Swing Numbers

[Mattmccain15]

1 hour ago, 1badbadger said:

Congratulations on your low round...that's awesome!

The situation with your driver is pretty common.  Many players struggle with consistency and often hit their 3 wood almost as far or farther than their driver.  The reason is usually because the driver has the longest shaft and the least amount of loft.  A 3 wood is about 2-2.5" shorter and has more loft (most are around 15*) so it's easier to hit solid because of the shorter length and the higher loft produces a better trajectory.  

I can say from years of analyzing player's launch data that almost everyone launches their driver too low.  It ranges anywhere between "just slightly lower than ideal" to "way too low", plus based on the information you provided, I can say with confidence that a higher lofted driver would help.  I also think a shorter shaft would help.  Realistically, if you can't hit it worth a flip now, and it's to the point that you're not even attempting to hit it (and scoring better as a result of leaving it in the bag) that simply going to a heavier weight shaft or a stiffer flex isn't going to make much of a difference.

Let me make a suggestion...get the specs checked on your 3 wood.  Have the length measured, have the flex of the shaft checked and find out how heavy it is.  Don't just look at what flex is printed on the shaft, especially if it's a stock factory type shaft...have a shop with a frequency analyzer check it.  Also, remember that shafts labeled something like 70-x or 80-x does not mean it's actually 70g or 80g...it could be 71g or it could be 78g, so don't just assume.

Knowing the length, flex, loft and shaft weight of your 3 wood is important because it's a club we know you hit really well, so it gives you a base to work from.  Now, before you disregard my next suggestion, hear me out.  If your current driver is like a 9.5* or 10.5* or something like that, seriously consider moving to at least a 12* head.  I know, I know...just go with me on this, and this is for everyone who is in the same situation...don't let ego get in the way.  You just played a round of golf and teed off with a 15* club, right?  And played awesome.  But a lot of guys have a problem with the concept of a 12* or 12.5* driver. 10 years ago if you had told me I would be playing a 12* driver I would have told you you're crazy, but guess what?  I'm playing a 12* driver and wished I had done it sooner.  If you're hitting your 3 wood almost the same distance as your driver, a shorter shaft and more loft will help.  I suggest making the driver 1" to no more than 1.5" longer than your 3 wood.  This should be around 44 - 44.5".  When you go with a shorter shaft, I like to move up in weight as well.  Then I would recommend matching the flex to your 3 wood, whatever that happens to be.

If you have any questions or concerns about this information, let me know and I'll be happy to respond.  

Thanks for all of the advice. My problem is that my launch is too high and all my shots with my driver ballon and go to the right. I can hit draws with my hybrid and 3 wood that have x flex shafts but with my driver it always goes high and right and I can't seem to figure it out. I don't know how much of an impact  flex or shaft weight really has, but I don't think it's too big of a swing issue or not hitting the center of the club face, since I've checked with impact tape. 

 

4 hours ago, Lihu said:

Wow, nice job on the 77!

What are your other clubs? Shafts, flex, head etc.

Do you have the same tempo with the other clubs, and it works for those?

I have Nike vapor fly pro irons with project x 6.5 shafts, a taylormade m2 hybrid and 3 wood with the stock x flex shafts and the driver that I can't seem to figure out. I do use the same tempo with all my clubs and it seems to work fine with all but the driver.

[Lihu]

Just now, Mattmccain15 said:

Thanks for all of the advice. My problem is that my launch is too high and all my shots with my driver ballon and go to the right. I can hit draws with my hybrid and 3 wood that have x flex shafts but with my driver it always goes high and right and I can't seem to figure it out. I don't know how much of an impact  flex or shaft weight really has, but I don't think it's too big of a swing issue or not hitting the center of the club face, since I've checked with impact tape. 

 

I have Nike vapor fly pro irons with project x 6.5 shafts, a taylormade m2 hybrid and 3 wood with the stock x flex shafts and the driver that I can't seem to figure out. I do use the same tempo with all my clubs and it seems to work fine with all but the driver.

What @1badbadger advised is generally good advice. He really knows what he's talking about.

In this particular case, I find it strange that your longest club has the weakest flex?

Try a club fitter to get fit properly for the driver?

Also, is there a way to slow down your transition?

[1badbadger]

11 minutes ago, Mattmccain15 said:

Thanks for all of the advice. My problem is that my launch is too high and all my shots with my driver ballon and go to the right. I can hit draws with my hybrid and 3 wood that have x flex shafts but with my driver it always goes high and right and I can't seem to figure it out. I don't know how much of an impact  flex or shaft weight really has, but I don't think it's too big of a swing issue or not hitting the center of the club face, since I've checked with impact tape. 

 

I don't think you're launching it too high Matt...I think you're spinning the ball too much. What can happen is the excessive spin causes the ball to climb high, so in an effort to bring it down players either tee the ball lower or hit down on it which actually exaggerates the problem.  It creates an even lower launch and higher spin.  So I don't doubt that you are seeing the ball high in the air, but it's not due to the launch.  I think this is what's happening:

11 minutes ago, Lihu said:

What @1badbadger advised is generally good advice. He really knows what he's talking about.

In this particular case, I find it strange that your longest club has the weakest flex?

Try a club fitter to get fit properly for the driver?

Also, is there a way to slow down your transition?

Thank you @Lihu...I appreciate that.

