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Having the Right Amount of Driver Loft: How Important Is It?

There is a lot of talk these days about driver loft – in golf magazines, on the internet, etc – it is certainly one of the hottest topics in golf equipment. If you have paid any attention to equipment discussion over the past year or so, you know that you’re being told to get a driver with more loft. While this is true, it is important for us to understand why more loft is going to help you with that brand new “uber” driver.

The modern 460cc driver – due to its very high vertical center-of-gravity, combined with the lower-spin, multi-layer golf balls of today – launch the ball lower and with less spin that driver-ball combinations of the past. If I was playing with a driver with 9 degrees of loft in 300cc driver model, I would probably want something in the 12 degree range in a 460cc model.

The fact is that 75% of golfers with a 460cc driver have one that has too little loft for their game. What’s interesting is that at least half of the golfers that come into our headquarters think that they hit the ball “too high” with their driver. Our view of what type of ball flight we should expect from a 460cc driver is skewed – what most of us call “high” ball flight, in all actuality, is not. Our expectations of what the proper ball flight should look like from off the tee need to change.

Very simply, the proper driver ball flight is not “out and up”, but rather, “up and out”. Tour players have gained 35 yards over the past couple of decades off the tee by getting high launch combined with a low spin rate. The proper driver ball flight should look much like a rainbow – up quickly and then soaring “out”. Our goal is to achieve this ball flight by getting the right launch angle combined with the ideal spin rate for our ball speed.

How important is achieving the proper launch angle and spin rate? Below is a chart of distances for a ball traveling at a constant 125 miles per hour (about the speed for the average male golfer) at various launch angles and spin rates1:

Ball Speed Launch Angle Spin Rate Air Distance

125 mph 10.5 Degrees 2700 RPMs 194 Yards
“” 11.5 2900 196
“” 12.5 3100 199
“” 13.5 3300 200
“” 14.5 3500 201
“” 15.5 3700 201
“” 16.5 3900 201
“” 17.5 4100 200
“” 18.5 4300 199

The total difference between the longest and shortest drives on this chart is 7 yards – which really isn’t all that much. However, we should keep in mind that not only does that 16.5 degree launch angle achieve the most distance, it is also going to be the most accurate of the drives that travel 201 yards. Why? Because the more backspin we impart on the ball, the straighter it is going to fly. It is for the same reason that you hit your pitching wedge straighter than your six iron – the wedge puts more backspin on the ball (due to its higher loft angle). The same principle applies to the driver – the more backspin the ball launches with, the straighter it is going to fly.

So, at 16.5 degrees, we have the best combination of air-distance and accuracy possible when launching the ball at 125 miles-per-hour. What does this mean for you? Most golfers walk into our headquarters with a 460cc driver that has no more than 10 degrees of loft – and rarely launch the ball any higher than 12 or 13 degrees / 3100 rpm. This results in drives with too little spin, too low of a launch angle, and less accuracy and distance than would be obtained with a driver with more loft – say 12 degrees or so.

So how do we find the driver launches the ball at the right launch angle and spin rate for our game? Get fitted by a professional that utilizes a launch monitor (which should not be confused with a simulator). A true ball launch monitor measures the characteristics of a ball’s actual flight by the use of radar, laser, or high-speed cameras. A fitting professional with a launch monitor can very easily fit you for a driver that is going to give you the best combination of launch angle and spin rate for your game. And the slower your swing, the more impact the right driver can have on your tee game. Every golfer should make a point to have their current driver evaluated by a professional with a launch monitor2 – but it is especially critical for slower swing speeds, where achieving the proper launch angle can have a dramatic effect on distance.

Seek out a fitting professional that utilizes a launch monitor and get fitted for a new driver – it can have a dramatic impact on your accuracy and distance off the tee.

yea its very important.. look at tiger though.. he uses an 8 degree driver.. i personally use a 9.5 degree.. it can make the world of difference though

I've had good drives with both low penitrating flight & high lofted flight.

On a still day or where the wind is predictable I love a high arching flight that carries well. What's not so good is a drive that climbs & then seems to run out of steam.

But generally I love my High launching 11-5 & 12" drivers. But there seems to be a lot more factors at play than just the loft. Types of balls, spin speeds, wind speeds, type of swing... etc, etc....

Yes, but the point is to help golfers maximize distance and accuracy. If you are getting a "high climbing" ball flight, that does NOT have to do with loft. That has to do with spin rate, which is a combination of angle of attack, ball, and shaft.

Kevin

Thought I Intimated spin rate & other factors in my reply....Hey ho.Yes Shaft has probably more to do with how your ball carries than even driver head, or at least that's what I've been told.

Kevin
Since I am nowhere near a launch monitor centre, with a ss of 100-110mph what sort loft would you recommend assuming all other factors normal (eg angle of attack)
What is your opinion of Aldila NV 65s shaft?

I like the NV... maybe a little pricey.

As far as loft goes... ~10 degrees.

Kevin

Thanks pal

Couldn't agree more, most people don't carry enough loft. Having said that of course I carry a 9.5 but I do normally hit a moon ball off the tee. And i still get a fair bit of run. just took a fair bit of tinkering with the right shaft to find a great combo

^^^ well seeing you have a hibore driver.. my friend skyrockets his