Crazy high driver launch (help!)

[Chadlius88]

Hey all,

 

So when I first picked up the game I bought a Cleveland CG black custom driver in 10.5* with a regular flex stock shaft. My swing speed was slow (85-90 mph)and my launch was pretty high.

 

As my game improved and my swing speed increased (100-105 mph now) I realized that the CG driver was way too light and floppy, I could no longer feel the head when I was swinging, and it felt like I was swinging a sapling at a golf ball. so I upgraded to a Wilson Staff FG tour F5 in 9* with a stiff Fubuki z 50 shaft (stock). Now, My drives carry 250-260 on average and launch extremely high, so high, that they stop near dead when they hit the fairway.

 

I'm wondering if this is possibly my swing, since the driver is 9 degrees, and the ball is launching even higher than it did with the Cleveland.

 

Any ideas on what in my swing could be causing this? I also tend to launch my 3 wood high, but I don't mind it as much since I get the distance that I want with it.

 

Thanks in advance!

[cnosil]

100-105 mph swing should see a 250-260 carry. Sounds like you are hitting the ball pretty close to perfect.

[GolfJunkie302]

Sounds like the shaft to me. I think you should go hit a bunch of shafts on a launch monitor until you find one that brings your launch angle and spin rate down.

 

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[Chadlius88]

100-105 mph swing should see a 250-260 carry. Sounds like you are hitting the ball pretty close to perfect.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm fine with the carry, but the lack of roll bugs me.

[Chadlius88]

Sounds like the shaft to me. I think you should go hit a bunch of shafts on a launch monitor until you find one that brings your launch angle and spin rate down.

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I thought that could be it too. Good old google brings up a lot of topics about hitting down on the ball with your driver causing high launch, but I don't believe that I'm doing that.

[Chadlius88]

It's hard to say.

Nobody here is going to know either.

Really the only way to know for sure is to go to a fitting center somewhere and find out what your spin rates are.

According to most data, with your swing speed that's about as far as you're going to hit it.

And to be brutally honest, lots of people "think" they hit it too high and really don't. ... And roll-out, considering how unreliable it is, is overrated - and the fact that unless your fairways are tightly mown like on Tour you really shouldn't be depending on much if any.

But I will tell you one thing, and that is if I had a nickel (okay, a dollar) for every time I heard a golf buddy complain about hitting it too high, and then taken them to a Tour event so they could see their drives were low in comparison, I'd be a rich man.

I appreciate your input. I definitely should go to a fitter and see where I'm at. Thanks!

[RickyBobby_PR]

Do you have launch, spin and land/descent angle? What many amateurs consider high isn't really high.

 

Your carry numbers are about right for your swing speed...seeing the other numbers will help if you may be able gain rollout

[Chadlius88]

Do you have launch, spin and land/descent angle? What many amateurs consider high isn't really high.

Your carry numbers are about right for your swing speed...seeing the other numbers will help if you may be able gain rollout

Haven't hit on a launch monitor with this driver as of yet, but I will.

[Undershooter]

I'd need LM numbers to be able to properly suggest something but it sounds like you flip a little through impact. A slightly lower launch shaft that is heavier could help some.
But as mentioned before, you probably don't hit it quite as high as you think compared to players on tour/ elite ams. High ball flight is usually a good thing in golf. Lots of players would be jealous of it.
I'm a high spin/ high launch player myself.
Back before I knew much of what I was doing, I'd spin back 6/7 irons on greens lol. So I get where your head is at.

[AH1980MN]

That is a "low spin" head, all things considered, so I'd GUESS shaft. I know that stock shaft was terrible for me.

[perseveringgolfer]

high launch is good- no trouble in the air. Maybe your spin is above what it should be but a 250/260 carry is pretty good. Worth trying some driver comparisons on a launch monitor but overall if your ball aint bouncing wildly OOB or into the rough and stops where you hit it I wouldnt complain. Watch the tour guys on soft fairways and theirs do the same.

