Instruction
Use caution when “Lofting Up”
By now, most golfers have forgotten the sound and feel of a wooden driver against a balata ball, not to mention how small the original metalwood drivers were compared to today’s multi-material, adjustable behemoths.
It’s funny, but when I ask my students what they remember about their old metal drivers they always talk about how little loft they had. I too remember that when I could “hit” the 7-degree Burner Driver from TaylorMade I thought I had reached the pinnacle of golfdom. Today, I don’t think I could even make contact with that low of a loft anymore, not to mention hit a fairway with it! I like the bigger club heads, no doubt.
Of course back then, golf balls tended to spin much more than they do today, and the center of gravity was located much higher in the head than it is on today’s drivers. That necessitated the super low lofts, but now all that has changed.
This summer, TaylorMade came out with a super low-spinning driver, the SLDR, which has changed the driving game for the masses. And later this week, Callaway will release its low-spin driver head for 2014, the Big Bertha Alpha. I’m not discounting the technology from any other manufacturers, but these two models are proving to be the two of the lowest-spinning heads on the market. And I’ve found that low-spin drivers can be advantageous for many golfers.
TaylorMade in particular is preaching that golfers should “Loft Up” with its SLDR driver, and has launch marketing campaigns that show that said professional used to use “x loft” but now uses much more with the SLDR and now hits it farther. The campaigns go on to say that if golfers don’t create enough spin to keep the ball in the air for the proper amount of time, they must increase their launch angle through loft to gain yardage. The lack of spin with these drivers coupled with the added height will also cause the ball to run more when it hits the ground, because the lack of backspin will stop the ball from climbing too much into the air and landing too vertically.
While all this is 100 percent true, there is one thing that golfers MUST control, or “lofting up” will not help them as much as it does other people. In fact, it might even cost golfers some yardage if they do not pay attention to the facts below.
The mark above is one that is too low on the face. Most of the ball is below the center line of the driver, which will cause the following things to happen with the launch monitor numbers below.
- The ball will tend to launch too low: 13.6 degrees for this ball speed.
- This low impact point causes the ball to have too much backspin: 3133 rpm in this case.
- The added loft with increased backspin will cause the ball to “climb” too much to its apex. See the bell curve look from launch to apex?
- It’s not the 96.7 feet height that is the problem. It’s the fact that the ball started low and “spun” up to its peak height.
- This added height will cause the ball to fall out of the air too vertically, landing with an angle of descent above 40 degrees. That decreases roll.
So, for golfers who tend to hit the ball low on the face consistently, adding loft creates more backspin and a steeper landing angle. That will reduce roll upon landing and they will NOT hit the ball as far as they’d like. The key for them is to alter their vertical impact so the higher lofted driver can perform more optimally!
Here you can see the old mark on the lower portion of the face and the new sample one I hit on the upper portion of the face a touch above the center line. When golfers hit the ball high in the vertical part of the face, they will see that the ball has less spin, more height and will have a shallower landing angle. Let’s check out the launch monitor numbers on this shot vs the previous one shown earlier.
- This shot has less spin: 2395 rpm.
- This shot launched higher off the face of the driver and thus had a higher overall height.
- This ball’s landing angle was a touch high at 43 degrees — not bad, but under 40 would be more optimal — due to a touch more spin than I’d like. But I did still get 19 yards of roll.
- A 260 carry will work for this clubhead speed, but optimal launch/spin conditions could equate to 266 carry and 299 overall if the spin was down a touch and the angle of attack was a touch higher.
