12 replies to this topic

[HISPL]

Hi folks, I have access to Trackman at my work and have been working on my swing path, and my angle of attack with the driver.

For a 150mph ball speed can you launch the ball too high with too little spin?

I'm getting 15-16 degrees of launch with about 1600-1800rpm of spin with 150mph ball speed about 1.47 to 1.5 smash factor.

From what I can gather this is great... But would I be better off launching a little lower with more spin?

I thought I was on the right track, but after speaking to a Callaway fitting specialist I am not so sure... He wanted my launch to be about 3 degrees lower and spin to be about 1000rpm higher.

Can anyone enlighten me on this one, I'm now a little confused!

[Jc0]

Yes you can.  First with the spin, you need a certain amount of spin to keep the ball airborne for the maximum amount of time possible.  If the spin is to high it is just wasted energy into the ball and the ball can balloon. In your case where the spin is to low the ball can just fall out of the air to soon because it is not generating enough lift to keep it airborne.  Along the the same lines if the ball is going to rise for a longer period of time you can hit it on a lower trajectory, which directs more energy forward, and the ball will still keep going up.  This is why the fitter recommended lower launch.

[Big Ben]

Your fitter is correct, that would optimize your launch/spin characteristics...BB

[ShortButCrooked]

Wow, your numbers are very similar to mine. I usually get head scratches from fitters when they see these numbers. I know it's a 'corner case' as far as fittings go; you and I are outliers and don't fit into classic club fittings. Let me guess: a decent swing with good turn but maybe an early/lazy release? That's my swing in a nutshell.

How is your ball flight on the course? If you are like me, a high launch that carries and doesn't balloon and still runs out after landing. Isn't that what we are all looking for?

I'm not sure how realistic it's going to be for you to lower launch AND increase spin.

[HISPL]

ShortButCrooked, high launch that gets good run out on the course.

I tee the ball up super high and make sure the ball is caught on the upswing. +7 or +8 angle of attack is pretty std for me.

If I work on my fitness and lose a little weight... Ok ok a lot of weight I should be able to pick back up the 18mph I have lost in the last 5-6 years so back up to 120ish mph and I think my launch would be perfect for this higher speed.

My theory was that spin increases the friction between the cover of the ball and the air so minimizing it is ideal, then to keep the ball in the air and maintain carry you need to launch it high...

I would LOVE Mr Steve Ogg and Dr Alan Hocknell from Callaway, Mr Tom Wishon or Mr Fredrik Tuxen of Trackman to post their thoughts!

Edited by HISPL, 01 February 2013 - 09:34 AM.

[JRS]

you have a great problem there HISPL. by that i mean you can improve your launch and spin with a higher lofted driver. you're not having to play one off against the other like a steep swinger. i reckon you could get around 10 yards if you got the spin up to 2000 and 17-18 launch

if you look at the side view of the ballflight display you want the first half of the flight to be very straight with just the slightest downward arc. if it's dead flat or even bowing up thats too much spin. if it's go a significant bow down then it's not enough spin and the ball is falling out of the air.

-edit- i think you'd lose distance with the fitters reccomendation.  12 deg and 2600 spin might be good for your average (steep AOA) 150 mph hitter, but +8 deg AOA really puts you in a good position to maximise distance.

Edited by JRS, 01 February 2013 - 10:19 AM.

[HISPL]

Thanks JRS. I was hoping that I wasn't alone on this one!

Interesting now there has been a couple of viewpoints here! BigBen thought my fitter was on the money and a few others have sided with my POV.

I ended up ordering a driver today, I went up in loft to a 9.5 hopefully it will bring my launch and spin up a little.

[sblack5]

Good thread...... have often wondered the same thing as I launch around 14 - 15* and am in the 1500 rpm area with a 180 mph ballspeed.  Talked with a few people that were at the trackman seminar at the pga show and after speaking with them I learned that it is fine with really high ballspeeds but as others have said for your ballspeed, getting in the high 2000s will def. Help

[schlebrock]

Here's an article that shows optimal launch conditions for a person who has a 150 mph ballspeed:

http://www.qualitygo...imalflight.html

Hope this helps.

Edited by schlebrock, 01 February 2013 - 11:45 AM.

[northgolf]

According to Trajectoware, another 1000 rpm of backspin would net you 3 yards of carry (249 yrds going to 252).  The backspin at landing will be about 1900 rpm vs. 1300, so you will get less roll out.  Overall, we are talking about a 1.2% gain in carry that will be offset by lower roll out.  I personally don't find the difference compelling.

[dlamb83]

One thing to add. Most fitters today look at the angel of descent of the ball more than anything really. I mean ],they still take launch and loft in account,but the angel of descent they are looking for is 40 to 41 degree descent back towards the ground. They have found that right at 40 or 41 you get more roll out. Just saying as the fitter maybe trying to get your descent in those numbers.

[northgolf]

The difference in angle of descent is 42 (2800 rpm) vs. 35.9 (1800 rpm).  The optimal 42 degrees might be correct if you hit it like bubba, but at lower ball speeds a lower angle of descent is probably better (read the last 4 paragraphs of the optimal flight link schlebrock posted - 35 degrees was optimal for a ball launched at 11.7 degrees and 154mph).  I expect the OP will lose at least as much roll out as he gains in carry - the hundred dollar question is does the rollout leave him in the fairway or the rough.

[grochol17]

http://www.flightsco...-optimizer.html

check it out for yourself... the link above is to flightscope's web page and allows you to try varying your numbers and see what happens with different launch conditions.  I played around with your numbers a bit and the tool shows that you'll carry the ball a good bit farther if you launch it 3* higher with the same amount of spin.  

But, as some of the posters above have said, it really comes down to a balance between what you're looking for in terms of carry vs roll.  Usually to improve one, you have to sacrifice the other, it just depends on what is best for you.