[Zylem]

As others have said your carry numbers seem spot on. It may be time to seek out a launch monitor/fitting and see what you're numbers there are. Ask to see your launch angles, ball Speed and attack angle (I believe that's the right term)

 

It may just be your release timing has gotten better/later (that may be why your club head speed has increased too) and you are delivering the club at a different angle than you used to.

 

Either way if you're getting the ball 250+ yards down the fairway I wouldn't change much. I've seen people ruin a perfect tee ball game looking for 5 extra yards.

 

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[Chadlius88]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I will play it out for now and see if I can get comfortable with my launch. Once I have some time to go to a fitter I can get a better idea of what's going on.

[TBT]

That shaft is a known "HIGH LAUNCH" shaft.....in fact the profile is high launch, low spin

and you have it paired with a "low spin" head....the two combined are going to produce and very high soft shot with very little roll.

 

I would suggest that you go to a good fitter and get them to put you through several different shafts to you find one with a lower trajectory.....you probably won't lose any carry but will pick up 20+ yards of roll depending on course conditions.

 

I was hitting shots like you described before I had a fitting and changed shafts....now I am hitting ropes that still carry the same distance but I get the benefit of lots of extra distance on the ground.

[HereComesTheBOOM]

Hey, I am in pretty much the same boat as you. Ex-baseball player with no swing speed problems, but constant high launch and spin (3400) that stops dead on the ground. Exact same swing speed range and carry. I have a 12* driver and am researching and may get fitted for a new one soon. Would be interested to keep in contact.

[Chadlius88]

Hey, I am in pretty much the same boat as you. Ex-baseball player with no swing speed problems, but constant high launch and spin (3400) that stops dead on the ground. Exact same swing speed range and carry. I have a 12* driver and am researching and may get fitted for a new one soon. Would be interested to keep in contact.

Sounds good! I'll add you as a friend and update you on any fixes I make.

[PING Apologist #9]

It's hard to say.

Nobody here is going to know either.

Really the only way to know for sure is to go to a fitting center somewhere and find out what your spin rates are.

According to most data, with your swing speed that's about as far as you're going to hit it.

And to be brutally honest, lots of people "think" they hit it too high and really don't. ... And roll-out, considering how unreliable it is, is overrated - and the fact that unless your fairways are tightly mown like on Tour you really shouldn't be depending on much if any.

 

But I will tell you one thing, and that is if I had a nickel (okay, a dollar) for every time I heard a golf buddy complain about hitting it too high, and then taken them to a Tour event so they could see their drives were low in comparison, I'd be a rich man.

Solid response and great chart too!

[PING Apologist #9]

I've also heard of fellas letting the ball "creep" back into the middle of the stance over time without realizing that it's happening. My understanding is this could definitely lead to the results you are experiencing...maybe. Most likely not a factor here with an advanced golfer, but with this game....well... it's always best to sometimes reset/reboot...  

[Golfspy_CG2]

I thought that could be it too. Good old google brings up a lot of topics about hitting down on the ball with your driver causing high launch, but I don't believe that I'm doing that.

I will tell you just about every amatuer has a negative angle of attack (hitting down on the ball) with the driver.

 

I saw this for fact during a demo day this week. We had the LM out and we had about 15 guys go through a driver fitting. Everyone one ranged from -.02 to -.06

 

Even the guy with a 112 mph swing carrying it 270 was in the -04 range.

 

Its tougher than we think to get that POA but I'd you do, it's like a magic 20 yard pill

 

 

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[perseveringgolfer]

I will tell you just about every amatuer has a negative angle of attack (hitting down on the ball) with the driver.

 

I saw this for fact during a demo day this week. We had the LM out and we had about 15 guys go through a driver fitting. Everyone one ranged from -.02 to -.06

 

Even the guy with a 112 mph swing carrying it 270 was in the -04 range.

 

Its tougher than we think to get that POA but I'd you do, it's like a magic 20 yard pill

 

 

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I'm sure I read somewhere that most tour pro's have a negative angle as well- I could be wrong but I remember because it surprised me

[RickyBobby_PR]

I will tell you just about every amatuer has a negative angle of attack (hitting down on the ball) with the driver.

