Driver Sweet Spot ?

[ronaldkuntoro]

Is it true that the sweetspot of modern driver is above the center?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Is it true that the sweetspot of modern driver is above the center?

Not really, no. It's still pretty much in the center, and perhaps even in the lower center with all the work companies do to lower the CG of drivers.

The reason people say that is because of the gear effect. A ball hit higher on the face will launch higher and with a bit less backspin, so you can technically miss the sweet spot but have better launch conditions.

Similar to this (made up numbers to illustrate what I'm saying):

Contact	Backspin	Launch Angle	Description
Sweet Spot	3800 RPM	9.7 Degrees	Ball comes out low, balloons up a little bit, and falls out of the sky.
High on Face	2700 RPM	12.2 Degrees	True "high launch, low spin" to maximize carry distance with a strong flight.

[westcyderydin]

sort of related to this:

if i have a good amount of forward shaft lean, does that help to hit the ball higher on the face with a driver?

[Steel]

If your driver shaft has forward lean you are either hitting down on the ball or delofting the face depending on angle you are striking the driver, if  are hitting down on the ball with your driver you will create back spin, making the ball "balloon" have your swing checked with the driver on a simulator, long and flat through the hitting area with a slight up swing is ideal, I strike at 0 deg, which is dead flat

[shortstop20]

Originally Posted by Steel

If your driver shaft has forward lean you are either hitting down on the ball or delofting the face depending on angle you are striking the driver, if  are hitting down on the ball with your driver you will create back spin, making the ball "balloon" have your swing checked with the driver on a simulator, long and flat through the hitting area with a slight up swing is ideal, I strike at 0 deg, which is dead flat

Every shot, unless it's topped, has backspin(excluding putts).........and that doesn't necessarily mean his shots will balloon.

[Deryck Griffith]

Originally Posted by iacas

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Is it true that the sweetspot of modern driver is above the center?

Not really, no. It's still pretty much in the center, and perhaps even in the lower center with all the work companies do to lower the CG of drivers.

The reason people say that is because of the gear effect. A ball hit higher on the face will launch higher and with a bit less backspin, so you can technically miss the sweet spot but have better launch conditions.

Similar to this (made up numbers to illustrate what I'm saying):

Contact

Backspin

Launch Angle

Description

Sweet Spot

3800 RPM

9.7 Degrees

Ball comes out low, balloons up a little bit, and falls out of the sky.

High on Face

2700 RPM

12.2 Degrees

True "high launch, low spin" to maximize carry distance with a strong flight.

It would be interesting to know the difference in ball speed (if any) between a ball hit square on the sweet spot vs. one slightly above it as per your chart above.

[ronaldkuntoro]

Originally Posted by iacas

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Is it true that the sweetspot of modern driver is above the center?

Not really, no. It's still pretty much in the center, and perhaps even in the lower center with all the work companies do to lower the CG of drivers.

The reason people say that is because of the gear effect. A ball hit higher on the face will launch higher and with a bit less backspin, so you can technically miss the sweet spot but have better launch conditions.

Similar to this (made up numbers to illustrate what I'm saying):

Contact

Backspin

Launch Angle

Description

Sweet Spot

3800 RPM

9.7 Degrees

Ball comes out low, balloons up a little bit, and falls out of the sky.

High on Face

2700 RPM

12.2 Degrees

True "high launch, low spin" to maximize carry distance with a strong flight.

What is the driver loft used for gathering these numbers?

[kpaulhus]

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Similar to this (made up numbers to illustrate what I'm saying):

What is the driver loft used for gathering these numbers?

here is your answer...