Choose a loft to try based on your assessed club-head speed. If it is between 95 and 104 mph, a 10- or 11-degree loft will be appropriate. If it is between 105 and 115 mph, a loft between 7 and 9 degrees should be considered. Golfers with club-head speeds below 85 mph should use a loft angle between 14 and 20 degrees.
How do I choose the best loft for my swing?
While things like launch angle, dynamic loft and impact location are important and play a role in deciding the best loft for you, we're going to try and keep it simple. Ultimately, there's no substitute for going to see your local pro and have a hit on a launch monitor to assess your swing properly. Why will most golfers benefit from more loft?
What is the loft of a golf club?
A vital measurement, the loft, or loft angle, refers to the angle formed by a line running down the centre of the shaft and the face of the club. Measured in degrees, a golf club with a relatively low loft, such as 3 iron sitting at 21–23 degrees, will make the ball go further than one with a higher loft.
What driver loft should I get?
The driver loft that you choose can depend on your clubhead speed. If your swing speed is above 90mph then a 9.5 – 11 degree loft will give you the best angle of attack.
What is the best loft angle for a golf club head?
If it is between 95 and 104 mph, a 10- or 11-degree loft will be appropriate. If it is between 105 and 115 mph, a loft between 7 and 9 degrees should be considered. Golfers with club-head speeds below 85 mph should use a loft angle between 14 and 20 degrees. For speeds of 130 mph and above, try a loft between 4 and 7 degrees.
Is 10.5 loft better for beginners?
We would venture to say that the vast majority of amateur and beginner golfers will benefit a lot more from the extra loft of the 10.5 degree driver than using a 9.5 degree and this comes down to forgiveness.
Do any pros use a 10.5 degree driver?
At the WGC-HSBC Champions, Dustin Johnson took the title using a TaylorMade SLDR driver with 10.5 degrees loft. Although TaylorMade has recently been touting the benefits of "lofting up" with its new driver, it's actually been a trend on the PGA Tour for more than a decade.
What loft is best for a driver beginner?
The ideal loft is dependent on your swing speed and shot shape. 10.5º and 12º golf drivers are usually best for beginner golfers as the added backspin only loses a small amount of distance, but keeps your drives much straighter.
Is 9.5 loft good for a driver?
The least-lofted golf club, other than a putter, is the driver. Drivers are typically lofted between 8 and 11 degrees, so drivers with lofts of 9.5 and 10.5 degrees are common. The higher-lofted driver is typically a better choice for an amateur player.
What loft is Tiger Woods driver?
Woods' driver on Friday appeared to be 1.5 degrees open, giving the club a loft of 8.25 degrees total, while the club's sliding weight port was moved towards a draw setting.
Who uses a 12 degree driver?
WHO SHOULD USE A 12 DEGREE DRIVER. Any player struggling with getting enough height and distance off the tee may benefit from a 12 Degree driver. Since it may also provide more control because of a higher flight path, players who deal with persistent slicing could also benefit.
Is 11.5 loft too much?
If you have a mid swing speed of 95-104 mph, a driver loft of between 10-11.5° will normally be a good starting point. If you hit down on the ball, you're likely to have high spin loft, so using less loft will actually reduce your backspin and should help you hit the ball further.
Is a higher loft driver more forgiving?
Loft for loft, the G30 will tend to launch higher, spin more, and have more forgiveness. When properly fit, it is common to see the R15 driver help golfers create more optimal launch conditions — a higher launch and less spin — but its forward-CG design lowers the forgiveness of the club on off-center hits.
Does more loft reduce slice?
A higher driver loft can help a slice because it will help to encourage a bit more forgiveness and backspin on the driver. These features of a higher lofted driver are going to help improve a slice and straighten out overall ball flight. A slice is often caused by a bit too much side spin being applied to a golf ball.
Is there a big difference between 9.5 and 10.5 driver?
In theory, a 9.5 degree driver shot will travel lower at a greater speed with less backspin than a 10.5 degree driver when struck square. You must be sure that you have enough club head speed -- how fast the golf club is moving toward impact with the golf ball -- to warrant a lower lofted driver.
What loft do pros use on drivers?
between 9 and 10.5Most professionals on the PGA golf tour are using a driver with a loft between 9 and 10.5. The golfers will change the loft based on the shaft they have on their club and how the shaft impacts the ball flight as well. Most golfers on the professional circuit have a very fast swing speed.
What is the most common loft for a driver?
Most drivers come in degrees of loft from 8.5 to 16. Long Drive competitors have drivers that have only 4 to 7.5 degrees of loft. This is because at higher ball speeds, there is considerably more lift created which allows the ball to climb rapidly after impact.
What is the best loft angle for a golf club?
Golfers with club-head speeds below 85 mph should use a loft angle between 14 and 20 degrees. For speeds of 130 mph and above, try a loft between 4 and 7 degrees.
How fast should a golf driver hit?
