
According to Matt Hartmann, head golf professional at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, Wis., some of the most important launch monitor data to help analyze to improve your golf game are club path, club face angle and attack angle. Club path being the top priority for analyzing your swing. “Path is always going to be the No. 1.
Is the launch monitor still relevant in golf?
To say the launch monitor has become ubiquitous and vital in golf is like saying Google is a useful tool on the internet.
How does a golf impact monitor work?
It’s as easy as that, these monitors use a series of pictures and measurements from these to mathematically simulate a ball flight. That sounds easy enough but given how little time is involved at impact in golf, in reality it is as astounding as the Doppler technology.
What do launch monitors tell you?
So there are four of the things that many launch monitors will tell you, but you will also get great insight into the spin that you are putting onto your shots. Knowing the spin that you are imparting on your shots will help you optimise your equipment.
What do the stats on a golf monitor mean?
One of the most popular stats that has come out of the introduction of monitors to golf is Smash Factor. This number allows golfers to see just how efficiently they are striking the ball and it is very easy to calculate. The number is the result of dividing the speed of the ball by the speed of the clubface.

How do I use launch monitor to improve my golf game?
How to Read a Golf Launch MonitorBall Speed. One of the first numbers displayed on launch monitors is ball speed. ... Club Speed. The second number that a lot of golfers focus on is club speed. ... Smash Factor. ... Launch. ... Spin Rate. ... Improve Your Swing. ... Learn Your Distances. ... Hit Bombs With The Driver.
How do I analyze launch monitor data?
0:295:28Understanding Crucial Launch Monitor Data and Improve your Golf ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo between the columns of three big numbers and making them more consistent. I'll make it go furtherMoreSo between the columns of three big numbers and making them more consistent. I'll make it go further and into a tighter radius. For you so you can play a better golf.
What does a launch monitor tell you?
Spin rate: Every shot has backspin, even a putt. Most launch monitors see both the amount of backspin, in revolutions per minute (rpm) and the way that the axis of spin rotation is tilted, what some folks incorrectly call sidespin. (Technically, if a ball had sidespin it wouldn't get off the ground.)
How helpful is a launch monitor?
A launch monitor can help you figure out what's going on with your ball flight, launch angle, and make every practice 10X more effective. This is one of the biggest reasons to grab your own launch monitor, increasing your own productivity while practicing!
How do you read a golf monitor?
7:2618:57Master Your Numbers!! Complete Launch Monitor Guide I Golf MonthlyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you hit the shot and it starts to the right your face is pointing to the right if you hit aMoreSo if you hit the shot and it starts to the right your face is pointing to the right if you hit a shot from start to the left your face is pointed to the left.
How do you analyze data in a golf swing?
3:0311:40Understand your swing data - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere also shows you where the fastest. Part of your swing is and you want it so that it is fastestMoreHere also shows you where the fastest. Part of your swing is and you want it so that it is fastest when it hits the ball. So you can see on this right hand graph. Then it builds up.
What is good ball speed for a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distance on the PGA Tour With a club speed of 90 mph, a ball speed of 120 mph along with a 1.33 smash factor, the distance covered can go up to 172 yards.
What is the best 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.
Are golf launch monitors accurate?
0:504:20Are Golf Launch Monitors Accurate - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCapture almost identical numbers often even though they're doing it in quite a different way so chatMoreCapture almost identical numbers often even though they're doing it in quite a different way so chat man's going to radar it's going to follow the ball away.
Can a golf simulator improve your game?
While there is no direct substitute for hitting the course and getting some real golf practice in, Launch monitors and simulators are an excellent way to improve your game. Not only are they awesome for practicing in your own home, you can also take them to the driving range with you as well.
Do Launch monitors work hitting into a net?
To use a launch monitor at home with real balls, you need some kind of hitting net or screen. But many launch monitors work better outdoors (e.g. on the range) where the ball can take its full flight. Most launch monitors will work just fine hitting into a net, especially ones that use cameras instead of radar.
What launch monitor does Tiger Woods use?
the Full Swing KITIf you've ever wanted to know what launch monitor Tiger Woods uses, look no further than the Full Swing KIT, an advanced radar-based launch monitor built at Woods' request and according to his standards.
What monitors can track your swing speed?
If you are using SuperSpeed Golf, there are now two launch monitors that can track your swing speed without hitting a ball. The SC200 Plus and PRGR launch monitors can help benchmark your speeds when you are training with the speed sticks. These two launch monitors can measure your swing speed without hitting a ball.
Why do golfers leave distance on the table?
