Why is launch angle important in maximizing distance?

     We all want to hit our drivers as far as possible. Obviously clubhead speed and center face contact are the two most important factors, but launch angle and spin rate also play an important role.

     Launch angle is the angle the ball flies as it leaves the club face. The optimum launch angle for each player depends on their club head speed. The faster the club head speed the lower the ball should launch. The slower the club head speed the higher the ball should launch. Let me give you an analogy to help explain why. You are watering a flower bed with your garden hose and the water pressure is at its highest. You are twenty feet from the bed so with a powerful stream of water you can hold the nozzle at a relatively low angle. If your turned the water pressure down by a third you would have to raise the angle of the nozzle in order to reach the flower bed. You are adjusting the angle of the nozzle according to the amount of water pressure you have. Think of club head speed the same way you think of water pressure.
    The average club head speed on the PGA Tour is 113 MPH with a launch angle of 10.9 degrees and spin rate of 2686 RPM. The average player I fit in my shop swings between 80 and 90 MPH.
Those players need to launch the ball between 13 and 15 degrees with a spin rate under 3,100 RPM.
By finding the right shaft and loft combination players can maximize their distance and improve their shot dispersion.
     When in the market for a new driver or fairway woods seek out a qualified professional that utilizes a launch monitor. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.