If your pro shop or local golf-equipment store doesn't have a professional measuring device, you can estimate. Determine which club you use to hit a 150-yard shot. If you use a 7-iron, then your club-head speed for a driver will normally be between 95 and 104 miles per hour.
How many wedges does a golfer carry?
Have you ever noticed in the bag of a PGA Tour golfer, they always carry between three and four wedges, and in some cases, even five wedges! The fact is, without proper bounce and loft combinations, you cannot become a master of the wedge game ever. For example, Jordan Spieth has a very specific composition of wedges in his bag.
How many degrees does a Jordan wedge bounce?
Like we saw in Jordan’s set, he had bounces varying from 4 degrees (his lob wedge – 60) to 10 degrees (his sand wedge – 56).
What degree of bounce should I use for a sand wedge?
If you play in an environment where the ground is always soft and lush, it may be wise to wear a sand wedge with 12 degrees of bounce and a lob wedge with 8 degrees of bounce.
What is bounce in golf?
Definition/Purpose of bounce– The amount of bounce describes how fast and how much the wedge repels off the playing surface when it comes into contact with it. This can be advantageous in situations where the turf/sand is fluffy because it prevents the club from digging deep into the surface and slowing the club down.
What is the deepest wedge?
The sand wedge (54-56 degrees) - is expected to have the most and the deepest bounce. The lob wedge (58-60 degrees) - have the smallest and the narrowest bounce. The “gap” wedge (50-52 degrees) - is expected to have a low bounce and a medium depth. The pitching wedge (46-48 degrees) - also have a low bounce and shallow to medium depth.
How to increase loft in golf?
Position the Ball. Once you have chosen your club, and before you take your swing, you can still make adjustments that will help you increase the loft. In your golf stance, between your front and back foot, you have the power to position your ball in a way that will impact its trajectory.
What is loft in golf?
When you look at the clubs in a golf bag, you will notice how each club gives a different angle when positioned with the ground . This angle is referred to as “ loft ” in golf.
What is a low loft golf club?
Woods and Drivers are considered low loft clubs, and these are typical choices when the top concern is hitting the ball a long distance. Hybrids, Irons, and Wedges are higher loft clubs, and these clubs typically come into play the closer and closer you get to the green.
How to get loft on a golf ball?
To get loft on a golf ball, you will want to choose a club with a high loft, move the ball back in your stance, hit down on the ball, and hit it at full speed with a strong follow-through.
What is the best clubhead for hitting the ball?
Woods are the largest clubheads and are best for hitting the ball long distances. These have low loft and are not designed to hit the ball high, but they are ideal for hitting the ball far. These are often chosen at the beginning of a hole when the distance is the top priority.
How many degrees of loft is a pitching wedge?
A pitching wedge will measure in at about 45-50 degrees of loft. Your sand wedge will be around 55-58 degrees. If you have a gap wedge in your bag, this will be at least 50 degrees of loft. The gap wedge loft should be between the loft of your pitching wedge and your sand wedge.
How to maximize loft on golf ball?
In order to position the ball in a way to maximize loft, you will want to move it towards your front foot. This will slightly adjust the way you will hit the ball, maximizing the loft potential of your club and sending the ball higher into the air. Simply put, move the ball towards your front foot for more loft.
What loft is needed for a golfer to hit a ball?
Golfers who swing faster than 120mph would require a loft below 9.5 degrees and those golfers with a slower swing below 90mph would be better choosing a loft between 11.5 – 17 degrees for the optimal launch angle.
What loft angle should a driver have?
If you are a beginner golfer we would typically recommend a driver with a high loft attack angle of between 12-14 if you are looking to add extra distance as the probability is that your clubhead speed is lower.
What loft is the best driver loft for 90mph?
A popular speed is between 80mph and 90mph and this is where many golfers make a mistake as they will opt for a 9.5 degree when really a loft of 11-13 would be the best driver loft for 90mph speed to hit the ball as far as possible.
Why is driver loft important?
Driver loft is important because it can affect both the distance and the trajectory of your drives. Your skill level will determine which loft for your driver you should choose. A beginner golfer or one with a slower swing speed will benefit from a driver with more loft and an experienced golfer with a higher swing speed will benefit from less loft.
What is the average clubhead speed on the PGA Tour?
The average driver clubhead speed on the PGA Tour is 113 MPH and 94 MPH on the LPGA Tour with even faster ball speed ( TrackMan) which indicates that they will require less loft, typically a 9.5 degree loft for their driver (especially the longest hitters on tour).
Is 12 degree loft good for golf?
A 12 degree driver loft will be fine for most amateur golfers and not too much. This is because most everyday golfers have a slower swing speed than professionals and can benefit from a 12 degree loft compared to a driver with less loft such as a 9.5 degree driver.
Why is wedge loft important?
Wedge loft is important in this area of the game because you want more options. I strongly recommend that every golfer should visit a knowledgeable fitter at some point, and make sure that you have the proper gapping with your wedge lofts.
