High Launch Shaft

[jcrob902]

Simple google search highest smash factor possible.

I'm pretty sure that he's right I have a freind at Michigan State that has a club head speed of 127mph at his very best ball speed 157 mph and his smash factor was still only 1.50 I believe I'll ask to be sure but I remember I thought it was wierd that he would be so much higher on everything else than I was but our smash factor was pretty close mine 1.45 and his being 1.50, I think that it has more to do with efficiency than any thing to do with actual physical ability.

[steve617]

Yes Stacey we seem the opposite. The club builder said I was leaning over and was coming too steep with may back swing which was causing the high launch. Stacey what is really strange is even though our swing were totally opposite we both are Jamerson fans. lol

Hopefully after my lesson tommorow we can improve.

[indacup]

Simple google search highest smash factor possible.

I was asking for a LEGITIMATE source for your promulgation..not an editorial by someone selling his services.As a matter of fact, Steves statement is so wrong, I already reported his article to the USGA. I will elaborate on his misinformation in a bit....but first, let me explain a few things..... The USGA has limits on all clubs (except the putter) by means of the Pendulum Test Protocol (PTP). Likewise, they measure balls for size, weight and symmetry. Then use the ITR to confirm velocity, aerodynamics and virtual distance. The Smash Factor is a fancy way of descrbing the efficency employed to make contact with the ball....nothing more. This is defined by two MAIN things: 1) Combination of equipment (head, ball AND Shaft) used during the swing. 2) The players actual swing....closeness to the "sweet spot", angle of impact etc. The USGA regulates the RAW material, design and performance of the INDIVIDUAL equipment but cannot regulate which products can be mated to...nor can they regulate the players swing, angle of impact, swing speed, climate conditions...etc. This would be akin to the USGA announcing the maximum distance a player can hit, the amount of fairways per round...etc. The whole PURPOSE of the USGA is to limit the performance level of equipment to allow the players ABILITY to determine their performance....which the SF does. We fit and work on increasing SF's of hundreds if not thousands of players a year....while we specialize in the Long Drive players, have worked with current PGA players (including a multi winning pro) our bread and butter is the normal public....we have the largest booths at the Milwaukee and Green Bay golf shows where we invite people to bring their equipment, measure their swing efficiency, then set them up to gain at LEAST 15 yards. All done by finding the proper mixture of equipment to gain the maximum potential of the players swing...all equipment used are conforming. Let me pose a question..... All of us have enjoyed a time or to where we just "Nutted" the ball....what do you think changed? Did your swing speed just jump 20 mphs while maintaining the same efficency? or was the speed the same and the efficiency better? Now, lets re-review what Steve said...and explain more how he is speaking out of his colon. He stated that Tigers average swing speed is 125 mph (we've clocked him closer to 123, but thats splitting hairs...LOL) and supposedly has a SF of 1.5./ 185 mph. This would mean (assuming he is using his 9,5 Nike) the following: Back spin = 3337.9 LA = 8.6* Avg CARRY: 306.8 yards. Yet Tigers averaged 288 yards.... To average 288 yards, under similar equipment conditions would put him at ball velocity of 174 mph and a swing speed at 118.8 mph.....which makes a LOT more sense. So either Steve is lying (or wrong) or Tiger's driver efficency is much less.......the fact that Tiger missed over 40% of fairways in 2008 would infer a lower swing efficiency than Steve is claiming. I hope this clears some things up...if you want I can relay more examples and proof...as well as provide you (off line) the contact info (email and phone) so you can discuss this with "Al R", the person I mentioned in the earlier post, to confirm and get more info. Thanks!

