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I came accross this Driver loft Calculator:
Golf Driver Optimum Launch Distance Calculator

Is this calculator accurate? The result is a bit higher than I though.

Just tried it and the answer was spot on for my game. Thanks!

Interesting. I've read quite a bit on the advantage of using a higher lofted driver, but those results did seem a bit high...

For example, the calculator recommends a player with a 125 mph swing speed to use a 9.4 degree for optimal carry and roll...

yes... that's what i'm talking about.... the calculator suggests a 13 degree loft for a 95 mph swing speed.

I think that's a good loft for beginners. I'm currently using a 16* but want to go down to about 12 or 11 since I've gotten a little better.

I've noticed all these "starter sets" that are sold usually have a driver with 10.5*. I think that's too low. They usually also come with a 3 wood, which I think is almost useless for a beginner.

What kind of driver do you have? I've never seen drivers with more loft that the Burner HTs (which I think are 12.5 or 13 degrees)....

It's a Nike. I think Bang makes 'em higher than that.

mghtx It's a Nike. I think Bang makes 'em higher than that.

I gotta look into this....

Thanks nui, mghtx!

Those numbers seem too high to me...the thing is they are using the formula for hitting level through impact...if the club is on an ascending attack angle (the ball is positioned slightly forward of the swing bottom and the club is on the rise through ball impact) the launch angles will be different...I'd prefer a chart that listed optimal launch angles regardless of the design of the head, some of which launch higher than others due to weighting schemes, degree of face angle (open or closed which would change the "true" loft) as well as shaft pairings that could affect the launch angle by 2-3*...the formula is a little too "one size fits all" in that it doesn't address the variables of custom fitting and individual swing characteristics...resulting statistics of launch angle and ball speed (vs. the less accurate swing speed which doesn't take into account the x factor of smash factor/quality of contact which would directly relate to the skill of the golfer to be able to transmit the swing speed to the ball) are more concrete statistics and IMO are better suited to basing fitting specs on...

I've read a driver testing from a golf club manufacture (it's not on the internet). They use a group of golfers with swing speed between 80 to 115 Mph. All of them have to try different drivers with 9.5 to 12 degree of loft. It's interesting to see that most of them get the longest distance with the 11 degree driver.

So I think higher loft means more distance. But the limit is 11 degree........

Ron; Golfsmith sells a few 15* driver heads if you're interested. I've built a few 15* driver s for my wife and some others. And they work very well. More distance due to higher launch angle, and straighter ball flight due to more back spin. GolfSmith did a test years ago when they were doing the R&D work on their first 15* driver head. Tested swings from 70 to 90 MPH with a Robot so as to eliminate the human factor. Turns out the 15* driver was LONGER for all sweing speeds from 70 up to 90, But at 90 MPH it was only about 7 yards more distance, compared to 27 more yards at 70 MPH. So it would appear that while the 15* driver is in fact longer even at 90 MPH, the best loft might be somewhere a little lower. For what it's worth to you,when my swing speed was 95-97, I went from a 10.5* to a 12* driver and gained 20 to 25 yards off the tee. Since I found a way to increase my swing speed to 108 MPH, I've gone back to either a 10.5* or 9.5* head.

Given that this application doesn't take into account the shaft flex and/or break point, I'd say that the loft given is more indicative of launch angle versus driver loft. This being the case, someone with a 125 mph swing speed would ideally launch the ball at 9.6 degrees. This would most likely be done with a lower-lofted club.

For instance, I play a 9.5 degree driver and have a driver swing speed averaging around 115 mph. The application told me I'd benefit from a 12.1 degree driver to maximize carry and 10.8 degree to maximize total distance. Launch monitor results with my 9.5 degree driver suggest these numbers are launch angles.

You also have to factor in the back spin rate. If a golfer could get his spin rate down to say 500 RPM, his ideal launch angle would be way up. Fact is there is no such thing as the ideal launch angle for a certain ball speed unless the spin rate is factored in.