The loft on your driver is a key factor that helps determine the success of your tee shots on longer holes. Ever since a 2003 golf digest study said that most golfers needed more loft on their drivers, the quest for the correct loft has heated up. She instantly increased her carry distance to 215 yards with the same. In fact, swings often got the most distance with driver lofts at 9 degrees or less. As you can see, there is a fairly linear progression taking place. They hit low, flat drives that rely on roll to achieve the overall distance they desire, often. For example, a driver is designed for distance, so the club face is almost straight up and down. Thats why were here with a couple of effective tips to get a major distance boost with your irons. An appropriate loft choice will maximize your distance. Its still true that golfers who swing less than 80 mph would likely. The club fitter will analyze your swing speed and angle of attack to help determine the optimal loft for your driver. Title charlie rymer demonstrates what happens when you change your loft on an adjustable driver. If you are a beginner golfer we would typically recommend a driver with a high loft angle of between 1214 if you are looking to add extra distance as the.
I hear from older golfers all the time that they hit the driver dead straight every time but it only goes 200 yards. Sixteen years ago, golf digest presented compelling evidence that average golfers needed to use drivers with more loft to maximize distancesometimes as much as 12, 14 or 16 degrees. In terms of maximizing carry distance, the 80 mph swinger should be hitting a 5wood off the tee, although they would then not benefit from the much larger club face area and forgiveness. But although we can say for sure that most golfers need more.
Understanding golf club loft can improve performance on the course. The loft of your driver will govern your launch angle and companies have made it a priority to make this as accommodating as possible. Optimize driver loft for more distance true fit clubs. When it comes to golf club heads, each head is numbered differently according to its degree of loft. Both are critical to swinging a golf club with any sort of power. Counter to what you mightve been told, less loft could be the key to distance, our research shows.
An extensive array of lofts is offered in drivers to deliver the ideal launch angle. It is very important to note the above chart offers the optimum driver loft for maximum carry distance. How to determine which loft you should get on your driver. The relationship between driver loft and distance varies based on the golfer. When a golf ball is launched from a club, it follows a trajectory dictated by its speed, launch angle and spin rate. Getting the right loft on your driver is crucial to maximise distance. The loft of a club or a driver can range anywhere between 7 degrees to 20 degrees. So doesnt it add to the argument that if you use the driver that was the 11. Ifwhen your fairways are mowed very short, or are hard, firm and more conducive to roll, the driver loft which will result in the most total distance will be between 1 to 1.
While some drivers will work for most people, variables such as swing speed and swing arc can make a difference. How adjustable drivers can fix your swing flaw golf digest. For example, most golfers assume that getting a lower loft on their driver will increase distance. Selecting the correct driver loft golficity golf podcast. The combination of the driver head and shaft is crucial.
With most other clubs, were concerned about distance control, while with the driver we usually just want to get as much distance as we can. If you search the web for tables matching swing speed to loft. This is because at higher ball speeds, there is considerably more lift created which allows the ball to climb rapidly after impact. Golf monthly looks at the different elements of a golf swing that affect the loft you should play on your driver. Feb, 2019 either way, its no secret an increase in distance is a huge advantage and were not just talking about the driver. Drivers are designed to maximize the balls carry distance, so a driver s loft angle ranges from 8 to degrees, depending on the specific brand or model of driver. Given a choice between a longer ball flight and a longer roll, remember that the roll is less predictable. In comparison, a pitching wedge is designed for loft, so the club face is more parallel to. However, with the driver, this trend could be costing the senior golfer countless yards and accuracy.
The more loft i add to the driver, the farther i can carry the ball. You get just as much of an edge by gaining iron distance. Dan answers more question this time talking driver loft and how understanding your delivery and what loft might give you the best numbers for your golf game can help you hit more fairways with the. Whenever you step up to the tee, your driver needs to provide distance, trajectory and control. If driver accuracy is not a problem for you, get a longer shaft.
