The difference being that the tip end is clamped and the load is applied to the butt end of the shaft. The more a shaft bends in this configuration, the softer the tip. Tip flex has a similar effect on performance as static flex, in that the softer the tip the greater the launch angle and spin rate.
What factors affect a golf club's launch angle?
Many factors affect launch angle, including swing speed, the angle of attack (how the clubface approaches the golf ball) and clubface position at impact. The loft of the golf club itself is the single biggest factor, of course. But the same club can produce very different launch angles in the hands of different golfers based on the other factors.
How does spin rate affect your golf ball launch?
The launch angle and spin rate of the golf ball will affect how your ball flies towards its target. Having a high spin rate will “lift” your ball up to the sky, creating a lot of height and a steep landing angle.
What is a good launch angle for a golf ball?
A launch angle of, for example, 20 degrees means the ball is ascending at an angle of 20 degrees relative to the groundline of the surface from which it was struck. Many factors affect launch angle, including swing speed, the angle of attack (how the clubface approaches the golf ball) and clubface position at impact.
What is golf shaft launch and spin?
Understanding golf shaft launch and spin is the key to choosing the correct shaft for your swing dynamics. Shafts are typically identified by launch or trajectory characteristics in five categories: Low, Low-Mid, Mid, Mid-High and High. The same categories apply to the spin characteristics.
How much does shaft affect launch?
But within shafts that reasonably fit a golfer's clubhead speed, transition/tempo and point of release, typically the maximum difference seen in launch angle from different shaft options is in the area of 2.5-to-3 degrees. As far as spin difference, that depends on the clubhead speed of the golfer.
What determines launch angle golf?
Launch angle – “the angle the ball takes off at relative to the ground” (Trackman.com). Launch angle is highly correlated to loft delivered at impact – the more loft you deliver, the higher the launch angle is going to be.
Do I need a high launch shaft?
A high launch driver shaft helps players to generate sufficient spin to get the ball airborne. However, those with faster swing speeds that don't require additional spin may balloon their drives. When players balloon their drives with a high launch shaft, it stems from the excess spin they generate.
What affects launch angle driver?
Launch Angle in Golf Many factors affect launch angle, including swing speed, the angle of attack (how the clubface approaches the golf ball) and clubface position at impact. The loft of the golf club itself is the single biggest factor, of course.
What is a good launch angle for 7 iron?
What is the ideal Launch Angle for a 7 Iron? The launch angle of a 7 iron club can range between 23.5 degrees to 25 degrees for an average golfer. Professional golfers can expect a launch angle of 16 degrees. Releasing the ball early can help in lowering your launch angle.
How can I improve my launch angle?
8:5415:133 Ways To Increase Launch Angle With Driver | Golf Club Fitting TipsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to increase your launch angle. Just simple math you're adding dynamic loft to the club.MoreYou're going to increase your launch angle. Just simple math you're adding dynamic loft to the club. At impact so if we look at the dynamic loft 11.1 with the 9 degree setting.
Do graphite shafts launch higher?
The ball flight of your golf shot will be impacted by the type of golf shaft that you use. Graphite shafts allow for a higher ball flight, where steel shafts create a slightly lower, more controlled flight. It's a great thing to hit the ball high; a higher launch typically leads to more carry and longer shots.
How do I know what shaft flex is right for me?
Some General Guidelines About Shaft FlexTake a look at the distance you hit your driver. ... If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing fast. ... If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.
What shaft is right for my swing speed?
– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019
Why is my driver launch angle so low?
If you are hitting down too much on your iron shots currently, you are probably hitting shots with such a low launch angle that the ball remains low to the ground even if you have plenty of spin. Fix the attack angle into the shot and you will quickly raise the ball flight. Hit through the shot.
Why is my launch angle so high with my driver?
#1 Stay Balanced. Losing your balance can quickly cause launch angle problems. If you keep your weight on your back foot during the downswing, the ball will typically launch higher than you would like. If you get stuck on your front foot before impact arrives, you will hit the ball lower than intended.
What is the optimal launch angle for a driver?
The ideal launch angle for a driver is between 15° and 17°. This is NOT the same as loft. Launch is defined as the angle between the ground and the ball flight just after impact, and is the result of the clubs loft and attack angle.
How is launch angle calculated?
Launch Angle represents the vertical angle at which the ball leaves a player's bat after being struck. Average Launch Angle (aLA) is calculated by dividing the sum of all Launch Angles by all Batted Ball Events. As a guideline, here are the Launch Angles for different types of contact: Ground ball: Less than 10 degrees.
What causes a high launch angle in golf swing?