How much loft does a steelhead pitching wedge have?
This is exactly why having a gap wedge has become more important. For example, a Callaway Steelhead XR pitching wedge has 44 degrees of loft. You can typically find lofts on a manufacturer’s website. If you had a sand wedge that was 56 degrees of loft, that would leave an enormous gap in yardage between the two clubs.
What degree should a wedge be bent?
You could possibly get away with having a gap wedge at 51 degrees, and then a sand wedge at 56 degrees. Usually, wedges can be bent a degree stronger or weaker to accommodate your preferences as well. I carry four wedges because I want more options around the green.
Is there a standard for pitching wedge loft?
It is important to understand that there are no standards in the golf industry for pitching wedge loft. This could greatly affect how many wedges you carry in your bag, and what loft they should be. The trend has been for lofts to go stronger and stronger, which is increasing the distance each player will hit their pitching wedge.
Why is loft important in golf?
The loft, therefore, becomes useful to get better accuracy to be in a better position off the tee. Soft, wet course conditions that are not conducive to roll out of the golf ball also make higher lofted drivers advantageous as carry distance is the paramount goal.
How many degrees should a driver be lofted?
More common are players swinging from 80 to 100mph, who should be playing drivers lofted anywhere from nine to 12 degrees. Understanding that the face curvatures in higher-lofted drivers help prevent side spin when the face angle and swing path are not moving in the same direction at impact, is vital.
What is a driver shaft?
Driver shafts – that graphite wand transferring all your swing’s energy to the driver head itself – also significantly influence ball flight trajectory, through different weight, torque, shaft flex, length, and shaft bend points – mid, high, or low.
How to tell if a golf club has a high loft?
You can judge the loft by how much of the face of a club is angled upward or how much the top of the face is angled away from the shaft.
What is loft angle?
Loft. A vital measurement, the loft, or loft angle, refers to the angle formed by a line running down the centre of the shaft and the face of the club. Measured in degrees, a golf club with a relatively low loft, such as 3 iron sitting at 21–23 degrees, will make the ball go further than one with a higher loft.
What is the best bounce for golf?
As a general rule, most golfers are best with a bounce between 10 to 14 degrees. High Bounce Wedges – Those with a high space between the ground and the leading edge, the biggest bounce is around 18 degrees. Best for play out of soft turf and sand, they are good for golfers with steep attack angles.
How does a thick grip affect golf swing?
The thickness of the grip can have a massive effect on your swing. A grip that is too thin can lead to golfers having large hand actions leading into the swing. However, too thick a grip will restrict your hands and have an equally devastating impact.
What happens if a golf shaft is too stiff?
Selecting a shaft too stiff will cause lower ball flight and a loss of distance, whereas a shaft too soft can result in ballooning and, again, loss in distance.
What is the best head material for golf?
There are three choices of head material to choose from, each with its own characteristics: Steel – Not too expensive and durable, steel is the most popular material. Titanium – Great for hitting from the tee, titanium is half the weight of steel and helps to get the ball airborne sooner.
Is buying a new golf club a good investment?
The sheer volume of golf clubs on the market is enough to confuse the most experienced golf professional. Depending on your ability and budget, buying a new golf club can be a significant investment, so it’s important to do your research and not make any spontaneous decisions.
How many degrees is the loft on a golf club?
Here’s a fact for you. The loft on your clubface varies from top to bottom by up to six degrees! Loft is at its lowest on the bottom of the clubface and is at its highest on the top. Strikes above the clubface centre will tend to launch higher with less spin and vice versa on shots from low on the clubface.
What is spin loft?
Spin loft is the difference in angle between your attack angle (how much up or down the clubhead is traveling at impact) and dynamic loft (the loft presented to the ball at impact). The higher the spin loft, the more backspin you create.
Why do golfers spin the ball less?
2. Upward hitters. Golfers that hit up on the ball (have a positive attack angle) will tend to spin the ball less because their spin loft is lower. So they can therefore afford to have slightly more loft to maximize distance.
How high should the launch angle be when hitting a golf ball?
However, you need to make sure you maintain a high enough launch angle in the process, above 11 degrees ideally. 3.
What does Golf Monthly look at?
Golf Monthly looks at the different elements of a golf swing that affect the amount of loft you should play on your driver. Getting the right loft on your driver is crucial to maximise distance.
Does downward attack angle affect dynamic loft?
There are many factors that effect it. A downward attack angle tends to reduce dynamic loft, as does having the hands excessively ahead of the ball at impact. Remember, dynamic loft affects launch, spin and ultimately distance so have a go on a decent launch monitor to see what yours is. Here’s a fact for you.
Does clubface angle affect loft?
Clubface Adjustability. If you’ve got a driver that offers clubface angle adjustment, changing the face angle can also affect the loft too – unless the two work independently. When you open the clubface, you reduce the loft and vice versa. So be wary of this when tweaking yours. Dynamic Loft.
