Club head speed calculator

[GixxerTed]

So im wondering.  What kind of club head speed is needed to achieve a 280 yard drive.  Ball speed? any kind of calculators out there besides going to a fitting at dicks or other place?  About 1 out of 5 of my drives go this far when hit well.  The others range in the 240-265 range but are always in play.

[Beachcomber]

This should answer it for you... Swing Speed - combined with your Attack Angle are two variables you will want to look at.

To get your attack angle up... Experiment with teeing the ball up and further toward your lead foot/toe to ensure you have an ascending blow.

[GixxerTed]

Awesome thanks.  I'm pretty sure my attack angle is 0 or - something cause i hit the ball low with my driver.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by GixxerTed

Awesome thanks.  I'm pretty sure my attack angle is 0 or - something cause i hit the ball low with my driver.

I see a lot of amateurs who tee their driver up far too low.  It could be as simple as experimenting with a tee setter to find the proper teeing height.  And then moving the low point further forward.

[GixxerTed]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I see a lot of amateurs who tee their driver up far too low.  It could be as simple as experimenting with a tee setter to find the proper teeing height.  And then moving the low point further forward.

Well i used to tee mine low when i was like a 12 handicap cause i would hit a high fade.  Since i now hit a draw 90% of the time the ball goes much lower with the driver but goes straight. I will try teeing the ball about half a ball up above my driver.  Ball position is fine. Its off my front heal.  I just havent ever had swing speed or anything measured and was just curious.  I play for score not for stats.

[Datsyuk]

Originally Posted by GixxerTed

So im wondering.  What kind of club head speed is needed to achieve a 280 yard drive.  Ball speed? any kind of calculators out there besides going to a fitting at dicks or other place?  About 1 out of 5 of my drives go this far when hit well.  The others range in the 240-265 range but are always in play.

I read somewhere the factor is about 2.5. Clubhead speed multiplied by 2.5 is about where a properly struck drive should usually end up, including typical roll, which probably means it's not on a rock hard fairway with unusually far rollout.

280 / 2.5 = 112

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

I read somewhere the factor is about 2.5. Clubhead speed multiplied by 2.5 is about where a properly struck drive should usually end up, including typical roll, which probably means it's not on a rock hard fairway with unusually far rollout.

280 / 2.5 = 112

The chart I have listed... You only need to swing it 105mph to hit is 280 (clean contact).

[smidey]

how have they calculated the run? my swing speed is a little over 100 with my driver and i mostly hit the first green on a local course that is 300m (330yds). Our fairways are hard with very little grass so maybe our courses give us more run?

[Datsyuk]

The chart I have listed... You only need to swing it 105mph to hit is 280 (clean contact).

Your chart didn't show up for me, but I see it now. It looks very clinical.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by smidey

how have they calculated the run? my swing speed is a little over 100 with my driver and i mostly hit the first green on a local course that is 300m (330yds). Our fairways are hard with very little grass so maybe our courses give us more run?

If you are truly hitting it 330yds... with say a 102mph swing speed... There could be a few factors.

1.) Elevation

2.) Dry / Hard pan for fairways/rough

3.) Wind assisted

4.) You have clean contact - with little wasted energy (center of the face - slightly above the sweet spot will launch higher and have less spin - the optimal spot to hit a drive for maximum distance)

The chart is one that was obtained from Trackman.  They have a highly accurate doppler radar, and many world class fitters, instructors and professionals are using it given its accuracy.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Your chart didn't show up for me, but I see it now. It looks very clinical.

I've used Trackman - as well as many other users on this site... And thousands of others that are far more qualified than the both of us combined to say the device is accurate.  So I'm not going to argue with their chart, no matter how clinical it is.

[Datsyuk]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I've used Trackman - as well as many other users on this site... And thousands of others that are far more qualified than the both of us combined to say the device is accurate.  So I'm not going to argue with their chart, no matter how clinical it is.

I'm not following your rant here - I threw out a number I've read from Golf Canada which is a way to estimate club head speed whereas you posted something much more detailed and probably more accurate since it includes 3 angles of attach? Would I have to say bunch of phoney thank you's or include smileys and stuff to not be considered argueing with you? Aren't you a ray of sunshine.

[hanalei]

If I read that chart correctly, more I ascend on the ball the less back spin I have? Boy did I think that wrong..gonna have to try this, I align to my left heel but have 0-negative AoA.

[Beachcomber]

If I read that chart correctly, more I ascend on the ball the less back spin I have? Boy did I think that wrong..gonna have to try this, I align to my left heel but have 0-negative AoA.

How do you know your AoA? Are you guessing? Or have you been on a launch monitor?

[hanalei]

I'm guessing by the flight of my ball. I have a relatively good initial trajectory then it curves up dramatically. I have an average swing speed around 97-103mph which I verified at a golf store about a year ago and only getting 220-240yards....

[k-troop]

The chart I have listed... You only need to swing it 105mph to hit is 280 (clean contact).

I'm not sure how they can calculate roll based on CHS or ball speed. The primary factor influencing roll is turf condition--has nothing to do with swing or contact.

[Beachcomber]

I'm not sure how they can calculate roll based on CHS or ball speed. The primary factor influencing roll is turf condition--has nothing to do with swing or contact.

My understanding from reading through some of the Trackman published documents, is that they took average tour conditions at Sea Level. Things like: temp, wind, length of turf under dry conditions were all considered. Remember, the tour lets the fairways dry out more-so than a typical club. So the roll-out being ~ 30yds on average - may only be 15 to 20yds for the average Joe playing muni ABC. These are guesstimates. We could argue about rollout all day long... I think what one should pay attention to - on any monitor used is swing speed, ball speed and carry distance. Those are typically what I look for as I know course conditions can vary.

[chilly]

I'm not sayign the chart is wrong at all, but I'd say it's optimistic.  Realize it's assuming perfection, 1.5 smash, spin, conditions, everything is good.......the 30yds of rollout indicates this.

I think something a bit more real world, although obviously on the top end of the scale, is to find a tour pro that has a 280yd average and find his swing speed.  Yeah, I know, tons of variables based on course conditions, how well he hit it, etc etc etc.....but that's the world we live in, variables.  A tour pro is about as close as we're going to get to a "robot" hitting the ball, so just work backwards.

Optimal, 105mph will get there.  In the real world, I'd say 110mph is more likely to do it with any consistency.