On the whole, a lot of golfers are leaving distance on the table with their driver because they launch the ball too low. Take a look at this chart from Trackman, and you can see that as you launch it higher, with lower spin, you can add some distance to your drives without an increase in swing speed.
What is the biggest mistake golfers make?
One of the biggest mistakes that is rampant amongst golfers is that they don’t take enough club into greens. Looking at the data, the vast majority of players are missing greens on the short side, and it costs them easy strokes.
How to optimize your ball speed?
There are a few ways you can experiment during practice to help optimize your ball speed and launch angle: Impact location: Get yourself a can of foot spray and see where your impact tendencies are on the face of your driver. You want to avoid hitting it too low on the face, which will rob you of distance.
Who is Greg Gibson?
Greg Gibson is a Staff Golf Professional, Certified Clubfitter, Instructor, and Trackman Specialist at Golf Headquarters in Louisville, KY. He previously served as General Manager, Director of Golf, and Head Golf Professional at Shelbyville Country Club. To make an appointment with Greg contact the GHQ Louisville staff at 502-245-8600
Can a launch monitor make you a better golfer?
If you are practicing at home, you can control the quality of the golf ball more. Practice with purpose and intensity: A launch monitor is not magically going to make you a better golfer. However, it can add help you practice with more purpose, something that most golfers fail to do.
Can a launch monitor help you hit better shots?
Using a launch monitor can help you identify not only how far you’re hitting your clubs, but make it easier to track the distances at which you hit your highest percentage of good shots.
Why do you need a launch monitor?
Possessing a launch monitor will enable you to get ahead of the competition whether you are a professional golfer , competition golfer, or a competitive amateur. It can be used indoors during difficult times and when the weather won’t permit you to spend some time outdoors.
What is the Doppler effect?
Doppler effect, named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, is speed measurement through the use of radar sensors. Fixed-frequency radio waves are continuously sent from the transmitter until it strikes a moving object which reflects the waves at a different frequency.
Can a launch monitor be used on a golf course?
Some launch monitors can be bulky and heavy to cart around and use on the golf course or driving range. With the innovative technology available many manufacturers have added wearable swing analyzers to their ranges.
What does a launch monitor do?
Launch monitors have given us actual data to represent what a golf ball does during flight. They have helped us work out basic things like what causes a fade, a draw or a hook and it turns out that many experts had it wrong. They have even taught us how specific shots should be played.
How does radar work?
The radar sends out microwaves and can detect these waves. It is able to work out the interference in these waves that is being caused by the moving ball. This interference is measured and turned into data which is fed into an algorithm.
How many images can a launch monitor produce?
The cameras used in launch monitors are much, much faster than commercially available cameras for most forms of photography and they can produce up to 3,000 images in a single second. These images can then be combined with a computer algorithm to enable the analysis of the data relating to the shot.
What is photometric golf?
A photometric system employs high speed cameras set in front of the ball or around the golfer, these cameras take high speed images of some or all of the swing, the moment of impact and the moment just after it.
What is the best spin for a driver?
Back Spin is a measure of the speed of the golf ball’s spin in a front to back direction as it leaves the club face. An optimal back spin for a driver is likely to be around 2500rpm, whereas sand wedge shots may show around 10,000 rpm.
What is the flight time of a golf ball?
The flight time of a golf ball is the amount of time that the golf ball spends in the air prior to landing on the ground. Thus, it’s very closely related to the ball speed, launch angle and carry distance of a shot. Flight time is also known as hang time.
What is side spin golf?
Side spin refers to how much the golf ball is spinning in a horizontal direction. This defines how much the ball will curve off a straight line, giving you a draw or fade shot shape. In reality the ball is really only spinning in one direction, a combination of backwards and sideways.
What is the swing plane in golf?
Swing plane in golf is the angle made between the ground and the 3D circle made by the movement of the club towards the bottom of the arc of the swing. It was an idea developed by Ben Hogan and your swing plane is affected by the length of your arms, your posture, and the length of your club.
Can a launch monitor grade your shots?
As this sounds, you may find that a launch monitor with an inbuilt coaching package can also grade your shots for their technical precision and then convey this as a “skills score”. This will vary between different launch monitors.
What is the best launch angle for a golf driver?
Only the highest swing speed golfers can get away with a launch angle as low as 10 to get decent distance. But even for them, higher will yield more distance.
Can you get low spin numbers off a clubhead?
Again, be careful about focusing on getting lower and lower spin numbers, especially if you’re not generating a lot of clubhead speed. A very low spin number off the driver on a center hit is fine, but if you mis-hit that same shot a little high on the face, you might not have enough spin to keep the ball in the air.