If you keep your weight on your back foot during the downswing, the ball will typically launch higher than you would like. If you get stuck on your front foot before impact arrives, you will hit the ball lower than intended.
What causes high launch angle?
When we see that the launch angle and dynamic loft are too high with irons, it is a direct result of not compressing the ball. Ball position and not letting the handle lead the club head are direct causes of this issue. Also another large cause is the player trying to hit the ball with their hands.
What is the optimal launch angle in golf?
According to Trackman, PGA Tour golfers have an average angle of attack (AoA) of -1.5° on a driver. For a -1.5° AoA and desired launch of 17°, the delivered loft at impact needs to be 20.25° in order to satisfy our 85% ball-flight laws.
How to measure torque on a shaft?
One way to measure torque is to clamp one end of the shaft and apply a constant couple-moment (turning force) to the other end. The more the shaft twists, the higher the torque.
Does a shaft work with one driver model?
Another important thing to note is just because a shaft worked well with one driver model or set of irons, does not mean it will perform optimally for the same player in another model. The way a shaft behaves and delivers the club head depends on the characteristics of the head itself. The mass properties of the head (things like total mass and center-of-mass location) can change quite a bit from model to model. As a result, a player may find that one shaft works really well in one model, but another shaft works best in another model.
Is there a difference between high and low torque?
From a performance standpoint, there was little difference (at least statistically) between shafts of high and low torque. There did appear to be some minor evidence to suggest shafts with lower torque delivered the face more shut, while shafts with higher torque delivered the face more open relative to path.
Does a ladies flex have more stiffness than an X flex?
The amount the shaft bends corresponds to its stiffness. In general, a Ladies flex will bend much more than an X-flex using this method. In many cases the softer the overall stiffness, the greater the launch angle and spin rate. This is not always the case, as players can respond differently to variations in stiffness.
How many degrees does a low trajectory shaft launch?
In a typical driver fitting, for example, a Low trajectory shaft may produce a 9 degree launch while a Mid-High trajectory shaft may only increase the launch to 11 degrees, and spin may only increase from 2,500 to 2,900.
What is a BGF shaft?
The BGF Fitting System has a one-to-one relationship between Trajectory and Spin. This means that a shaft that has a Low Trajectory designation will also have a Low Spin designation. And a shaft that is Mid-High Trajectory will also have Mid-High Spin. So when selecting shafts in a fitting, our fitters choose a shaft category based upon the BGF Fitting Recommendations in the appropriate category.
How many categories of shafts are there?
Shafts are typically identified by launch or trajectory characteristics in five categories: Low, Low-Mid, Mid, Mid-High and High. The same categories apply to the spin characteristics.
What factors affect the launch angle of a golf club?
Many factors affect launch angle, including swing speed, the angle of attack (how the clubface approaches the golf ball ) and clubface position at impact. The loft of the golf club itself is the single biggest factor, of course. But the same club can produce very different launch angles in the hands of different golfers based on the other factors. A club will produce a higher launch angle with a higher clubhead speed, for instance, so long as other factors are equal.
What is the launch angle of a golf ball?
Launch angle is the initial angle of ascent of the golf ball immediately after impact, expressed in degrees. A launch angle of, for example, 20 degrees means the ball is ascending at an angle of 20 degrees relative to the groundline of the surface from which it was struck.
What is launch angle?
Launch angle is a term probably most closely associated by most golfers with drivers. The advent of oversized, game-improvement drivers in the late 1990s, and then the greater availability to the average golfer of clubfitting tools such as launch monitors, have increased the focus on launch angle. If a manufacturer can tweak a driver's clubhead ...
Can the same golf club have different launch angles?
But the same club can produce very different launch angles in the hands of different golfers based on the other factors. A club will produce a higher launch angle with a higher clubhead speed, for instance, so long as other factors are equal. Launch angle is a term probably most closely associated by most golfers with drivers.
Does launch angle factor in with all golf clubs?
Launch angle does factor in with all golf clubs, however, and it should be noted that a higher launch angle is not always the preferred outcome (particularly moving through the set to the wedges).
Dinosaur
How much does the flex of the shaft effect the launch angle? I would seem to follow that seniors and people with slower swing speeds would be better off with regular or senior flex and I am fairly certain I am going to go ahead and swap my Speeder 57 Stiff with an Ozik X-con 5.5 Regular as both are designed for higher launch low spin as far as I have been told, but before doing so I thought I would invite opinions here.
