending upon where your angle of attack and loft meets the ball in addition to where you hit the ball on the club face. An optimum angle of descent for the driver will be between 35 to 40 degrees for players with a. While accurate angle of attack can only be measured with a high end launch monitor such as trackman, it can be estimated from an observation of driver shot trajectory well enough to allow the chart data to be helpful.
Of course, golf is anything but simple, and there is no one answer to this question. Launch monitors and widespread popularity of the prov1 golf ball dramatically changed the tour players approach to striking a ball with a driver. Ideal spin rates and launch angles for driver golf talk. Finding the optimal trajectory for your driver one of the more discussed topics involving clubfitting is about what launch angle is best for any given golfer. Use our fitting wizard to find the right driver shaft for you. The program will plot the flight of the ball in real time after the users input of the initial launch conditions of the golf ball. May 30, 2012 with so many questions after my two most recent posts i thought it would be enlightening to show you what we see when using trackman. Other launch characteristics include the balls initial velocity on impact and the amount. A higher launch angle and increased spin rate help keep your golf ball longer in the air while also increasing the distance of the shot. Lower the launch angle a little to rectify this situation. How to create an upward angle of attack for more driver.
Launch angle can be considered one of the critical components of your golf shots. You shouldnt be all over the place like some of us. Trajectory optimizer launch monitor, golf ball tracking. But what do all those numbers on the launch monitor screen mean and how. Optimize your launch angle by getting tested on a launch monitor. The average golf ball spin rate is 2686 rotations per minute rpm when using a driver. Vegas with a blast of 427 yards using a krank golf formula 5. The 7 iron is a pretty standard benchmark number which golfers tend to compare themselves against the other obviously being the driver distance. It seems logical that the higher the ball speed is the lower the optimum launch angle would be. Poor setup and swinging down on the ball can cause golfers to hit. Launch angle optimizes distance for a given ball speed. Optimize your launch angle by getting tested on a launch monitor golf swing speed distance calculator.
Jul 26, 2017 if golf were a simple game, we would be able to provide you with the ideal launch angle for your driver and you could head off to the range to work on finding it. If your spin rate is high coupled with a faster swing, the overall distance that the ball covers goes down. Launch conditions for irons often get overlooked however. The ball direction launch angle depends on the loft of the club and the club direction. Then to optimize their distance acquiring the ideal launch angle will be the icing on the cake in terms of achieving their optimum distance. Golf writer steve newell quantifies the launch angle as the balls trajectory over its. Optimize driver loft for more distance true fit clubs. Dustin johnsons driver is a reminder that optimal launch. If your launch is between 17 and 19, you probably need to look at a lower. There is an optimum launch angle for maximum distance. So for a swing speed of 100 mph your maximum driver ball speed will be 160 mph. The main number that i advise looking at when it comes to iron launch conditions has very little to do with launch and everything to do with landing angle, a number that trackman calculates. At 10 mph ball speed your optimum launch angle that gives you the most carry distance will be between 12 to.
Golf digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our. The ideal launch angle for you is going to depend on a number of variables. So, with that in my, i did a little test today using trackman to measure. No longer can you solely go on what looks right to your eye or even what feels right in your hands. While accurate angle of attack can only be measured with a high end launch monitor such as trackman, it can be estimated from an observation of driver shot trajectory well enough to allow the chart data to. Nov 05, 20 dustin johnsons driver is a reminder that optimal launch conditions boost yards. With both set to 12 degree loft and around 95 mph swing speed, i launch the ball at 18 degrees using the 915 d2 and the 917 d2 at 16 degrees. How to lower the launch angle of my drive golf week. The optimal landing angle range for a long drive professional 190210 mph. Vegas with a blast of 427 yards using a krank golf formula 5 driver. If you know your club speed, you can determine what loft driver optimizes distance for your.
Driver loft does make a difference, but your angle of attack is critical hitting down on the ball is devastating to the average golfers distance. It seems the general opinion for optimum launch conditions for a driver to obtain maximum distance are 12 to 14 degrees launch angle with spin between 2200 and 2700 rpm. Optimal driver numbers on trackman andrew rice golf. While the statement is generally true, golfers need to match their launch angle and spin rate to their swing speed, as well as their angle of attack to get the absolute most distance off the tee. Gone was the low launch, 89 degrees, and high spin, 3000. I think everybody thinks that there is one optimal launch and one optimal spin rate, said nick sherburne, club champions cofounder and master fitter. Launch angle has a drastic impact on driving distance correcting a poor one will get you more distance today. The optimal landing angle range for a long drive professional 190210 mph ball speed will be uniquely different for a 150 mph ball speed golfer.