How much does loft/swing speed affect distance?

If the distance is equal........the clubhead speed will be roughly the same!!!!  The 44degree will have a shorter/stiffer shaft.......so it will take more effort to create the same clubhead speed compared to the 40deg club.

The main reason that a longer club travels faster than a shorter club is the arc of the swing. All things being equal, the longer club's head is further away from the player's hands (which travel the same distance with any given swing). The longer club's head must travel a further distance in the same amount of time, though, so it travels at a higher rate of speed.

If the shafts are the same length, then loft will determine distance. PW flies higher, thus shorter, than 9i.

No point swinging harder. Close the face of the 44degree club to turn it into the 40degree club

The reason I brought up the question, was I was wondering how much distance could be gained/lost by delofting or adding loft to the club.  I lost almost 20 yards on my PW this year from last (less the longer the club gets).  I took a video of my swing last night, and it looked like I had a pretty good flip going on.  I was wondering if this alone could have caused my distance loss, or did I lose swing speed also (Last fall I took a desk job, so I have been less active and gained weight).

Being fat makes you play worse... ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT?

jk

If you've got a flip in you're swing you're definately losing speed. Clubhead speed is a result of good lag, the clubhead will be at its fastest when you release and your club catches up with your hands, then immediately decelerate. Sounds like you are releasing too soon, causing the flip (which will ALSO add loft). Try keeping your hands ahead of the club face through impact. Yeah I know....... easy to say that!

Or just flip it later.  :-)

Losing distance is typically related to losing clubhead speed.  If you are flipping (as you eluded to)... Then you are indeed losing clubhead speed which is also known as clubhead throwaway.  Trying to swing faster with your arms/hands will most likely only exasperate the issue of clubhead throwaway - if you don't understand the proper impact angles.

Depending on your skill, and interest in improving your distances... I'd do some research on a few items:

1.) Maintaining a flat left wrist ,

2.) Monitor Pressure Point #3 (PP3),

3.) Incorporating lag into your swing sequence (monitor the right forearm path).

Just getting the proper mechanics is critical to having solid impact and ball striking which will increase your distances.  And once you get these mechanics correct... You can then work on adding swing speed (faster arms/hands) which will also improve your distances.  Wasted movements and poor mechanics simply kills your game.

I just looked at the vid again, and slowed down my practice swings.  Very similar to Zeffs, good angles through the practice swing, but put the ball down and the flip started.

Also, whenever I try to maintain lag with the driver, I send the ball way right.  Does this need to be done differently?

IMO, if you try to maintain lag, you're gonna screw something up! If you maintain a light grip pressure and relax, lag and release will just happen on it's own. I know thats over simplified, but it works best for me. Although I'm not a low hdcp golfer, I've shown to be longer than slightly better golfers during my league play.

I disagree.  You're telling me that Sergio Garcia has relaxed arms, hands and wrist?  You think that right hand, bicep and tricep isn't exerting a ton of force?  The golf swing can be as you describe... But doesn't mean it is as you describe.  In fact, some of the best ball strikers in the world right now are using some major strength to maintain lag - then release it (rip) through the impact area.

Yeah but..... (I do that alot). I agree with you even though it's contradictory to what I said. The difference being that you are talking about "the best ball strikers in the world". I'm more referring to guys like myself who are a long long long long way from that!

If my swing thought is to drive the butt end of the club toward my left thigh, is this trying to cause lag? Or would lag be a result of this?