[Mattmccain15]

21 minutes ago, 1badbadger said:

I don't think you're launching it too high Matt...I think you're spinning the ball too much. What can happen is the excessive spin causes the ball to climb high, so in an effort to bring it down players either tee the ball lower or hit down on it which actually exaggerates the problem.  It creates an even lower launch and higher spin.  So I don't doubt that you are seeing the ball high in the air, but it's not due to the launch.  I think this is what's happening:

Thank you @Lihu...I appreciate that.

I'm not sure what the ideal launch angle should be but I know mine is around 13-14 and I also have high spin as well.

[1badbadger]

1 hour ago, Mattmccain15 said:

I'm not sure what the ideal launch angle should be but I know mine is around 13-14 and I also have high spin as well.

Gotcha.  

I went back through the thread and saw the posts where you mentioned your swing speed is in the low 120s, launch angle around 13*, backspin under 3000 rpms, impact tape indicates you are hitting the ball on the sweet spot, and you've never played with anyone who can consistently out-drive you.  

So when you say "I can't hit my driver to save my life" I'm a little confused.  It could be a shaft weight/flex issue.

[Mattmccain15]

1 hour ago, 1badbadger said:

Gotcha.  

I went back through the thread and saw the posts where you mentioned your swing speed is in the low 120s, launch angle around 13*, backspin under 3000 rpms, impact tape indicates you are hitting the ball on the sweet spot, and you've never played with anyone who can consistently out-drive you.  

So when you say "I can't hit my driver to save my life" I'm a little confused.  It could be a shaft weight/flex issue.

I swing hard and have a pretty quick swing speed and whenever I hit a straight drive it goes farther than anyone I've ever played with, the problem is it doesn't seem to happen very often. On some simulators like the one that gave me those numbers, it had a relatively straight ball flight but after playing a few rounds it's been the opposite on the course. Especially within the last couple weeks it's gotten so bad I don't even have my driver in the bag. I really do wish I could hit it as good as my 3 wood and other clubs, but before spending $300+ on a new driver I wanted to see what yalls thoughts were on how much effect shaft weight and flex could actually be making. 

[Buckeyebowman]

7 hours ago, 1badbadger said:

I don't think you're launching it too high Matt...I think you're spinning the ball too much. What can happen is the excessive spin causes the ball to climb high, so in an effort to bring it down players either tee the ball lower or hit down on it which actually exaggerates the problem.  It creates an even lower launch and higher spin.  So I don't doubt that you are seeing the ball high in the air, but it's not due to the launch.  I think this is what's happening:

Thank you @Lihu...I appreciate that.

I think this ^. Many times those pop ups to the right are caused by too much spin and not quite getting the clubhead squared up at impact. Try an experiment. At the range tee the ball high (rest the driver head on the ground, and tee the ball high enough so that the logo is even with the top of the face), and "sweep" it off the tee. You can do this either by starting with the driver head on the ground, or by "hovering" it above the ground. Also, maybe try closing the face a couple of degrees. Do some different things and see if they make a difference.

If you still get the high right fade, it could be a shaft problem

[1badbadger]

1 hour ago, Mattmccain15 said:

I swing hard and have a pretty quick swing speed and whenever I hit a straight drive it goes farther than anyone I've ever played with, the problem is it doesn't seem to happen very often. On some simulators like the one that gave me those numbers, it had a relatively straight ball flight but after playing a few rounds it's been the opposite on the course. Especially within the last couple weeks it's gotten so bad I don't even have my driver in the bag. I really do wish I could hit it as good as my 3 wood and other clubs, but before spending $300+ on a new driver I wanted to see what yalls thoughts were on how much effect shaft weight and flex could actually be making. 

I think shaft weight and flex can make all the difference in the world.  If the shaft in your driver is too soft and too light (it's a 60g stiff, correct?) re-shafting it with a 75g x-stiff would make it a completely different club.  I'm just using that as an example.  The reason you are struggling with your driver probably has more to do with the shaft than the head.

If you like the way it looks and sounds, invest in a good shaft.  I would rather see you spend $150-200 in a nice shaft that fits you than $300 for a new driver with a stock factory shaft.  If you don't like the head for whatever reason, don't spend the money to re-shaft it...trade it for something else.

[Mattmccain15]

18 minutes ago, 1badbadger said:

I think shaft weight and flex can make all the difference in the world.  If the shaft in your driver is too soft and too light (it's a 60g stiff, correct?) re-shafting it with a 75g x-stiff would make it a completely different club.  I'm just using that as an example.  The reason you are struggling with your driver probably has more to do with the shaft than the head.

If you like the way it looks and sounds, invest in a good shaft.  I would rather see you spend $150-200 in a nice shaft that fits you than $300 for a new driver with a stock factory shaft.  If you don't like the head for whatever reason, don't spend the money to re-shaft it...trade it for something else.

I like the head so maybe a new shaft would be better than buying a new club. What are some good shafts that you would recommend?

[Lihu]

7 hours ago, Mattmccain15 said:

I like the head so maybe a new shaft would be better than buying a new club. What are some good shafts that you would recommend?

A good club fitter will have that information.

[ygmondoux]

On 2017-02-07 at 3:00 AM, Mattmccain15 said:

I went to the PGA Superstore near my house and hit some balls with my driver on the practice simulators they have. I've always been skeptical about how accurate they are. I usually hit it farther than this during my rounds, but if these numbers are accurate, what should I do to get more distance with my driver. I feel like I should be able to hit it farther than this.

Those numbers makes no sense, either the simulator is broken and it's almost a pop fly (very high on the club face). With that swing speed you should be in 190mph ball speed range on a good contact regardless of your swing or equipment. This is simple physics. Something is not right.