Question on driver loft

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

I have a high majestic shot with the driver that tends to drop out of the air straight down opposed to at an angle. So I wanted to demo some drivers with a lower loft hoping to decrease my launch angle and spin. I was hitting a 9* when the sales rep told me that if I wanted to lower my launch angle I needed to increase my loft. I usually play a 10.5* and he suggested that I try a 12.5*. Does that sound correct?

[flatom]

Most manufacturers that give commissions or rebates to sales guys and stores do not make low lofts so he was just trying to sell you what he had.
Go to at least a 9 and even lower to get lower, boring, shots with lots of roll.
I say this assuming you are swinging well which sounds like you are.
Get a 460cc. head with low loft and buy 4" tees and put 1" in the ground.
When you swing, make sure you are hitting up and just let it fly.
You will be liking it.
If you want even more distance, go to a 48" shaft. Those extra 2-3 inches will get you 15 yards.

[James_Black]

Most manufacturers that give commissions or rebates to sales guys and stores do not make low lofts so he was just trying to sell you what he had.

a long shot will also make you more consistent.

Apart from that I kinda agree. Only problem with that is if the fairway is wet you'll lose distance. Loft isn't everything. Shafts also have a big part to play. If your going to spend money on a driver it's best to get custom fitted

[Dub]

I don't know...I thought you'd want to decrease your driver loft to get those results.

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

Hmmm....sounds like the guy didn't know what the hell he was talking about. They let me take the 12.5* to demo, so I guess I will try since I have it.

About custom fitting, there they say all they need to see is launch angle, ball speed and spin to custom fit. I have to believe that there is more to than that, right?

[mc0388]

I have a high majestic shot with the driver that tends to drop out of the air straight down opposed to at an angle. So I wanted to demo some drivers with a lower loft hoping to decrease my launch angle and spin. I was hitting a 9* when the sales rep told me that if I wanted to lower my launch angle I needed to increase my loft. I usually play a 10.5* and he suggested that I try a 12.5*. Does that sound correct?

The shaft you use has tremendous impact on ball trajectory. keep your driver and buy a lower launching shaft

[MizunoPlayer]

The degree of the head is only part of the equation. You need to factor in club speed and launch angle because the faster you swing, and the steeper the angle, the more backspin that you will put on the ball, thus hitting it higher. My suggestion would be to get fitted for a shaft that fits your swing speed. Remember, a driver should be hit on the upswing, not the down swing. You will most likely need to get something with a low kick point. I personally hit a 7.5* R5 Dual with a VistaPro 70 stiff shaft. You can't even find drivers these days that low so you will have to compromise and get a shaft that allows you to launch the ball lower with less spin.

[James_Black]

Hmmm....sounds like the guy didn't know what the hell he was talking about. They let me take the 12.5* to demo, so I guess I will try since I have it.

Get custom fitted by a pro NOT a sales rep.

And the high launch angle and it dropping out of the sky could be because your not hitting it hard enough. That used to happen to me when I started off with a slow swing speed.

[SQ Bimmer]

You're sure you're not ballooning the ball?

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

You're sure you're not ballooning the ball?

Not sure what that means. My avg carry is around 230 and give or take 10 yards per my skycaddie. Per my "majestic ball flight", what I mean is that it launches high looks like it's going to go for miles but then once it reaches it's apex just drops.

[flatom]

The faster you swing etc. Not necessarily. You can swing fast and have an ascending angle of attack which lessens backspin. The best drives are hit on the upper third of the face and with an angle of attack of +2 or+3

The degree of the head is only part of the equation. You need to factor in club speed and launch angle because the

[eltigre-21]

i was using a 10.5 loft and just switched to a 9.5 with an upgraded shaft and i swing exactly the same and i have gained about 20 to 30 yards. my ball flight was a lot more true and the trajectory was a lot better

[Yukari]

I used 7.5* Titleist 975D until I traded in for 9* Titleist 909 D2. I can control my shots a lot more with 909, but 975D was and still is one of the best drivers Titleist made. I had both 975D and 909 D2 tested with a monitor. Both gave a similar launch angle and spin. so just because you have a lower loft does not mean it will give you a lower trajectory.

You should look at the launch angle and spin rate before making any decision. Just because the ball flight looks good visually does not necessarily mean it is at an optimal launch angle and spin rate.

I wouldn't trust anyone who says switch loft without backing it up with data.

[MizunoPlayer]

The faster you swing etc. Not necessarily. You can swing fast and have an ascending angle of attack which lessens backspin. The best drives are hit on the upper third of the face and with an angle of attack of +2 or+3

If you hit any club on the down swing (meaning descending blow) you will put much more backspin on the ball which will cause the ball to go much higher. If you read my post fully, you will see that I said while hitting a driver, you should hit it on the upswing which will in turn launch the ball and have less backspin.

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

Currently, my drive swing averages:

Ball Speed: 129
Backspin: 3271
Launch 12* with a 10.5* driver
Club Head: 90

Is the only way to increase distance with these numbers is to increase club head speed?

[Leftygolfer]

Currently, my drive swing averages:

I believe you need to be launching the ball higher. Those are great for the 170 180 ball speed specs but when the ball speed is less you have to launch it higher than 12 degrees to get the most out of your drives.

[flatom]

I disagree, a higher launch angle has its point of diminishing returns. Just as one can launch it too low, also one can launch it too high.

Ideally, one should get on a launch monitor and get fitted. One wants a +2 or more ascending angle of attack and hit the ball on the upper third of the center of the clubface to have optimum results. If one cannot do that simple thing, nothing else is going to work.

I believe you need to be launching the ball higher. Those are great for the 170 180 ball speed specs but when the ball speed is less you have to launch it higher than 12 degrees to get the most out of your drives.

[flatom]

I agree but that's not what you said originally.

If you hit any club on the down swing (meaning descending blow) you will put much more backspin on the ball which will cause the ball to go much higher. If you read my post fully, you will see that I said while hitting a driver, you should hit it on the upswing which will in turn launch the ball and have less backspin.