Need some loft advice

[Cannon]

Hello.  Long time reader and first time poster.  I'll try to be as brief as I can.

I'm trying to figure what degree my driver should be.  I've been playing for 2 and a half years now.  I started with a 10 degree driver and would slice wayyy to much.  I switched to a 13 degree driver last year because my swing speed was slow and I thought it would help.  My distance suffered, but I no longer slice.  I realize 13 degree might have been overkill.

So, today I tested my swing speed....about 87.  The guy at the pro shop said probably a 10.5 or 11 degree would be best.

Here is/are my thoughts.  Is there a big difference in a half degree?  I mean, a 10 degree I sliced bad.  He said he'd probably go with 10.5.  I'd hate to buy a 10.5 and feel like I should have gone with 11.  Or would I be okay with 10.5 and it give me that much more distance than an 11?

FWIW, I currently swing a Callaway FT-IQ I mix, 13 degree, which I love, but just costs me too much on distance.  But, I can buy an I-mix head and take the shaft out of this equation.

Sorry if that was rambling.  I love this forum and have learned so much in the last 2 years just reading.  I'd really value y'all's opinion.

[Harmonious]

Maybe someone else can find the chart that shows the optimal launch angle for various swing speeds but, if I recall, at your swing speed a 13° driver is better.  You want something like a 15° launch angle.

[xmanhockey7]

It's not so much about your club head speed as it is figuring out your ball speed and finding a driver/shaft combo that give you a high launch and low spin. I know someone with 110MPH club head speed who uses a 13.5* driver. And even with that much loft he's just under what is considered optimum launch angle.

[Cannon]

Should have added....with a 10 degree driver, I slice a lot, but can hit it 240-250 when I hit it straight.  A 13 degree driver, I hit it  about 210 but straight all the time.

The drivers and shafts are the same. I was thinking of switching lofts, but didn't know how low I could go and keep the same control. And I didn't want to buy both a 10.5 and an 11.

[Stretch]

Can't really give you anything more than a rough estimate because we don't know: your angle of attack (whether you hit down or up on the ball), your impact conditions (whether you add loft to the club face by letting the head pass the hands before impact).

But that said, for a theoretical golfer with a 90 mph swing speed and a level angle of attack, a 13 degree driver would be just about right. And at that swing speed, a good shot should carry about 210 yards. So you seem to be doing OK.

[Cannon]

Not sure if this is what you mean, but from my print out today....I was using a 7 iron on the machine.  But angle of attack was .8 inches.  I know my hands are in front of the ball upon impact.

It's just frustrated when I drive the same as my dad, who is 23 years older with a slower swing speed and hitting a 10 degree driver with the same flex as me.  (I'm hitting the 13 degree).

Just feel like since I'm not accurate but longer with my 10, I should play the 10 anyway.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Cannon

Not sure if this is what you mean, but from my print out today....I was using a 7 iron on the machine.  But angle of attack was .8 inches.  I know my hands are in front of the ball upon impact.

It's just frustrated when I drive the same as my dad, who is 23 years older with a slower swing speed and hitting a 10 degree driver with the same flex as me.  (I'm hitting the 13 degree).

Just feel like since I'm not accurate but longer with my 10, I should play the 10 anyway.

Can you clarify that? Angle of Attack isn't measured in inches. How do you "know" your hands are in front of the ball at impact?

[Cannon]

The stats they gave me were this.  Sorry if it doesn't make sense.  Oh, and I was swinging a 7 iron.

Hit Distance (yds) 140

Club Speed (mph) 71

Ball speed (mph) 105.1

Swing temp (sec) 2.2

Right of center (yds) 9.8

Right of path (yds) 4.2

Toe/heel heights (in)

OUT      IN

TOE       1.0

HEEL       .6

Face Angle:  Open  2.5 degrees

Swing Path   OUT-IN 2 degrees

Angle of attach  .8 (in)

Sweet spot  .3

[Topper]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Can't really give you anything more than a rough estimate because we don't know: your angle of attack (whether you hit down or up on the ball), your impact conditions (whether you add loft to the club face by letting the head pass the hands before impact).

But that said, for a theoretical golfer with a 90 mph swing speed and a level angle of attack, a 13 degree driver would be just about right. And at that swing speed, a good shot should carry about 210 yards. So you seem to be doing OK.

+1

That's me to a tee.  90 mph (plus or minus) with a low level sweep with the driver.  I tee the ball relatively low.  I routinely carry about 220 plus whatever roll I get.  My longest last weekend was 256 on the gps with some roll out.  I have been really good at keeping the ball in play lately so I'm reluctant to change anything at the moment.  Now for my approach shots...that's a another story.

[Cannon]

I went in to have my swing tested and thinking of switching from a 13 to a 11 or 12.  The guy that fitted me said I needed a 10.5.

I guess I am just plain frustrated.   I'm thinking I could get back a little of that distance by going down a degree or two......he thinks I should go down 2.5 degrees....and everything I read on the internet says I need to stay at 13.

[Cannon]

an addendum......just checked something on my two drivers.  I know this is stupid, but I assumed they were the same shaft.  They weren't.  The lower loft is a 50 gram, while the 13 degree is a 60.  I'm assuming the lighter one could have aided in my slice?

Am I right on this?  Sorry for my ignorance.