Study: More Driver Loft = More Yards
Sunday October 19, 2003
A big problem with the driver for many recreational golfers is too little loft. The feeling is that you don't want the ball going too high, because then it doesn't roll as much. And, therefore, it's better to have less loft. Turns out that thinking is completely wrong. A study conducted by Golf Digest shows that more loft on the driver equals more yards for nearly all recreational players.
If you have clubhead speed that matches or exceeds that of the pros, then you can get away with playing an 8- or 9-degree driver. But only a tiny fraction of us have that clubhead speed. The rest of us probably need a driver with a loft of at least 11 degrees.
The study appears in the November issue of Golf Digest. Unfortunately, it is not yet posted online (there's no guarantee that Golf Digest will post the article online, but if they do, it will be linked on this page).
The crux of the article is that more hangtime with your driver generally means more yards, even though that seems counterintuitive to many golfers. One story told is how the long-drive champions use stopwatches in practice to time how long the ball is in the air. If the long drivers recognize the importance of hangtime, that's a good indicator.
The study examined driver distances at different swing speeds ranging from 65 mph up to 115 mph, and with driver lofts of 9-, 11-, 14- and 16-degrees. For most golfers, it turns out, adding loft to the driver increases driver distance by an average of 10 yards.
At 65 mph, the 16-degree driver was the longest; at 75 mph, the 16-degree again; at 85 mph, the 11-degree was longest (and the 9-degree was the shortest at each level up to this point); at 95 mph, 11-degrees was longest and 14-degrees second-best; at 105 mph, 11-degrees was longest; at 115 mph, 11-degrees was longest.
So if you're one of those golfers carrying a 7.5-degree driver or even a 9-degree driver, do yourself a favor and add loft.
I highly recommended picking up the November Golf Digest and reading this very interesting article.
If you have clubhead speed that matches or exceeds that of the pros, then you can get away with playing an 8- or 9-degree driver. But only a tiny fraction of us have that clubhead speed. The rest of us probably need a driver with a loft of at least 11 degrees.
The study appears in the November issue of Golf Digest. Unfortunately, it is not yet posted online (there's no guarantee that Golf Digest will post the article online, but if they do, it will be linked on this page).
The crux of the article is that more hangtime with your driver generally means more yards, even though that seems counterintuitive to many golfers. One story told is how the long-drive champions use stopwatches in practice to time how long the ball is in the air. If the long drivers recognize the importance of hangtime, that's a good indicator.
The study examined driver distances at different swing speeds ranging from 65 mph up to 115 mph, and with driver lofts of 9-, 11-, 14- and 16-degrees. For most golfers, it turns out, adding loft to the driver increases driver distance by an average of 10 yards.
At 65 mph, the 16-degree driver was the longest; at 75 mph, the 16-degree again; at 85 mph, the 11-degree was longest (and the 9-degree was the shortest at each level up to this point); at 95 mph, 11-degrees was longest and 14-degrees second-best; at 105 mph, 11-degrees was longest; at 115 mph, 11-degrees was longest.
So if you're one of those golfers carrying a 7.5-degree driver or even a 9-degree driver, do yourself a favor and add loft.
I highly recommended picking up the November Golf Digest and reading this very interesting article.
Comments
Thank you very much for this driver loft information. I am going to buy a Nickent 4DX driver with a UST V2 stiff shaft and I was debating between the 9-degree and the 10.5-degree loft. I have a swing speed of 95-97 mph. Your article has steered me toward the 10.5. Thanks again.
Your article helped me very much. I just purchased, online, a new Callaway driver but realized I selected the 16 degree loft. I am 50/female and after more distance. Now I don’t think I made a mistake afterall!
Thank you! I found this article extremely helpful. I swing a 11.5 degree TaylorMade R7. I’m often “teased”, or better yet…”coached” by some of my playing partners that I shouldn’t be playing with such a lofted driver. Funny…seeing as how I normally outdrive them by 15 - 25 yards. : - ) Now I see why. : - )
I’ve been playing now for 14 years and though I don’t have an “official” handicap, I shot about 78,79. That said, I just changed from my Titleist 8.5 to an 11.5 and I’m hitting it just as long buy with a twist, i’m keeping it in play!!!!