Why Do We Learn to Hit Up on Drivers, When Pros Don't?

[barnum1]

Hi!

I've read many places that average attack angle for drives by PGA Tours is down on the ball (about -1 degree I believe).
Then why do most (if not all) instructors teach us ordinary golfers to hit up on the ball with the driver?

Just curious...

[billchao]

1 hour ago, barnum1 said:

Hi!

I've read many places that average attack angle for drives by PGA Tours is down on the ball (about -1 degree I believe).
Then why do most (if not all) instructors teach us ordinary golfers to hit up on the ball with the driver?

Just curious...

Because most people don't swing in excess of 115 mph and consistently hit the center of the clubface. They can afford to give up a little bit of distance for more spin and control over their drives.

Average golfers with average swing speeds should hit up on the ball to maximize their distance potential. The advantage is greater. That's why LPGA Tour players swing up with the driver.

TrackMan PGA Tour Averages Stats

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Tour stats include: Club Speed, Attack Angle, Ball Speed...

 

[iacas]

What @billchao said.

And, that negative number is slowly changing as more younger players who learned to hit up slightly are replacing older, "hit-down" type players. I'm not saying it'll end up positive in ten years, just that it's been slowly moving less negative.

[barnum1]

Thanks @billchao and @iacas. Make sense what you're saying.
Then I'll just continue to try to hit up on the ball with my driver  

[iacas]

46 minutes ago, barnum1 said:

Thanks @billchao and @iacas. Make sense what you're saying.
Then I'll just continue to try to hit up on the ball with my driver  

Just slightly. Even five degrees isn’t much.

And verify what you’re doing. If you’re hitting up now you might not need any more.

[barnum1]

@iacas: yup, got a Trackman at the golf club.