“ The average launch monitor has more than 20 data points on both ball and club information, which can be overwhelming.”
“ The average launch monitor has more than 20 data points on both ball and club information, which can be overwhelming.”
ball will have no curve. If the face-to-path relationship is closed, the ball will have draw spin; if the relationship is open, the ball will have fade spin.
BALL DATA Launch Direction: The initial movement of the ball, left or right, of the target measured in degrees. Assuming a center strike, face angle is mostly responsible for the launch direction with a minor influence from the path.
Curve Distance: Assuming a center strike, the face-to-path relationship is mostly responsible for creating curve. The further apart the two data parameters are, the more the ball will curve.
Spin Axis: Spin axis is the measurement of the tilt of the ball as it travels through the air. An axis close to zero means the ball will not spin off the target line, with the curve increasing the further the spin axis gets from zero.
Lateral Landing or Side: This measurement tells the player how far off the target line the ball landed in yards, left or right.
DATA PARAMETERS FOR DISTANCE AND TRAJECTORY CONTROL CLUB DATA Club Speed: This refers to the speed of the club head in miles per hour as it strikes the golf ball.
Smash Factor: This is ball speed divided by club speed and is determined by an algorithm. A player should strive for the 1.50 threshold on the driver, then the smash gradually drops with each club.
Angle of Attack: This refers to the vertical movement of the club head as it strikes the ball, measured in degrees positive or negative. A negative attack angle would be a club traveling downward at the strike, which is ideal for irons and wedges; a positive attack angle would be a club traveling upward at the strike, which is ideal for a driver. Faster swing speed players can have a more negative attack angle with irons and still produce the necessary ball height, but slower swing players need to be careful with hitting down on the ball too much.
Dynamic Loft: The loft angle in motion as the player strikes the ball is the dynamic loft. For maximizing distance, the dynamic loft for irons and wedges should be less than the static loft. The dynamic loft of a driver should be higher than the static loft.
Spin Loft: Spin loft is approximately the angle between the dynamic loft and the attack angle. A higher spin loft will create a higher spin rate and a lower smash factor, leading to a drop-off in distance. A lower spin loft leads to more compression and improved distance.
Low Point: The low point is the location the club head reaches its lowest arc. If the attack angle is negative, such as with an iron, then the low point is just after the strike; if the attack angle is positive, such as with a driver, then the low point is just before the strike.
BALL DATA Ball Speed: This refers to the speed of the golf ball in miles per hour as it leaves the club face.
Launch Angle: The launch angle is the movement of the ball off the face on a vertical scale, measured in degrees. This is heavily influenced by the dynamic loft, as the ball leaves the face near the same number as the dynamic loft.
Spin Rate: This refers to the amount of spin on the ball immediately after impact, measured in revolutions per minute( rpm). The ideal spin rate for a driver shot is in the 2,000s, and for a 7-iron in the 7,000s. Controlling the spin rate is critical for influencing the distance and trajectory, especially in windy conditions.
Apex Height: The peak height of the golf ball is measured in feet, and is a significant indication of how far the ball will travel in yards. Carry loss often occurs when the peak height begins to drop below the level of the other clubs. A faster swing speed player has more potential for ball height than a slower player.
Landing Angle: After the ball reaches its peak height, the landing is the measurement of the angle of descent. For an iron, an ideal landing angle would be 45-50 degrees to allow the ball to hold the green. For a driver, an ideal landing angle would be around 40 degrees to accommodate for more roll and maximum total distance.
Carry Distance: This is the distance the ball traveled in the air, measured in yards. vsga. org M ARCH / A PRIL 2026 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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