How senior golfers can increase distance swing surgeon. Long drive competitors have drivers that have only 4 to 7. Choose a driver with higher lofts if your swing speeds tends to be low. Comparatively, if a golfer hits down on the ball five degrees and presents 15 degrees of dynamic loft so 20 degrees apart in total, they wont get the lowspin numbers they desire. Set it to the lowest loft and the face will be open. This middle range is ideal for golf players with a good swing speed that ranges between 90 mph to 115 mph. An average driver loft if you are unsure would typically be a 10. We test three different lofts in the same head model and shaft. One of the biggest trends seniors fall into is selecting a driver with a lower loft, the theory being the lower. Either way, its no secret an increase in distance is a huge advantage and were not just talking about the driver. You can have it measured by a golf pro, or do it yourself with a smartphone app. Correct loft for a golf driver golf tips and tricks golfweek. See how an online golf lesson with michael can help your golf game. While this is true for all clubs, the discussion properly centers around the driver.
Try adding 1 a longer shaft means more width and more swing speed from your driver. All else being equal, the more lofted your driver, the higher and straighter your shots will fly. Tips for changing your loft on an adjustable driver golf. A 12 driver is a better choice for a beginner golfer as the higher degree of loft will help them hit the ball at a higher angle.
This calculator has been updated to include carry distances and total distances for drivers of different lofts and different club speeds. What is the correct driver loft for the average senior golfer video by dean butler i get asked quite a lot about the loft of a driver, whats correct for the senior golfer. A golfer whose technique adds loft at impact, so creating even more dynamic loft, wont necessarily benefit from a higherlofted driver. So in order to determine your ideal driver loft, you have to first start by correctly assessing your swing something that can be done at most golf stores. Aug 25, 2015 set the driver to the highest loft and youll see a closed face.
In general, the slower the swing or club speed, the higher the loft of the driver to optimize both carry and roll. Increase your driver distance and start playing better golf. Most golfers play drivers with too little loft, and for that reason i recommend they visit. In the previous segment of this blog, we discussed hitting the ball on the sweet spot in order to optimize your smash factor or efficiency. Set the driver to the highest loft and youll see a closed face. Learn the simple tips, tactics, and drills that you can use to increase your driver distance, hit more fairways, and start playing better golf. Originally, swing speed was considered the determining factor in choosing loft. A low liner is usually the result of hitting down on the ball and using a driver without enough loft.
But although we can say for sure that most golfers need more loft than they now use, the exact amount depends on several different aspects of their swings. Driverball position and tee height can both affect how your driver performs. The complete guide to maximizing driver distance practical golf. As we age, our bodies slow down and we lose flexibility.
Create optimum launch angle and spin rate for maximum distance. Most drivers will allow considerable setting adjustments for improved performance and distance. If youre going to spend money on a new driver, then you might as well take advantage of the. If you drive the ball 155 yards, your speed is roughly 60 mph. Golfsmith suggests that golfers who swing between 110 and 120 miles per hour should use a driver with a loft of seven to 10 degrees.
Note that the maximum carry is about 167 yards for a driver loft of 19 degrees which is the loft of a 2iron and 5wood. Most likely, you are using a driver with around 11 of loft, while your three wood has somewhere around 15 of loft. When she started playing golf seriously, six years ago, she used a driver with 9 degrees of loft and could carry the ball about 170 yards. The real point of contention in the driverloft debate comes down. We all want to increase our distance with the driver. Depending on the performance level and swing speed of the senior golfer in question the best driver loft for senior golfers should be somewhere between 10. Generally the more loft a club has, the higher the ball will travel in the air. I will bookmark your site for a future visit, and should you ever need it, there is plenty of information on this site about golf tips. But, even if we cant hit the ball as far as we did 5, 10, or 20 years ago, we can utilize the proper equipment in order to offset the decrease in clubhead speed. Distance shows that i ended up a little off base, but i am certainly glad i stopped by. Driver ball position and tee height can both affect how your driver performs. The best way to get to a more ideal launch angle of 12 degrees or even higher is increasing. Alternatively, the average amateur golfer will have a swing speed somewhere between 60 and 100 mph depending on.
