- Overview. The loft of any golf club, including a driver, is what determines how high a shot will go when the club head strikes the ball, according to GolfEngineering.net.
- Low Loft. Recreational golfers who have a swing speed of 110 to 120 mph should select a driver with a low loft of 8 degrees.
- Middle Loft. ...
- High Loft. ...
- Other Lofts. ...
What is driver loft and how does it affect spin?
Per ° loft, the spin of the driver changes by about 400-500 rpm. The more loft, the higher the spin. You should consider this aspect before you change driver loft. The spin contributes significantly to the overall length. Just like the launch, of course. Therefore, both must be considered accordingly.
What is vertical spin loft in golf?
Put simply, vertical spin loft is the difference between the angle of attack (whether the club is moving up or down at impact and how steeply) and the dynamic loft of the club (the loft of the club at impact). In the below picture, the yellow gap between the angle of attack (pink arrow) and loft of the club (blue arrow) is small.
What is loft on a driver Golf Club?
The loft of any golf club, including a driver, is what determines how high a shot will go when the club head strikes the ball, according to GolfEngineering.net. Loft is the degree of the angle formed between a straight line from the ground and the club head, when the club head is sitting squarely on the ground.
What is the best driver loft for my swing speed?
If your swing speed is 85 mph or less, which is considered a slow swing, you can see increased distances to your strokes. You can also get better swing speed using a higher loft. For speeds, less than 80 mph, go with a driver loft between 14° to 20°.
What is a good spin loft for driver?
I have found that a spin loft of 11 is very good for a driver. Some interesting points about compression or spin loft: Hitting down will not increase your compression of the golf ball or the spin on the shot.
Does a higher loft driver reduce spin?
While most of you reading this are already holding your driver “loft-changing tool” in your hands, ready to crank your adjustable driver down to 0 degrees, be warned! Reducing loft WILL decrease spin loft, it will also lower the launch of the ball.
Does lower loft reduce spin on driver?
0:341:49How to reduce spin loft - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe best golfers hit with the angle of attack moving. Into the ball much more level and with a lotMoreThe best golfers hit with the angle of attack moving. Into the ball much more level and with a lot less loft. So that reduced spin loft makes those drivers go far a great way to practice.
Do you want high or low spin on a driver?
“The majority of players that create more spin tend to hit the ball more accurately. So, if your goal is to hit straighter shots, then a higher spin driver is usually the way to go. On the other hand, if you want more distance, choosing a low-spin driver with an optimized launch angle will help you hit it further.
Do I want a 9.5 or 10.5 driver?
The ideal driver loft depends on your swing speed and the attack angle. Average players that swing the club less than 95 MPH will likely find that a 10.5-degree driver performs the best. Better players who can control their drives and want the most distance will lean more towards a 9-degree driver.
Is 11 degree driver loft too much?
In fact, swings often got the most distance with driver lofts at 9 degrees or less. (It's still true that golfers who swing less than 80 mph would likely benefit from using drivers with 11 degrees of loft or higher.) Lower lofts can provide more energy transfer at impact because there's less of an oblique angle.
Is 12 degree driver loft too much?
The 12 Degree loft driver may be considered by some to have too much loft. But they are not likely the right golfers for that type of club. What is this? 12 degrees is not unreasonable, considering that the average driver sits at 10.5 degrees in loft.
What is the best driver loft for a 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.
How do I make drivers less spin?
As you swing your club, pay attention to the angle you're making before you hit the ball. The higher the angle is, the higher your spin rate will be. To lower your spin rate, simply lower your angle of attack as you swing the club before you make contact with the ball.
Does low spin mean more distance?
Not only will low spin golf balls go straighter, but they will typically also go further than other balls. This is especially important for high handicaps who can use all the distance they can get. Backspin is the enemy, standing on the tee box of a long Par 5 with your driver in hand.
Why is a low spin driver good?
Conversely, low spin drivers benefit faster swinging golfers who desire less backspin rpm to achieve a moderate launch and optimal roll. Furthermore, low spin drivers restrict sidespin, reducing your risk of hooking or slicing your shot.
Does low spin mean less slice?
Low-spin golf balls have been reported to reduce slices and bad shots. These balls have a core that has higher velocities which reduce the revolutions per minute of the balls. Not only do low-spin balls produce less backspin, but they also produce significantly less sidespin. Sidespin causes hooks and slices.
How do I lower the spin rate on my driver?
