Does loft negatively affect distance?

Question

I have always thought that the higher the loft on my driver, the worse distance I would get.

Recently I have heard and read that it is more about spin than loft. I'm currently hitting a 9.5 degree driver, but wonder if I would benefit from hitting a 10.5 degree.

Also, how much does the type of shaft play in distance and spin?

Answer 1

Loft angle is less important than Launch angle  Best is 11.5 -12.5   And a spin rate in the low 2700's....... these numbers can be achieved by a variety of lofts.

Answer 2

ok i cant give u sum long explanation but i think the higher lofted driver the shorter you will hit it. I have a 13.5 (yea i know thats high) degree driver. My ball doesnt roll @ all. it stops like a sand wedge. im getting a 10.5 soon. but im a girl so 9.5 should b fine 4 u.

Answer 3

Most average golfers do better with a higher loft.

I use to think that if I drove it low, the ball would have less time in the air to hook or fade and I would get about 20% of distance after it hit.  Increasing my odds of staying on fairway.

But, after switching to a 10.5 from a 9.0, and switching to an above average ball.  I have probably increased my yardage by 20% and accuracy by 25-33%.  The increased loft and my teeing it higher with a low spin ball has helped a lot.

The ball flight with a higher arc will just go further.  The loft creates a spin that offers less resistance while flying.

Also, if you ask the question about the shaft, you probably answered it in that you need an average or regular shaft.  Graphite for driver and steel for irons.

Unless your a senior or have a positive fast speed though the ball (not to be confused with swinging to fast), reg flex should work for you.

Answer 4

The optimum ball launch angle is 12.5 degrees. You don't want an excessively high or low spin rate from your ball either. Depending on your swing, your swing speed, the ball you're using and the placement of the ball at address, this launch angle can vary from person to person, even with the same driver.

The guys at FittingWorks.com have a very informative page on driver launch angles. See the source referenced below. Further, Golf Digest did research which showed higher driver lofts actually helped golfers achieve more distance (here> http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0...

The best advice I can offer is to get  your butt down to a GolfSmith or Edwin Watts to try out various drivers using a launch monitor, which should be overseen by a professional club fitter. There are just too many variables to account for when trying to get fit for the perfect club for you (while seeking this information online).

Good luck!

Answer 5

It's a little different for every golfer but ideally the faster your ball speed, the lower you need the RPM rate to be. This is because the faster speed will propel the ball sufficiently as is. As the ball speed drops, you need progressively higher RPMs to keep the ball in the air and moving forward.

A general rule might look something like this

100+ swing speed - 7* to 10* driver

90+ swing speed - 9* to 12* driver

80+ swing speed - 11* to 14* driver

But then there's the shaft to consider. Playing a 9* degree driver with a low kick point (higher flight), should play a higher ball flight than a 9* with a mid or high kick point (lower flight). Also a softer tip will aid a higher flight than a mid or stiff tip. Most stock shafts are mid or low kick point and soft or mid tip to assist in helping get the ball airborne anyway, so you might be OK as is there.

Here's a quick thing to try, set up normally with your driver but then open the face so the toe end is 1/2" behind square, compared to the heel end. This will increase the effective loft on your driver.  Hit several drives, and if your ball flight or distance improves, even with a fade or push, you could benefit from more loft.

Answer 6

It is really a matter of geometry and physics.  If two balls are hit with the same speed, they will travel the same distance.  However, distance is not simply measured as a straight line between you and the eventual stopping point of the ball.  You have to measure the distance of the flightpath of the ball.  Therefore, if one ball goes higher than the other, it will not be a long of a shot as the low trajectory ball.  This is because some of its distance was consumed by the flight up and flight back down.

Spin is also a factor in this.  Most golf club designers are making clubs with higher loft, but less spin.  Spin creates friction with the air, and thus slows the ball down.