And its basically you cant just say thats the loft. First, try to assess the speed at which you swing your driver. Apr 15, 2019 dan answers more question this time talking driver loft and how understanding your delivery and what loft might give you the best numbers for your golf game can help you hit more fairways with the. Nov 08, 2017 golf monthly looks at the different elements of a golf swing that affect the amount of loft you should play on your driver. If possible, go to a pro shop and have a professional club fitter determine the best loft for your driver. Dec, 2012 one thing that most senior golfers struggle with is distance. How to increase your driver distance free online golf tips. Professional golf ball engineer director of swing instruction, instant golf there is a revolution on the pga tour regarding correct driver loft and golf ball selection for max distance and accuracy. As well cover in more detail later in this post, there isnt a one size fits all approach to finding the best driver loft for distance and this has a lot to do with club head speed of players of differing ability affecting the desired loft required. As the swing speed decreases by increments of 10, the loft on the driver should increase by one degree, so a golfer who swings at 90 mph should use a loft of 10 to degrees. One of the biggest trends seniors fall into is selecting a driver with a lower loft, the theory being the lower the loft the more distance can be achieved. Most seniors could increase the amount of distance they achieve with a driver if they. We look at driver lofts and how it makes a difference to the launch of.
Golf driver loft distance, degrees, and best club selection. If you know how far you can hit your golf clubs, then you are much more likely to land where you expect. What is the correct driver loft for the average senior golfer. Learn from a 2star pga professional how to increase your distance and smash drives. While the majority of golfers dont have enough loft on their driver and would benefit from more, for the others and those using differently designed. In general, this will be a spot that is slightly towards the toe and just above the center of the clubface. Even though the three wood has a smaller club head, you may hit it farther because the loft helps the ball stay in the air for as long as possible. If its a 10 degree driver, it will always be 10 degrees, no matter how you twist it. A customfit driver can easily give you 20 yards overnight. Learn what to look for in a driver to deliver a strong opening shot. Correct driver loft is determined by several factors.
Alternatively, estimate your speed based on how far you hit the ball. The best driver loft for distance so that is how things look for professionals on tour but for you the best driver loft for distance is totally dependent on your own individual game. Consider booking a custom driver fitting at your local. For many of you that might actually decrease your distance. This is particularly important when approaching the green, five yards can make the difference between a great shot and being in the bunker. Reduced loft creates a lower, more piercing flight. Learn the basics of teeing off so you can build a solid foundation for your golf game. Golf monthly looks at the different elements of a golf swing that affect the loft. If you know your club speed, you can determine what loft driver optimizes distance for your swing. The more angle on the club face, the greater the potential loft of the club. In this article and video, well examine how you can increase your driver distance in a very real and measurable way on the golf course.
A clubfitting specialist will measure the launch conditions of your drives and then suggest a particular combination of club loft, shaft flex and shaft weight etc. Greg rose and dave phillips discuss ways to increase your distance by optimizing spin loft through the use of launch monitor technology. That said, here are a few steps to help you determine the appropriate driver loft degree. If you have a mid swing speed of 95104 mph, a driver loft of between 1011. At the same time, balls dont tend to roll as far when theyre hit with a high trajectory. Jan 08, 2020 sixteen years ago, golf digest presented compelling evidence that average golfers needed to use drivers with more loft to maximize distancesometimes as much as 12, 14 or 16 degrees. It covers areas such as technique, golf fitness and customfitted clubs. What is the correct driver loft for the average senior golfer when choosing a driver, senior golfers should be careful to select the correct loft. Understanding those variables can help ensure selection of the proper driver and help golfers obtain the correct mix. Woods, ranging from a 2wood to a 5wood are also used for distance, but their loft angle is slightly greater than a driver. Optimize driver loft for more distance dlance golf. How to get more distance with irons the golftec scramble. More loft means numerically highera 12degree driver has more loft than a 9degree.
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