As you swing your club, pay attention to the angle you're making before you hit the ball. The higher the angle is, the higher your spin rate will be. To lower your spin rate, simply lower your angle of attack as you swing the club before you make contact with the ball.
What happens when you increase loft on driver?
If you increase the loft on a club, you will open the face angle on the club. This applies when you are adjusting loft on the driver as well as irons or hybrids.
How do I reduce side spin on my driver?
3:416:46Minimize side spins on your Driver! | Golf with Aimee - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for in order for you to feel the one-piece takeaway it's very simple you want to grab your driverMoreSo for in order for you to feel the one-piece takeaway it's very simple you want to grab your driver a little short make sure the butt end of the grip you stick it in your belly button.
Why do I have so much spin on my driver?
Most recreational golfers have a negative attack angle, but a major source of their excessive spin comes from swinging over the top with an open face.
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 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 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 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.
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.
What Is It?
Put simply, vertical spin loft is the difference between the angle of attack (whether the club is moving up or down at impact and how steeply) and the dynamic loft of the club (the loft of the club at impact).
Increased Spin Loft
When the spin loft angle increases, the efficiency of energy transfer into the ball gets reduced. In other words, the ball will jump off the face of the club slower for any given club speed.
Decreased Spin Loft
If you want to really smash your driver a long way, reducing spin loft will help.
Change AOA
Rather than reducing spin loft by reducing your club’s loft (moving the blue arrow down), let’s increase the angle of attack instead (move the pink arrow up).
How To Do This
In order to reduce spin loft to achieve maximum ball speed, high launch and low spin, we need to change just a few things.
Get a better understanding of spin loft
One of the most misunderstood facets of the Trackman is the measurement of “spin loft” and what it means for a golfer’s game. I want to take a few moments of your time to help you understand some of the points about spin loft that will help you put it in perspective for your game.
Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction
Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.
The Wedge Guy: You can change your stripes
Over my 40-plus years in the golf industry and a lifetime in the game, I have had the opportunity to observe thousands of recreational golfers of all skill levels. I believe the common thread between all of us – from scratch player to high-handicapper – is that we all would like to get better.
Fingerprints of your swing: More thoughts from Phil Blackmar (with Tom Stickney)
One of the biggest debates in the instructional world is the “way” in which people should use technology within their lessons. Some of the older pros are dead against it and say we have gone too far (Brandel Chamblee). Other pros like to blend feels and science (Phil Blackmar).
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.
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.
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.
What is the loft of a driver?
Loft in drivers ranges from 7 to 20 degrees, though most off-the-rack men's drivers have lofts between 8 and 11 degrees.
What is the loft of a golf club?
The loft of a driver helps determine the trajectory of the ball. The loft of any golf club, including a driver, is what determines how high a shot will go when the club head strikes the ball, according to GolfEngineering.net.
What is the lowest loft in golf?
Drivers have the lowest loft of all clubs, except putters. Loft in drivers ranges from 7 to 20 degrees , though most off-the-rack men's drivers have lofts between 8 and 11 degrees.
How fast is a golf club head?
According to PatRyanGolf.com, the average club head speed for a PGA Tour player is 108 mph, and most touring pros select drivers with a loft of 9.5 to 10.5. Tiger Woods, who has one the fastest swings on the PGA, uses a 10-degree driver, according to "GolfWeek.".
What is the average club head speed for a golfer?
According to PatRyanGolf.com, the average club head speed for a recreational male golfer is 84 mph, so most recreational golfers would seek a higher loft. Because 8 degrees is a low loft, the trajectory of the ball will be low. Davis Love III uses an 8.5-degree driver.
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.
What is Loft in Golf and Why is it Important?
The loft is the angle of the clubface with the shaft. Power hitters usually prefer less loft, while recreational players who have slower speeds may appreciate the advantages of a lofted driver.
What Loft Should My Driver Be?
Many people choose their loft based on recommendations from friends or by modeling after their favorite pro player. But the correct way to determine your loft needs is to establish them on your swing speed.
What Loft Driver Should I Use?
When you're trying to decide on the right loft to use, you'll need to consider your experience level and performance. The best way to determine your loft is to know your swing speed.
How to Measure Golf Club Loft
Loft is measured in degrees. To calculate the loft, you will need a protractor. Set your club up so that it is in the normal position with the grooves horizontal.
Conclusion
Loft can be your secret weapon to helping you make better shots that travel further, despite having slow swing speeds or handicaps. What loft you need will depend on your experience level and swing speed.
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