So, when you hit the ball higher on the face with your driver you’ll get added launch, more overall height, lower spin, greater carry and a shallower angle of descent. That all equates to MORE distance, period! That’s why I like low spin drivers, provided golfers hit them on the right part of the face.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Jimk
Jul 9, 2014 at 5:23 am
Just so that people are aware, the tour pro with the most efficient Driver distance is Bud Cauley. He is a shortish guy with around 110mph swing speed. He has the 3rd best carry efficiency and the best total distance on tour, relative to his Clubhead speed. Bud uses a Titleist 910 D2 with 7.5 degrees of loft. He simply hits up on the ball more than most pros and is fairly accurate as he can shape the ball consistently well. Finished 4th recently as well at the Greenbrier Classic. The most important factor in any Driver is finding the fairway. Hogan once went 70 holes without missing a fairway, using a driver that appeared to have almost no loft on it, very heavy and very stiff. It wasn’t uncommon for him to hit every fairway and every green in regulation…amazing, considering that he was a long hitter for his time. Fairways and scoring is what matters most. Find a driver that finds the most fairways and you will shoot your best results. I wouldn’t like to try hitting a draw with a driver that is maxed out at 1700/17 for straight shots, the ball would fall out of the sky far too soon with numbers more like 1300/13. I have tried, tested and played many different drivers over the years and these experiences has taught me to find a driver that I hit fairly straight, lose minimal distance when I try to fade the ball or draw the ball, and it looks and sounds good. Sound for me is massive. When you find a driver with the correct loft (for you) where distance loss is minimal when shaping the ball left or right, then that club is maxed out for your swing. Different drivers have different lofts that work best for me. Only someone like Moe Norman can hit a driver straight every time, so find a driver that you can shape the ball into the fairway and stick with it. A good Driver is like a good partner, find one that gives you the least drama, least amount peaks and valleys in your life, sounds and looks good, and stick with it 🙂
1badbadger
May 7, 2014 at 10:27 am
Guys, look past the difference in swing speed for a moment and don’t focus on the distances…pretend that those numbers aren’t even there. When looking at launch data, there are many numbers, and I’m not saying they’re not important, but some are more important than others. The one that can affect your trajectory and results the most is the backspin rates. Sure, it’s good to have an ideal launch angle and smash factor, but those things won’t make up for too much or not enough spin. Spin trumps everything, and Tom showed how much difference there is in spin between hitting the ball in the proper spot vs. slightly low. I think it’s eye opening. My misses are almost always low on the clubface…I rarely catch one too high on the face, so this catches my attention. Many players would look at that first impact mark and consider it perfect…it’s right in the middle of the club! But knowing how much the spin can spike is important. When spin gets 500, 800, 1000 rpms higher than ideal, it will cause your ball flight to be inefficient and there is a loss in performance. Sometimes it’s not as noticeable as others (windy conditions tends to magnify it for example) but it has an effect. The thing to take away from this example is how much the spin can increase if impact is slightly low…just think how much it would be if impact was another groove or two lower!
Neil
Apr 29, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Nicely written. However, I get from the article that you believe the second shot went further because of a more center hit. The spin was definitely lower because you hit it in the center of the club face instead of on the bottom. However, your club head speed on shot #2 was 10 mph more than shot #1. This is the number one reason your shot went further. 10MPH club head speed difference is huge.
Scott
Apr 30, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Hey, Let’s not let facts get in the way of the results. How about adding onto the article for people that hit the ball all over the club face that the ball will fall out of the sky with the lower spin drivers? In all that I have read and experienced, lower spin will equal lower distance for a number of players.
Nick
Mar 3, 2014 at 10:56 pm
Optimal launch conditions are created when the CG of the ball impacts the face above the CG of the driver. From a physics perspective, the CG projects through the face at a point that is perpendicular to the actual CG of the driver.
Low/forward CG drivers are, in fact, more forgiving in terms of ball speed, launch angle and spin rates because the CG projects lower in the face than back of high CG drivers. In layman’s terms, a greater percentage of the club face on a low/forward CG driver will produce high launch/low spin characteristics than a traditional back or high CG driver.
Kev
Mar 1, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Thanks for doing this! I would love it if the manufacturers would have a template for their drivers with the robot data. Obviously they have it.
Have data for various swing speeds, and as you point out its importance- data for impact on various points on the face, including high middle and low center, toe, heel, etc. They could also publish for their stock shaft and an alternate shaft. Would make life a lot easier.