[st0wgolf08]

I was asking for a LEGITIMATE source for your promulgation..not an editorial by someone selling his services.As a matter of fact, Steves statement is so wrong, I already reported his article to the USGA. I will elaborate on his misinformation in a bit....but first, let me explain a few things..... The USGA has limits on all clubs (except the putter) by means of the Pendulum Test Protocol (PTP). Likewise, they measure balls for size, weight and symmetry. Then use the ITR to confirm velocity, aerodynamics and virtual distance. The Smash Factor is a fancy way of descrbing the efficency employed to make contact with the ball....nothing more. This is defined by two MAIN things: 1) Combination of equipment (head, ball AND Shaft) used during the swing. 2) The players actual swing....closeness to the "sweet spot", angle of impact etc. The USGA regulates the RAW material, design and performance of the INDIVIDUAL equipment but cannot regulate which products can be mated to...nor can they regulate the players swing, angle of impact, swing speed, climate conditions...etc. This would be akin to the USGA announcing the maximum distance a player can hit, the amount of fairways per round...etc. The whole PURPOSE of the USGA is to limit the performance level of equipment to allow the players ABILITY to determine their performance....which the SF does. We fit and work on increasing SF's of hundreds if not thousands of players a year....while we specialize in the Long Drive players, have worked with current PGA players (including a multi winning pro) our bread and butter is the normal public....we have the largest booths at the Milwaukee and Green Bay golf shows where we invite people to bring their equipment, measure their swing efficiency, then set them up to gain at LEAST 15 yards. All done by finding the proper mixture of equipment to gain the maximum potential of the players swing...all equipment used are conforming. Let me pose a question..... All of us have enjoyed a time or to where we just "Nutted" the ball....what do you think changed? Did your swing speed just jump 20 mphs while maintaining the same efficency? or was the speed the same and the efficiency better? Now, lets re-review what Steve said...and explain more how he is speaking out of his colon. He stated that Tigers average swing speed is 125 mph (we've clocked him closer to 123, but thats splitting hairs...LOL) and supposedly has a SF of 1.5./ 185 mph. This would mean (assuming he is using his 9,5 Nike) the following: Back spin = 3337.9 LA = 8.6* Avg CARRY: 306.8 yards. Yet Tigers averaged 288 yards.... To average 288 yards, under similar equipment conditions would put him at ball velocity of 174 mph and a swing speed at 118.8 mph.....which makes a LOT more sense. So either Steve is lying (or wrong) or Tiger's driver efficency is much less.......the fact that Tiger missed over 40% of fairways in 2008 would infer a lower swing efficiency than Steve is claiming. I hope this clears some things up...if you want I can relay more examples and proof...as well as provide you (off line) the contact info (email and phone) so you can discuss this with "Al R", the person I mentioned in the earlier post, to confirm and get more info. Thanks!

Your average includes 2 irons, 5 woods 3 woods, and all other kinds of tee shots. Bad example Imho.

The “smash factor” is a ratio of ball speed to club head speed. If a player swings at 100 MPH and the ball leaves the face at 140 MPH, the smash factor is 1.4. The best PGA Tour players achieve smash factors of 1.48. The theoretical maximum is 1.5. Alas, most amateur golfers hit the ball much less efficiently. The vast majority of amateur golfers tested at the Golf Lab produce smash factors in the range of 1.35 to 1.4. http://www.golftodaymagazine.com/view.php?I=180 Theoretical means if everything is perfect that's what you get. I've provided 2 legitimate sources, if you ignore both of them, or pawn them off as false sources, then you are either ignorant, or highly confident about a machine reporting figures.

[steve617]

I had my lesson today and worked on my alignment, hand position and club face angle. We started with the 9 iron and according to the monitor I had gained great distance by making a few changes. With my drive I applied the same technique and was much more consistant. I still had a slight slice but not a lot. He said my ball goes left a little then comes back center. We were bought pleased. He said the SS was not that important but I looked a couple times and was in the mid 80's most of the time. My laucnh agle was between 15 to 17 most of the time. I consider it money well spent.

[indacup]

st0wgolf08-

First off pal, I took time to write an articulate response explaining the variables that are contributory to achieving swing efficiency.

I even offered resources for you to personally contact for further clarification, which you refused to do.

I never called you ignorant or made any personal attacks upon you....but I guess that you decided that when unable to discuss something as adults, name calling is a viable alternative.

