How Do You Even Get Close to 1.5 Smash Factor?

[mighty]

My swing speed is around 90 to 95 mph with the driver and I may get 130+ ball speed maybe 1 out of 100 times, and I'm using an illegal head that's supposed to have even higher smash factor than normal. How can the tour pros and some youtube golfers get near 1.5 smash factor every time when they are just using conforming heads? I just watched some Japanese golfer video bombing some drives that carried almost 300 yards, and his swings speed was around 128 mph, he never had one drive over 1.4 smash factor, average was around 1.35-1.39.       

[iacas]

It's plenty possible - hit the center of the club face.

And if a guy was hitting driver "almost 300" and his clubhead speed was 128 MPH… he was either mishitting the crap out of them, or some number somewhere was way off.

You can get 1.51 or 1.52 by hitting the ball toward the toe a little bit.

[dennyjones]

link? 

 

[ChetlovesMer]

Here's some data from a practice session I had in early March. (Which was the last time I was on a launch monitor) I was actually collecting some of this data because I was curious how different footwear impacted or didn't impact my drives. I'm certainly far from a tour quality driver of the golf ball, and although I certainly don't average 1.5 Smash Factor. I am able to approach 1.5 Smash Factor from time to time. Not so much while barefoot. Incidentally, this data was taken in pretty cold weather (45F) with some pretty gnarly range balls. I'm expecting hoping that with some warm weather and "real" golf balls the Smash Factor will improve just a bit. 

So, there are tons of drills out there to help improve your driver smash factor. Failing that, have you considered taking a lesson to 2? I'm sure a qualified pro (once social distancing requirements are lifted) would have very little trouble helping you improve your smash factor, if you told him/her that was your goal. 

[mighty]

  On 3/24/2020 at 5:17 PM, dennyjones said:

link? 

 

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[dennyjones]

  On 3/24/2020 at 6:02 PM, mighty said:

 

 

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thanks

[iacas]

Limited flight balls will have a smaller smash factor too.

[ChetlovesMer]

  On 3/24/2020 at 4:57 PM, mighty said:

My swing speed is around 90 to 95 mph with the driver and I may get 130+ ball speed maybe 1 out of 100 times, and I'm using an illegal head that's supposed to have even higher smash factor than normal. How can the tour pros and some youtube golfers get near 1.5 smash factor every time when they are just using conforming heads? I just watched some Japanese golfer video bombing some drives that carried almost 300 yards, and his swings speed was around 128 mph, he never had one drive over 1.4 smash factor, average was around 1.35-1.39.       

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BTW - What illegal head are you using? 

[DuckhookDenny]

The way to get good smash factor is just an efficient hit, no crazy spin lofts or glancing strikes. just a solid strike produces the 1.48-1.50 smash factors.

[Rkrider99]

We had a Callaway Demo Day at our course. Set up with the Mavrik driver. I had never been on a monitor before. Swing speed was 86 to 88, hey, I'm 70 years old, but the guy running the monitor was impressed with the smash factor. On 8 out of 10 shots, my smash factor was between 1.47 to 1.49. He just said, I'm getting the maximum out of my swing speed. I really did like that driver.

[colin007]

I feel like most amateur golfers are in the high 1.3s aren't they? Honestly for me a good SF is like 1.43. 

[Killa]

  On 3/24/2020 at 5:16 PM, iacas said:

It's plenty possible - hit the center of the club face.

And if a guy was hitting driver "almost 300" and his clubhead speed was 128 MPH… he was either mishitting the crap out of them, or some number somewhere was way off.

You can get 1.51 or 1.52 by hitting the ball toward the toe a little bit.

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Can that depend on the driver and it’s tech? I mean my highest recorded sf is 1,46. And I mean in about 50 driver shots you’d reckon I be able to hit at least one driver in the middle of the face?

[iacas]

  On 3/24/2020 at 9:11 PM, Killa said:

Can that depend on the driver and it’s tech? I mean my highest recorded sf is 1,46. And I mean in about 50 driver shots you’d reckon I be able to hit at least one driver in the middle of the face?

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It has to be with a good spin loft and stuff, too. You can hit the driver in the exact sweet spot but if your face is 5° and your path is -15°, you're not getting 1.5.

[Killa]

  On 3/24/2020 at 9:28 PM, iacas said:

It has to be with a good spin loft and stuff, too. You can hit the driver in the exact sweet spot but if your face is 5° and your path is -15°, you're not getting 1.5.

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This would be an example, do you think this was just not on the sweetspot or what would be the reason? 

[rehmwa]

You need three things.

a hammer, a nail, and a passing goose

[iacas]

  On 3/24/2020 at 10:52 PM, Killa said:

This would be an example, do you think this was just not on the sweetspot or what would be the reason? 

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1.46 is pretty good. You're only talking about 0.03 or so here, you know…

[colin007]

  On 3/24/2020 at 6:02 PM, mighty said:

 

 

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I'm guessing it's a combo of the range balls and poor contact due to swinging out of his kicks.

[ncates00]

  On 3/24/2020 at 10:52 PM, Killa said:

This would be an example, do you think this was just not on the sweetspot or what would be the reason? 

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1.46 is good.  I think your dynamic loft will play a factor here too.  If you're adding too much loft through the shot, and therefore more spin loft, you'll lose on smash factor too.  It's the same reason why lower lofted irons feel so good when you really cover them and smash them nice and low--lower loft and beter smash. 

You'll see guys like Rory and DJ hit up with forward shaft lean with driver to get that 1.48+ smash.