But in the interim, what you are suggesting here is a simple test we can all try with our drivers and a launch monitor- with face tape, hit with about the same swing speed while teeing it high middle and low.
I see the swing speed disparity as an issue. It’d be great to see the same swing as best as you can, even +/- 3mph. 10mph is a big difference and 106mph is great, btw! In reality, if you have the control to hit the face low, center and high at say 90, 95, 100, and 105 and wouldn’t mind posting those pix and data, you would, in addition to settling the matter once and for all re: spin, perhaps also win the Pulitzer prize for outstanding golf journalism (should they ever offer one, one day.) 😉
Willy
Feb 13, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Instead of picking the artical apart you should take notice of this! Go hit 10 putts out of different places on the face and see the difference the ball travels.. Exactly the same principal
Shallowface
Feb 13, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I never did that Tom. I’ve been reading your writings here and elsewhere for years and have always appreciated them.
I simply asked for more examples, and am looking forward to seeing them.
Being called a troll (not by you) for asking a question is pretty aggravating too.
Tom Stickney
Feb 13, 2014 at 9:59 am
Also….if your need is only carry distance I would stay away from lower spinning drivers such as the sldr or alpha.
Shallowface
Feb 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm
What little time I’ve gotten to spend on launch monitors shows I have too much spin (often approaching 4000). Too downward of an AoA.
But, I’m able to make the adjustment of hitting up on it and it hasn’t made any difference.
Thinking about trying something in the 11-13 range with an X flex. I’ve seen some success stories with this combo, even with people that didn’t have the clubhead speed one would normally associate with an X. It’s about the only thing I haven’t tried.
Trouble with me, it’s gotta be a cheap experiment. 🙂
Nick
Mar 3, 2014 at 10:42 pm
If you struggle with a negative angle of attack, you probably have a out-to-in path as well. Try a shorter, heavier shaft.
You can test this at your local golf shop. Put a fairway wood shaft in a driver and see if your launch monitor numbers improve. If they do, then cut your driver down to something in the 44-44.5″ range. It will improve your distance and consistency.
Rob
Feb 12, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Thank you, all information if liked.
But, don’t buy into the trolls.
Just keep giving the info.
How about the numbers from the small old driver in the pix and the
beginning?
tom stickney
Feb 12, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Thanks…found that photo on the net. Wish I had it to compare…would be fun. Just need a better player to hit it other than me! 🙂
tom stickney
Feb 12, 2014 at 12:36 pm
I’m pointing out the facts of impact location that pertain to ANY clubhead speed. I will be putting up two similar swing speeds to show you the same things happen for anyone that doubts this process.
In the future please do not suggest that I lack credibility because you are 100% off-base! I do these article for FREE for you to read in order to better educate the golfwrx.com readers. I don’t have to spend my valuable time writing, but I choose to so that YOU can be a better golfer.
Martin
Feb 12, 2014 at 7:02 pm
If you put your words out there on a subject a lot of people have opinions about I guess you will always risk being criticised 🙂 I should know. I have been a journalist for 20 years now…
David McCuiston
Feb 12, 2014 at 1:09 am
I’ve read that in the past that Taylor Made consumer model drivers loft were under reported to help golfers get away from too low of lofted drivers.
Do we know if the SLDR drivers are more accurately labeled loft wise? The loft up campaign seems like the might get away from understating the loft. Perhaps they have to get people used to the idea first. The correct launch angle is more important I guess, than what the actual loft is.
Tom Stickney
Feb 12, 2014 at 8:24 am
That I don’t know but I will say that if you want to buy a new driver take a few heads to your local repair shop to see what the actual loft is so you can compare apples to apples
Jeff
Apr 29, 2014 at 3:15 am
Where would you recommend getting actual lofts checked on driver heads in palm desert? Would the pga superstore or Golfsmith be able to do it or would you be able to recommend someone. Also I read an article by Bronson Wright, a club fitter out of Orange County, and apparently they also check COR on the driver faces as some come several points shy of the limit. I haven’t heard of anyone doing this in palm desert but I’d be interested to check to see how big the cor dispersion is.
