Driver loft question

[kinhell]

Why do the pro's use 8.5 degree or less drivers when I thought a slightly higher launch angle would get the ball the further down the fairway as it's in the air longer?

 

[john0]

It's all about launch angles. If someone with a fast swing has too much loft the ball will go too high and balloon therefore losing distance. It's a case of getting the right loft for your swing which gives the best launch angle in order to maximise distance

 

[Aztecs27]

They don't all use low lofted drivers. Dustin Johnson's is/was 10.5 I think.

 

[USER1999]

Sometimes a lower lofted driver is needed to keep the back spin down. High back spin = ballooning flight with no run.

 

[0]

I used to have a 10.5 degree Cobra and hit it real low due to a high kick point in the shaft, the shaft is key to the loft as well. I now play an 8.5 degree Titleist but with a shaft that promotes a high launch point (if struck properly)

 

[bobmac]

Why do the pro's use 8.5 degree or less drivers when I thought a slightly higher launch angle would get the ball the further down the fairway as it's in the air longer?

You can bet most pros have tried every shaft, head and loft combination to maximise their swing characteristics to achieve the optimum launch angle, spin rate and ball flight for their swing.
Not much is left to chance these days.

 

[sev112]

i bought my Callaway BB 8deg of fleabay for 18 quid - it is without doubt and absolutely wonderful club

for that price i coudl afford to give it a go and sling it in teh garage, but it worked out perfectly - the 5 holes i use it at our club are all fades, and with the 8 deg loft you could just aim up the LHS and slide it round.

Trouble is i'm so used to it now that i tend to hit it straight Goes miles though for a little guy like me

 

[RGDave]

Why do the pro's use 8.5 degree or less drivers when I thought a slightly higher launch angle would get the ball the further down the fairway as it's in the air longer?

I'm fairly sure that pro's use all sorts, from plainly crazy low loft to fairly normal.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I also think it helps having a decent swing that repeats regularly. Everything is worked out on monitors anyway these days so they use whatever is best for their own game.

 

[RGDave]

I played with hindmarshsl (on here) the other day. He borrowed a D3 910 in 8.5.

Fabulous. Far better than his old 10.5.

I wish I could lend him the cash, but I don't want to keep losing.