Dinosaur
as a footnote, although I would be delighted if Tom Wishon would weigh in on this, I completely understand that he would not have time to entertain every Tom, Dick, and Dino that had rudimentary questions
Dinosaur
Hey Tom! Thank you so very much. It was nice of you to take the time. I read your reply very carefully and it makes perfect sense. I am no club fitter, but I did work a few years at Acushnet/Titleist club plant in Escondido before they moved and am familiar with QA testing.
ScottsdalePGA
As mentioned, if you compared a shaft that was a HIGH/HIGH v.s. a LOW/LOW in the same weight range that you would not find much more than 4* of total launch angle difference, and would be shocked if it was closer to 5*, however I would not really be shocked if it was closer to 2-3*.
AdamWestAustralia
Are you saying that you often see 2- 3* difference in launch through changing shaft only whilst retaining the same shaft weight and flex?
Dinosaur
I think a change in my plans is in order. Upon closer examination, I see that the R-7 Limited has a counter sunk hosel and special ferrule whereas the SLDR-S has no ferrule. Also I do not know how close the BBTG measurements are to each other.
Optimizing Ball Flight Trajectory
To have the absolute perfect golf ball flight trajectory (maximizing distance of course), there are two elements that need to be optimized… Launch Angle and Spin Rate:
The 5 Factors Affecting Driver Launch Angle and Spin Rate
Okay, we talked a lot about optimizing your driver launch angle and spin rate to achieve the perfect ball flight right? But how do you actually control those things?
How to Change Those Numbers With a New Driver
So we’ve talked about the 2 elements affecting ball flight and distance, AND the 5 factors directly affecting those elements.
So What Loft Driver Should I Use? Putting It All Together
I’ve thrown a LOT of info at you, and it can be confusing, I know. There’s just not a “best loft” simple answer.
Final Thoughts on Driver Loft
Use the knowledge presented in this article to analyse your current ball flight trajectory. Then, reverse engineer what can be fixed or what can be improved.
How does the spin rate of a golf ball affect distance?
How do these numbers affect my distance? The launch angle and spin rate of the golf ball will affect how your ball flies towards its target. Having a high spin rate will “lift” your ball up to the sky, creating a lot of height and a steep landing angle. Having a low spin rate will typically make the ball “fall” out of the sky, ...
How does weight affect launch and spin?
Weight position and magnitude – changing the amount of weight and where it is positioned will change the launch and spin… a heavy weight close to the face will produce lower launch and spin, a lighter weight far away from the face will produce more launch and spin.
What does low spin rate mean in golf?
Having a low spin rate will typically make the ball “fall” out of the sky, creating not much height and a shallower landing angle. Launch angle then plays a pivotal role in increasing or decreasing height and landing angle. Side on view of golf ball flights, height on the left axis, total on the bottom axis. BLUE = High launch angle, high spin rate ...
Matching Trajectory and Spin
Fitting Wizard Recommendations
- When you input your Tempo, Transition, Release and desired trajectory, the TrueFitClubs Fitting Wizard uses that information to determine a shaft profile (Trajectory and Spin) that will give you the desired results. That, in conjunction with your distance, determines the butt stiffness, or flex, shaft weight and swing weight recommendation.
Building Clubs and Shafts to Your Recommendations
- When we build your clubs or shaft with tip adapter, we build to the EXACT specifications recommended. Learn More. We DO NOT just install an A, R, S or X Flex and hope the results are correct. We know that each shaft has its own characteristics (weight, CPM(cycle per minute), loading curve profile). This means that we may have to use a different flex than what is labeled …
What Affects Launch angle?
- There are other factors that influence launch angle beyond which club a player uses. In particular, higher clubhead speeds and ball speeds will produce a higher launch if all other variables are equal. This is the main reason why slower swing-speed players use a higher-lofted driver compared to those who are faster swing-speed players. Launch angle...
What Is The Proper Launch angle?
- The big question everyone wants to know is whether their launch is too high, too low or just right for any given club. There is no one answer to that question given all the differences in the aforementioned variables, but we have a lot of clues. The average PGA Tour launch with a driver is 10.9 degrees. The launch actually goes down with fairway woods — usually around 9.3 degrees …
Interpreting Launch Angle
- The most important thing to remember about launch angle is that the vast majority of golfers launch the ball too high.This is mainly because of not making clean contact. Making poor contact generally increases launch because they do not hit down on the ball, exposing the clubface and adding more loft. Ball-first contact where a divot is taken after impact is when launch will decrea…
Advanced Launch Analytics
- As a golfer becomes more skilled, they can monitor their launch on shots they intend to hit higher vs. lower. This is particularly important with wedge shots and short-iron shots. Better players generally like to lower their launch with wedge shots so they can better control the distance. As critical as launch angle is on longer shots, it’s arguably even more vital on shorter shots where p…