Lee
Apr 30, 2014 at 2:35 pm
There are some great video’s on youtube from the TM Tour van where they open a draw and there are all the heads – hand selected, measured 8.1, 7.9, 8.2…. .5/1 closed, open etc. This is what the pro’s get surely in 2014 our $/£ is good enough to get the same service?
Shallowface
Feb 11, 2014 at 7:01 am
In Example 1:
231.8/96.0=2.41
248.9/96.0=2.59
In Example 2:
260.2/106.2=2.45
279.2/106.2=2.63
Not saying that the idea in this article isn’t valid, but the two examples offered don’t prove it. The distance differences are almost entirely due to the clubhead speed.
Love that old Burner driver! Hard to believe, but a lot of us played pretty darn well with that tiny clubhead.
Tom Stickney
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:08 am
Will be adding examples that are closer in speed soon.
KK-DBAG
Feb 12, 2014 at 6:53 pm
The club speed is irrelevant in the samples shown. I believe tom is trying to show that where the ball makes contact on face drastically changes ball flight pattern due to the high loft/ more spin if struck low on face. Regardless of SS, where the ball comes off the face can totally change spin characteristics (more or less RPM’s) and in turn changes shape of how the ball climbs and how it falls….appreciate the analysis Tom
kev
Feb 10, 2014 at 11:11 pm
word of caution when trying to hit higher on the clubface of a driver…..you will fracture the face on the upper edge.
Tom Stickney
Feb 11, 2014 at 12:44 am
I wish I had enough power to have that happen! Ha. Agree. Try to keep the entire ball just under the crown of the driver.
Andrew
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:56 pm
While I agree with the premise that overlofting the club will most definitely create problems if the player is not impacting the ball properly, those two swings have a swing speed difference of 10 mph. That isn’t just simple swing-to-swing variation either. That is the major factor in creating those distance numbers you used.
Tom Stickney
Feb 11, 2014 at 12:45 am
These were two sample swings showing the usual issues with improper vs proper impact points.
MJ
Feb 10, 2014 at 9:48 pm
The SLDR is a great driver. The technology is very cool to me as I am an engineer and this stuff interests me. I got my 9.5 a few months ago. I went to the range and found that I was hitting it pretty solid by leaving it on std and 1 tick towards draw. I went over to see my buddy who has a good launch monitor (a CG) to test it on. By the time we finished, I had dramatically lowered my spin and raised my launch. We got relatively close to the 17/1700 (couldn’t get the launch up enough). Some minor swing adjustments could help this. I ended up on higher and one tick from all the way at fade! So I am hitting an 11 degree driver. I am a +3 and like the article says I have always hit low lofted drivers. I had an 8 degree R11S last year that was turned down to 7 degrees. I increased my distance a decent amount (not dramatically) but my accuracy really improved.
I was thinking that I was going to balloon this thing on the course but that was not even close to the case. I hit 71% of the fws the first day out. I am going to get it looked at next week by a guy with a Trackman to see if my descent angle is okay as well as other variables.
By the way, I am also going to get that new Alpha driver. It is great! I hit it the other day and liked the way it felt. I will compare the two and see.
Tom Stickney
Feb 11, 2014 at 12:46 am
Can’t go wrong with either one…
Martin
Feb 10, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Nice add for the SLDR driver! 🙂 I bet you wont put a SLDR with any of the crappy stock shafts TM offers in your bag!? Of course its nice to see a straight drive roll down the fairway, but I prefer to work the ball with my driver, more spin helps me control the shot better, and if I dont try to hit it as hard as I can everytime, I get the amount of spin i prefer: longer carry, less roll and the ball have a better chance staying in the fairway and I can still reach the greens. This talk about added length from the tee makes the golf equipment companys go nuts about finding balls that spins less and drivers and fairwaywoods that decreases spin. This trend wont help recreational golfers play better. It hasnt so far! And I am running out of great spinning and soft golf balls like older Pro V1s.It is really annoying…
Tom Stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 8:37 pm
There are new softer spinny balls coming out as I type…very low compression ones you might like.