Correct?

So before I respond, I am allowing you to determine the terms and playing field you would like this and all further responses to you.to be conducted.

Decide, with an open mind and respect for each others opinion? Or name calling and wild accusations?

I will await your response.

[tim31x]

check out the aldila nvs 65 in regular flex. hits not a "high launch" but it has a low quick which produces a nice launch.

[indacup]

I had my lesson today and worked on my alignment, hand position and club face angle. We started with the 9 iron and according to the monitor I had gained great distance by making a few changes. With my drive I applied the same technique and was much more consistant. I still had a slight slice but not a lot. He said my ball goes left a little then comes back center. We were bought pleased. He said the SS was not that important but I looked a couple times and was in the mid 80's most of the time. My laucnh agle was between 15 to 17 most of the time. I consider it money well spent.

Sounds like GREAT progress!

More often than not, it seems the biggest problems are usually the result of something minor. And once you have alignment, stance and grip correct, the rest is easy... (or so they say ;)).

[Stacey_E]

I had my lesson today and worked on my alignment, hand position and club face angle. We started with the 9 iron and according to the monitor I had gained great distance by making a few changes. With my drive I applied the same technique and was much more consistant. I still had a slight slice but not a lot. He said my ball goes left a little then comes back center. We were bought pleased. He said the SS was not that important but I looked a couple times and was in the mid 80's most of the time. My laucnh agle was between 15 to 17 most of the time. I consider it money well spent.

Sounds like a good session. With your (our) swing speed, I think you are getting right in your wheelhouse for launch angle for optimum carry. I wouldn't worry a great deal about your "slice". It sounds more like a slight pull/cut if it's starting a little left and ending in the center. I'd prefer to play a cut anyway with the driver. It sits down a little better and is often more predictable than a draw that runs into the left rough. For now I'd just try teeing on the right side of the box and aiming down the left-center of the fairway. Unless the hole dictates a different play, this should put you anywhere from the left center of the fairway (straight hit) to the right side of the fairway (slice).

BTW Steve, what was RPMs at after this session? Just curious about that one. As for the other arguement going on.....I've consistantly had a smash factor on the monitors of 1.45. I really can't believe this myself, but I almost always get 88 SS and 128 ball speed. Sure I do hit those toe and heel shots that sometimes are about a 1.1 smash (about 1 in 5). The neatest thing to me was when I demoed a Burner last year. The shaft was so long and light that I could not catch the center but about 1 in 5 times. I noticed on those toe shots that particular club still spit out a 110 or so ball speed (I was getting 90 mph SS with this club) or about a 1.22 SF. That was enough to prove that newer technology does make a difference on mishits. But I still didn't buy the club. I can't say that a SF of over 1.5 isn't possible under current USGA rules. But I can say that all the sources I've seen over the years (and no I won't quote them so don't ask) have 1.5 as about the max. But I'm sure there are some anomolies that come into play under extreme swing speeds.

[verse214]

st0wgolf08-

As an outsider, I feel that he responded with similar rhetoric as your original response to his post containing the article; your original post could very well be read as slightly condescending thereby explaining the tone in his rebuttal.

[st0wgolf08]

st0wgolf08-

I would like to keep it as respectful and polite as possible. While saying ignorant was probably being a jerk, it was what came to mind, I gave my sources and I've yet to get any from you. I don't want this to be hostile, I just want to see somewhere that confirms greater than 1.50 is possible, as anything I've seen hasn't said so. Please prove me wrong, I always like to improve, so if you show how you can get your smash higher, I'd love to work on it, and gain the distance.

[steve617]

I really did not pay that much attention on my RPM's since we were working on technique. My big mistakes on the driver was I lighned up my hands well infront of my club and with my irons and driver I was starting them slightly open. I did not know this kind of an optical illusion so I closed my club face slightly and keep my hands slightly behind the head. I really am learning to be more discpline with my head and upper body. (keeping them still). Looks like driving range tommorow and perhaps 9 holes.