 

I saw this for fact during a demo day this week. We had the LM out and we had about 15 guys go through a driver fitting. Everyone one ranged from -.02 to -.06

 

Even the guy with a 112 mph swing carrying it 270 was in the -04 range.

 

Its tougher than we think to get that POA but I'd you do, it's like a magic 20 yard pill

 

 

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I have seen this at demo days too. Another thing I've seen is golfers confuse launch and peak height.

 

Another thing done don't consider is what the ball does when it reaches peak height...the good is the ball that reaches peak height and rides that. The bad is the ball that gets to the peak height and then balloons up and falls out of the sky. This is typical of slower swings with a negative aoa that then add a ton of spin.

 

The outlier is the one that gets no spin and just falls out of the sky

[Golfspy_CG2]

I'm sure I read somewhere that most tour pro's have a negative angle as well- I could be wrong but I remember because it surprised me

Yep. You are correct. The Cobra rep mentioned that fact. The difference is they have the club head speed and center face contact, so they aren't affected in the same way us mortals are.

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

I have seen this at demo days too. Another thing I've seen is golfers confuse launch and peak height.

 

Another thing done don't consider is what the ball does when it reaches peak height...the good is the ball that reaches peak height and rides that. The bad is the ball that gets to the peak height and then balloons up and falls out of the sky. This is typical of slower swings with a negative aoa that then add a ton of spin.

 

The outlier is the one that gets no spin and just falls out of the sky

Great point.

 

 

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[BigtazzGolf]

Yep. You are correct. The Cobra rep mentioned that fact. The difference is they have the club head speed and center face contact, so they aren't affected in the same way us mortals are.

 

 

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We can't all grip n rip it. Some just grip n ri it lol

 

 

Tazz

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[PlaidJacket]

Hey all,

 

So when I first picked up the game I bought a Cleveland CG black custom driver in 10.5* with a regular flex stock shaft. My swing speed was slow (85-90 mph)and my launch was pretty high.

 

As my game improved and my swing speed increased (100-105 mph now) I realized that the CG driver was way too light and floppy, I could no longer feel the head when I was swinging, and it felt like I was swinging a sapling at a golf ball. so I upgraded to a Wilson Staff FG tour F5 in 9* with a stiff Fubuki z 50 shaft (stock). Now, My drives carry 250-260 on average and launch extremely high, so high, that they stop near dead when they hit the fairway.

 

I'm wondering if this is possibly my swing, since the driver is 9 degrees, and the ball is launching even higher than it did with the Cleveland.

 

Any ideas on what in my swing could be causing this? I also tend to launch my 3 wood high, but I don't mind it as much since I get the distance that I want with it.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Man I don't know what you guys in New Hampshire eat for breakfast but I want some of it. You're phenomenal. And with a 23 hcp.!! Going from 90 MPH SS to 105 MPH SS is quite a feat. Not to mention your carry distances of 260! Sure it can certainly be done. Interested to know your age? I'm guessing not old like me (63) and many other active forum members. If you can now carry the ball 260 with little roll or no roll as you described; and if you could bring your height down then you'd be hitting drives well over 300 I'd have to guess.

Please share your secret.

[PMookie]

I'm gonna say this: That stock shaft is killing you. If you're hitting 105, there's no way that shaft fits you, and since it's stock, it's likely even weaker than it's stamped. Everyone has said it already, so you know, you need a fitting. Do yourself a favor, and don't do one at Golf Galaxy, Dick's, etc. Go somewhere that has ALL kinds of shafts and heads, like Club Champion. If you go to the big box stores, they're still only going to try shafts that the OEMs give them in the fitting bags. If you're truly going to max-out your driver, you gotta go where they can help you do that and have ZERO limitations.

 

 

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[kardboard.kid]

I'll be interested to see how my F7+ feels when I get it since it is"of the shelf" even though I chose shaft, etc..

 

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