Recreational golfers are not gaining the benefits of the low spinning drivers bc they cannot control their impact points.
David McCuiston
Feb 12, 2014 at 12:58 am
I’ve noticed the large drivers tend to feel the same across the face. Probably due to having better spring effect all the way across. The older smaller Tour Burner drivers made it easier to tell when you hit the sweet spot.
I tend to hit all over the face with the large face drivers to a degree, it seems this may be due to feedback feel? What’s to be done, practice more with impact tape or talcum powder on the face?
Is it possible it is harder to hit the sweet spot on larger drivers?
Daniel R
Feb 10, 2014 at 6:15 pm
In the first example the club path is -6.7, this is not only an indicator of an over the top move, but an EXTREME over the top move. The second example has an club path that indicates the club came from the inside properly. Coming over the top leads to slicing, ballooning and a much higher spin rate. These two swings are a stretch for comparisons sake.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Coming over the top can also lead to low darting hooks as well which might have little spin
luke keefner
Feb 10, 2014 at 5:58 pm
I live in the northeast, it never stops raining so roll doesn’t even come into the equation. Doesn’t spin keep the ball in the air longer and allow the ball to carry farther? My club head speed is around 100mph and I have to dig my ball out of the sloppy fairways. This is all a moot point for me. Winter will never end here…
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 7:25 pm
If conditions suggest all carry then, yes, you need a touch more spin to keep the ball in the air longer with all things being equal.
NG
Feb 10, 2014 at 4:37 pm
SLDR is the best driver on the market, period. I was using 8.5 and now I’m using 10*. I consistently miss it low on the face which is why I decided to purchase SLDR because it spins less and impacts low on the face spin more. If you strike it low on the face I’d encourage all golfers to purchase an SLDR!LOFT UP IS THE REAL DEAL!
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 5:21 pm
NG…I’d have to agree 100%. I have not tested the alpha from callaway so I’ll be interested to see how it does compared to the sldr. But anything that reduces spin for the higher ball speed player is a wonderful thing.
NG
Feb 12, 2014 at 4:34 am
Like it Tom!
Paul
Feb 10, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Isn’t this the opposite of what the article just explained? Lower on the face produces more spin, right?
NG
Feb 12, 2014 at 4:33 am
Correct Paul, however SLDR is the lowest spinning driver on the market from any spot on the face. Therefore Sldr will reduce spin on miss hits making it more efficient and essentially complimenting a negative aspect of impacts low on the face…
Scott
Feb 10, 2014 at 3:05 pm
How much lower spin are these clubheads actually?? Does anyone have real numbers and real comparisons? It doesn’t appear to me that anyone on tour is hitting it any longer with these heads than before.
hebron1427
Feb 10, 2014 at 5:09 pm
I hit an R1 and SLDR with the same shaft, same swing speed (within a few MPH). Ball speed was 165 with the R1 and 169 with the SLDR. Launch angle was 13-ish with both. carry distances were the same, but R1 spin was 3700 RPM and SLDR was 2650. Obviously, the total distance was dramatically different.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Scott–
They are hitting the ball longer with less effort which tightens their dispersion patterns and makes the drivers worth their weight in gold.
Micah
Feb 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm
So your student miss hit the ball but got a Smash Factor of 1.51? I would agree that his spin was way too high but it seems in my limited knowledge that the spin would have more to do with the difference in attack angle or dynamic loft. The student’s landing angle was also better.
I would really like to see more data. It would elucidate your point much better if you had your student correct the impact point on the face and you also hit shots yourself that were high on the face, in the proper spot, and low on the face and showed those numbers.
