Driver Launch Vs Spin for low rpm player

[Thin2win]

Hello all,

 

I have been searching the interwebs trying to find some information that compares launch angles vs spin rates for drivers.

 

My current driver is a G400MAX set at 10.5 with an Alta CB stiff cut to 43.75 inches. I have a pretty positive AoA and my normal launch is 14-17* but with only about 1850rpm of back spin. I love the ball flight and with my swing speed of ~100mph I get carries up to 260 at sea level with this combination. However, every time I go near a club fitter, they try to drop my launch down and raise my rpm. Those two are kinda opposed, lowering my trajectory is easy, but then my rpms drop to sub 1100 in a hurry. 

 

Does anyone have experience working with  or determining what really are the ideal launch numbers? I can find a few charts that all say for 100ss I should be launching about 12* at about 2400rpm. But i feel like there should be a chart some place that says if you can only get 1800 rpm, you should launch x* higher to make up for it. 

 

Through self fitting,I might have gotten close with my setup, but just curious if anyone knows more on this subject because I would be interested to learn. 

 

On the opposite end, i am sure there are players out there stuck at 4000 rpm, and need some lower launch angle like 8* to maximize their distance.

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks all. 

[yungkory]

Hello all,

 

I have been searching the interwebs trying to find some information that compares launch angles vs spin rates for drivers.

 

My current driver is a G400MAX set at 10.5 with an Alta CB stiff cut to 43.75 inches. I have a pretty positive AoA and my normal launch is 14-17* but with only about 1850rpm of back spin. I love the ball flight and with my swing speed of ~100mph I get carries up to 260 at sea level with this combination. However, every time I go near a club fitter, they try to drop my launch down and raise my rpm. Those two are kinda opposed, lowering my trajectory is easy, but then my rpms drop to sub 1100 in a hurry.

 

Does anyone have experience working with or determining what really are the ideal launch numbers? I can find a few charts that all say for 100ss I should be launching about 12* at about 2400rpm. But i feel like there should be a chart some place that says if you can only get 1800 rpm, you should launch x* higher to make up for it.

 

Through self fitting,I might have gotten close with my setup, but just curious if anyone knows more on this subject because I would be interested to learn.

 

On the opposite end, i am sure there are players out there stuck at 4000 rpm, and need some lower launch angle like 8* to maximize their distance.

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks all.

Watch this:

 

https://youtu.be/DJN9OB3G9e8

 

While the speeds might not be exactly what you're getting, since Matt was having to dial back for the test, Ian does an amazing job explaining launch and spin. It should answer your question perfectly.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Undershooter]

Stick with what your doing if your hitting the driver well. Your numbers are actually extremely optimal. They are almost unrealistic for most players. Realistic numbers for most players are closer to what the fitters are looking for.

[cnosil]

Play with the FlightScope optimizer.

 

https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

 

You can put your numbers in and tweak them to seek if there are ways to optimize. With a 100mph swing and optimum efficiency ball speed would be around 150. Carries would be in the 250ish range so you are in theory hitting as well as you can.

[null]

Unless you are having issues with big misses or toe hooks, then don't worry about getting some more spin.  Backspin will create stability in flight and help limit big hooks and cuts, but if you are hitting the ball consistently straight and not dealing with any of those bad misses then dont change a thing

[Kegger]

Here's a chart from Trackman. Your numbers seem reasonable to me if you have a positive AoA... But then again, I am no expert.

 

*Edit: Added the Carry chart as well.

 

[Thin2win]

Watch this:

 

 

While the speeds might not be exactly what you're getting, since Matt was having to dial back for the test, Ian does an amazing job explaining launch and spin. It should answer your question perfectly.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for this, it was  a good watch. Definitely explained a lot. 

[Thin2win]

Thanks everyone. I am a math guy at heart and just figured that there was a chart out there that had some ratio of launch angle vs backspin. I just felt that the numbers that I was being told were suboptimal.

 

Since I could see that my launch conditions were providing 20 yards more carry than the chart they were referencing said i should get with my swing speed.  I became curious, and now I just want to know. Should I try for 20* and 1100RPM? From the purely theoretical point, what is that ideal?

 

Cheers

[Undershooter]

Thanks everyone. I am a math guy at heart and just figured that there was a chart out there that had some ratio of launch angle vs backspin. I just felt that the numbers that I was being told were suboptimal.

 

Since I could see that my launch conditions were providing 20 yards more carry than the chart they were referencing said i should get with my swing speed.  I became curious, and now I just want to know. Should I try for 20* and 1100RPM? From the purely theoretical point, what is that ideal?

 

Cheers

Nope... 17* at 1800rpm is supposed to be "perfect" launch conditions.

[RickyBobby_PR]

Thanks everyone. I am a math guy at heart and just figured that there was a chart out there that had some ratio of launch angle vs backspin. I just felt that the numbers that I was being told were suboptimal.

 

Since I could see that my launch conditions were providing 20 yards more carry than the chart they were referencing said i should get with my swing speed. I became curious, and now I just want to know. Should I try for 20* and 1100RPM? From the purely theoretical point, what is that ideal?

 

Cheers

Spin is what helps get and keep the ball in the air. Going 20* and 1100 probably isn't going to do you any favors. Another thing one should look at is spin loft.

[Thin2win]

Nope... 17* at 1800rpm is supposed to be "perfect" launch conditions.

 

I have now won at golf for the day. 

 

thanks. 

[Undershooter]

Glad to help. Feel free to play around with this if you want.

 

https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

[Thin2win]

Glad to help. Feel free to play around with this if you want.

 

https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

That just used 28 minutes of my life. And my real life experiences match this tool and show the standard recommendations to be really bad.

 

It was really fun for helping me to she what I should be trying to get my wife's launch conditions. For her swing speed she would need sub 2000rpm backspin @ 25* (ss for her is 75).

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[Undershooter]

That just used 28 minutes of my life. And my real life experiences match this tool and show the standard recommendations to be really bad.

It was really fun for helping me to she what I should be trying to get my wife's launch conditions. For her swing speed she would need sub 2000rpm backspin @ 25* (ss for her is 75).

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using MyGolfSpy mobile app

The problem is, that isn't repeatable for most people. Look at the tour avg. Most pros are 10-14* of launch and 2200-2700 rpm.

Elite ams fall in the same category.

 

Just bc you are optimal at 1 thing doesn't make you a better golfer. Don't compromise your swing and game to optimize the driver alone.

[Undershooter]

At 75mph she should be looking for 13-18* of launch and 3000+ish rpm for ideal launch conditions(that's a bit of a guess). At some point you have to take real world applications into account. It isn't just a math equation.

[cnosil]

Many people spend lots of time on launch monitors chasing optimal numbers which doesn't necessarily help the golf swing.  I would rather be consistent  and have the ability to hit/execute the shots that I need to lower my score.  

[Thin2win]

I really want chasing anything. My swing is what it is. I just knew that the numbers I had did not match the numbers I was told I should try for. So that made me curious.

 

This answered that curiosity for me. I'm not changing my swing, well, not based on this. And as for the wife hitting a 25* drive, that really isn't practical. She'd have to have like a 10* positive AoA, Lol.

 

But purely as a math problem, you all had the information I was looking for.

 

Cheers.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[shinton0984]

I would say if you love your ball flight I wouldn't change a thing, but if you looking to lower launch and raise spin try teeing the ball slightly lower than normal. Hitting the ball on the top half of the driver produces that high launch/low spin ball flight and hitting lower on the face will have the opposite effect and you'll get a lower launching higher spinning ball flight, but again like you said you love your ball flight so l wouldn't change a thing.