Driver's loft

[King Norre]

I'm curious, what's the loft of your driver?
If you were going to buy a new one, would you change to another loft? If so, why?

Thanks,

KN

[klaymon]

9.5 degree TM Burner. I like the ball flight I get from this club so, I wouldn't change given the chance.

[redi630]

9.5 now, but I am thinking of going back to a 10.5.

[hawkeye]

loft on the driverhead is only half he battle - you really should be looking at launch angle (the shaft will be a determining factor here too)

i have 10.5* in a R7 425 - less dispersion though I hit the ball (too) high. Looking at changing the shaft this year (have changed weights - has effect, but not enough). My club pro wants me to buy his 9.5 TP model (with stiffer shaft) but I hit it too low.

[Big_M]

Interesting... just today I was hitting some new drivers. My swing speed is around 105mph with the big stick, so I look for 12-13* launch angle. My current driver, a 10.5, gives me about 13-14 average, not too bad. Depending on the drivers (i hit about 7-8 models), I needed between a 10.5 and an 8.5 loft. Obviously the shaft makes a huge difference here as well. Funny thing was, I was getting the best carry distance with my current driver, and I would say only one of the in store drivers truly out performed mine, and it was a Maltby component driver Funny how the least expensive equipment seems to be the best fit sometimes. Anyway, my conclusion was that I don't need a new driver this year.

[Gapwedge]

Swingspeed (107mph) + Aldila NV65 Stiff shaft + Ping G5 10.5* head = launch angle of 12.5* which gives me my maximum carry distance.

Driver loft is only part of the equation.

[Titleist916]

i have a 9.5 stiff superquad. pretty happy with the club and its ball flight. not to high not to low. i recently switched from the titleist 905R which had a low ball flight, might have been because of the shaft. but i think its the best switch ive made. right now im not really looking to change driver or loft. i feel if i did switch to a 10.5 i might lose a little distance because it would go alot higher.

[Shindig]

10.5 is mine. I used to have a 9.5, but when I switched to the 10.5, I found more fairways and found the ball farther from the tees. I would entertain moving up more loft if I could make the same "tradeoff" but I don't view that as happening. it's worth a shot.

[JaY_B]

I use a 9.5 but if anything I would move up to 10 degrees just to get a higher launch angle.

[neudi]

I have a 983 K 9.5°, I think I would stick with the same loft if I got a knew one.

[tigerwoo]

Yes, I recently switched drivers in the quest for lowering my launch angle and thus more yardage off the tee. I did that going from a 10.5 degree head (TM r580XD) to another 10.5 degree head (Mizuno MX-500). There are some technology differences between the heads with TM being only 440cc vs 460cc and some weight distributing graphite inserts in the Mizuno but I don't think that was the main difference as to why I have gained the yardage. The shaft differences are what I think made the increased distance possible.

Former shaft in the TM was the stock TM stiff compared to an Aldila NV65 stiff in my current driver. Much stiffer and lower launching due to higher kickpoint.

[HytrewQasdfg]

IMHO, 80% of golfers use a loft that is too low.

Go outside with a garden hose, turn it on full blast, and try to make it shoot water as far as it can (no holding your finger over the end!) You'll find that a lower angle does not make the water go farther (and neither will aiming it too high). There is a correct angle somewhere in between that will make it go the farthest. Lowering the loft on your driver does not gurantee the ball will go farther, in fact it may do the opposite (just like lowering the hose angle below optimum will make the water go a shorter distance.)

Lowering the loft also reduces backspin, which is just as important to ball distance as how hard you swing.

I know long drivers champions use low lofted clubs, but look at how and where they tee up the ball. Way forward in their stance, and extremely high. Why?

1. It allows them to lengthen their swing arc just a little, which allows them time to generate a little more swing speed.

2. It allows them to catch the ball ON THE UPSWING.

Think about what that means as far as the clubface angle at the time of impact. If the club has started its upward arc, then that 7.5 degree clubface angle is probably closer to 10 degrees at the time of impact.

Why do you think so many people recommend you tee the ball high, and strike the ball slightly above center on your driver's clubface? Because the front of a driver is curved, so the loft on a driver is HIGHER above the center of the face. Unfortunatly, the sweet-spot on a driver is usually around the center of the clubface. Hitting the ball above center on your driver means you have a smaller sweet spot (and less room for error) to work with.

I beleive Wishon said in his book that the typical male golfer should be using at least a 13-14 degree driver, and said it was ironic that most major golf manufacturers don't even make men's drivers that high.

There's an easy way to determine if your loft is too low. Put some impact tape on your driver. If your best drives come from balls that strike above the center line, then your loft is too low. Increase the loft until your best drives come from balls struck dead center on your driver. That way you will have the largest sweet spot (and most room for error) to work with.

[andre112]

i have a borrowed cleveland launcher ti460 10.5
my ball flight seems low.
when i have a more consistant driver swing, i'll go get fitted
they will tell me what loft and shaft i need

[Bowker]

I use 10. I like the launch angle.

[marpr]

Im currently on an 8.5 degree.

[golf_junkie27]

I use a 9.5 degree driver. For me, the shaft is more important. Having made the change in late 2007, I immediately noticed the difference. I switched from an Aldila NV-65 to an Accra SC 75. My launch angle is between 11-12. Being fitted for a ball that spun less, helped, too. When I'm on, I'm usually between 250-265.

[MrKadash]

I've had a 9.5 forever, but plan on getting fitted for the first time in a couple of weeks. Will change in a heartbeat if need be.

[neudi]

I like my 9.5, but if I wanted the ball to go higher or lower I would just change the shaft because of course the loft has a little to do with the ball height, but the lower the loft the more sidespin you are going to have and the higher the loft the less sidespin.