With the limited data provided I’m not sold on your argument but I’m intrigued by your thesis. I hope you don’t feel like I’m trolling, I enjoy your writing, I just want more information.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Smash factor isn’t an accurate indicator of compression. You can snap hook it and get a sf of 1.52 at times. Hopefully you could spend a few minutes on a launch monitor with some dr sholl’s and you’ll better understand the launch/spin issue. I’ll try to publish some shots with me hitting lower on the face, it’s just a timing thing with my schedule etc. 🙂
Conrad
Feb 10, 2014 at 2:39 pm
cant you get a Sf of 1.55 if you hit it off the toes. as the toe is swinging its adding speed?
snow52
Feb 12, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Tom – can you comment on the smash factor of the first example? I thought the maximum SF was 1.50. Thanks for your great articles.
Martin
Feb 10, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Would have been a better demonstration of the concept with more similar swings.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Will try to hit more shots and upload…thanks
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:55 pm
teeing it higher and lower can help…you’ll need to experiment.
Mark
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Doesn’t the fact that the 2nd example had 10 mph more clubhead speed make as big of a difference (or more) than the impact spot on the club face? Would like to see this example with same clubhead speed for truer comparison.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:49 pm
You are correct…this was a student swing versus one I did for comparison. The fact remains that vertical impact is key.
jabrch
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Great explanation Tom! Thanks. Love your work on WRX!
johnleg
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Doesn’t the effect of roll of a curved face somewhat help the effect of higher backspin lower on the face? The roll should, in theory, help de-loft the club on lower than centerface shots.
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Vertical gear effect accounts for the low launch but the high spin is caused by the impact point.
GJR
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Hi Tom,
I just went to a huge local event in the Twin Cities and hit my Ping G20 9.5* Tour Stiff against the SLDR. (Just a quick back ground on me – I’ve been golfing for only 5 years and have never broken 80. I’m a mid 80’s average score.)
Overall the distance was almost exactly the same, but, the SLDR produced lower spin. Apparently I was spinning around 4500 and getting about 283 total distance with my Ping. But with the SLDR my spin was apparently around 2200, same launch angle, but my distance was 280.
I’m not expecting you to dissect my swing, but my driver club head speed is 105 average (103-107). The Taylor Made rep was telling me that the lower spin was much better for me and while he wasn’t pressuring me at all to buy the driver, he was obviously trying to get me to understand that it was a better performing driver for me.
I’m still trying to understand things like launch angle, spin rate, etc, and how that correlates to my swing. I’m mainly self taught and when I’m at the range I just go by feel and ball flight.
This is a very long winded way of asking – Why would I want to consider switching? Don’t I ultimately care about accuracy and distance? If it’s all the same does spin really matter in my case?
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Spin always matters…if you are spinning your ping 4000 rpms you are leaving yardage in the bag! I personally don’t care what driver you play as long as you have optimal launch conditions (within reason) but 4000 is WAY too much. 🙂
GJR
Feb 10, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Thanks TS!
nik dallos
Feb 10, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Was the golf expo this last weekend? Where did they have it?
GJR
Feb 11, 2014 at 10:06 am
Nope, no golf expo. It was a Taylor Made fitting party for a local golf reality show called ‘Hack To Jack’ and I’m trying to get onto the show. It was held at the Minnesota Golf Academy. The actual Twin Cities Golf show is this weekend at the Convention Center. I’ll be there Friday afternoon.
Jon Ryzinski
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Great article Tom!
How does the 17/1700 Taylormade claims to be optimal really stand up? Is that really optimal, or is it’s basis relying on specific factors from the golfer (such as AoA, clubhead speed, etc…).
We hear a lot about the 17/1700, but i’m curious if that is what I should be striving for. Thanks!
tom stickney
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Thank you…17/1700 has been proven by swing robot testing and is starting to be adopted by golfers…only time will tell if this can be done by the masses. If the brains say it’s optimal then I’d say it works, but can YOU make it work? That’s the question that remains to be answered by all of us.
Mike
Feb 10, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Teeing it high should help offset hitting to low on the face?