There are many websites out there that give you stats on optimum trajectory angles for Drives at different club head speeds. Unfortunately, optimum trajectory angles do not correspond directly to optimum loft angles.

Increasing launch angle to optimize carry distance can primarily be accomplished in two ways — through an increase in the clubhead’s loft or from hitting the ball on the upswing. Hitting the ball on the upswing is also known as generating a positive angle of attack with the swing, and golfers that strike the ball on the upswing know firsthand how a positive angle of attack maximizes the already tremendous energy generated from extreme swing speeds.

When launch angle is increased by adding loft, the efficiency of the clubhead-to-ball energy transfer is not as great as when (or if) the same launch angle is created through a positive angle of attack. For example, if a golfer would benefit from a higher launch angle as induced by more driver loft, that change should be made because more carry distance can be achieved. But the golfer who can increase their launch angle with a positive angle of attack will always optimize their launch parameters to a greater extent.

When the ball is hit on the upswing, the shot’s launch angle is greater than the driver’s measured loft because the head’s loft is tilted upward by the swing. A golfer with a level or downward angle of attack always needs greater clubhead loft to achieve the same launch angle as a golfer with a positive angle of attack (See Illustration). When the same launch angle is generated with a lower loft angle on the clubhead, there is greater clubhead-to-ball energy transfer, resulting in more distance. This result occurs because the upswing, or positive angle of attack, has a significant effect on a physical phenomenon known as the force vector of the head.

The force vector is the direction of movement of the force generated by the clubhead’s mass from the golfer’s swing speed toward the ball and it is always perpendicular to the clubhead’s loft. With a positive angle of attack, the force vector also travels in an upward direction to the ball. When a high launch angle is generated by a positive angle of attack using a lower-lofted driver head, the ball slides up the face less, thus creating less spin and losing less energy at impact because the force vector is perpendicular to that lower loft. Yet, the ball takes off at a higher launch angle and with a greater amount of velocity for any given swing speed because of the upward or positive angle of attack.

It is not uncommon for national long drive competitors to generate launch angles of 12 to 15 degrees with driver heads featuring real loft angles of five to six degrees. In these extreme cases, long-drive hitters are accomplishing a high launch angle-to-head loft ratio with changes in their swing, ball position and tee height which allow the driver to contact the ball on the upswing, well after it passes the low point in the swing arc.

SWING SPEED VS. DISTANCE

To obtain actual swing speed, get your own Swing Speed Radar. Below is a chart for approximate swing speeds based on carry distance.

© 2000-2011www.probablegolfinstruction.com