Driver spin and Performance.

[SugarPenguin]

So I recently got fitted for a new 915 D3 with an Aldila Rouge Silver X-Flex shaft. My swing speed is 110mph and I managed around 20 more yards on average with the D3 over my old Nike Vapor (Stiff shaft).

My largest drive was 295 yards which I was very pleased with but my average was around 275 yards total and around 263 carry on the GC2 Launch monitor.

My main question is regarding reducing the spin to increase distance and how much it effects total distance. I know more spin makes the ball fly higher and rolls less but how much of a factor is it? I rarely managed to hit anything less than 3400 spin. My large drives were round 2700 in 8.5 degrees. I was only hitting up on the ball a couple of degrees and my peak height was 40 yards average. If I remember. I hit the ball with a tiny bit of Draw.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the spin? Or is it just a case of hitting up on it more?

 

[Ethan]

Spin is needed to get the ball flying but too much will, as you say, make it go a bit higher than needed. Spin is influenced by loft and Angle of Attack (AoA), so reducing loft will knock spin numbers down a bit, as would an upward AoA. But reducing loft may knock too much spin off your lower spinning shots. With a swing speed of 110, you would expect about 270 yards of carry, so you are doing pretty well.

AoA makes a huge difference. There are tables around of the effect of AoA on distance, ranging between -5 and +5. Bubba is a +5, and it adds a huge amount, about 30 yards difference between -5 and +5.

 

[LCW]

So I recently got fitted for a new 915 D3 with an Aldila Rouge Silver X-Flex shaft. My swing speed is 110mph and I managed around 20 more yards on average with the D3 over my old Nike Vapor (Stiff shaft).

My largest drive was 295 yards which I was very pleased with but my average was around 275 yards total and around 263 carry on the GC2 Launch monitor.

My main question is regarding reducing the spin to increase distance and how much it effects total distance. I know more spin makes the ball fly higher and rolls less but how much of a factor is it? I rarely managed to hit anything less than 3400 spin. My large drives were round 2700 in 8.5 degrees. I was only hitting up on the ball a couple of degrees and my peak height was 40 yards average. If I remember. I hit the ball with a tiny bit of Draw.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the spin? Or is it just a case of hitting up on it more?

Strike is king in this situation. Shaft will only have minor variations in spin levels (assuming you deliver them all in the same manor) vs variation in spin levels when striking the ball all over the face.

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/andrew-rice-golf/2014/10/spin-rate-and

 

[fundy]

If youre spinning the driver up at 3400 and a peak height of 40 yards from 110mph swing speed you are definitely giving up a lot of distance from what you could be achieving, sounds like there may be better shaft options out there imho, not convinced you had the best fitting

If it was me Id get a lesson from a pro whos clued up on shafts, on a launch monitor, and ask him if there is any swing changes that can help but think you'll end up changing shaft

 

[garyinderry]

Check where in the face you hit.

I have a tendency to catch the ball a bit low on the face. Optimal spot for high launch low spin is slightly above centre and a touch tow side.

High or low causes vertical gear effect. Check youtube on this for a detailed explanation how this affects spin.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Is there anything I can do to reduce the spin?

Yes, take the club back and and for another fitting! 3700rpm is way too high for a driver, you should ideally be looking for somewhere around 2000-2500rpm.

Who did the fitting for you?

 

[LCW]

Check where in the face you hit.

I have a tendency to catch the ball a bit low on the face. Optimal spot for high launch low spin is slightly above centre and a touch tow side.

High or low causes vertical gear effect. Check youtube on this for a detailed explanation how this affects spin.

Echo my sentiments exactly.

So many pop on saying go back, change shaft yada yada, this is no good if your not consistently striking the face in a area to get your maximum numbers out of the club. Gear effect, changing GC + many more factors can alter spin depending on how you deliver the club.

So many more areas to look into than go change the shaft

 

[Ethan]

Yes, take the club back and and for another fitting! 3700rpm is way too high for a driver, you should ideally be looking for somewhere around 2000-2500rpm.

Who did the fitting for you?

He said that his large drives were 2700 rpm and 295 yards. That is pretty good for 110 mph swing speed. I suspect the variation in spin is not due entirely to the driver or fitting.

 

[bobmac]

Where is the ball positioned in your stance.... big toe, instep, heel or further back ?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

He said that his large drives were 2700 rpm and 295 yards. That is pretty good for 110 mph swing speed. I suspect the variation in spin is not due entirely to the driver or fitting.

Possibly not but there is still something not right with those spin rates. I've just been fitted for a 915, my SS was consistently 100mph but I was getting 260 yards. Isn't it something like 3 yards for every additional 1mph? Based on that the OP should be out at 290 on a regular basis?

 

[Sybez]

This might help you with some more info - http://www.adamyounggolf.com/how-to-increase-your-angle-of-attack/

 

[Ethan]

Possibly not but there is still something not right with those spin rates. I've just been fitted for a 915, my SS was consistently 100mph but I was getting 260 yards. Isn't it something like 3 yards for every additional 1mph? Based on that the OP should be out at 290 on a regular basis?

Carry or total? With decently optimised conditions and set up, 100mph should give around 245 carry and 110mph about 270.

I have a 915D3 and 100mph driver speed too!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Total distance Martin, I don't eat enough spinach to carry that far

Which shaft did you go for? I opted for the Graphite Design DI6

 

[Ethan]

Total distance Martin, I don't eat enough spinach to carry that far

Which shaft did you go for? I opted for the Graphite Design DI6

Oban Devotion, nice mid flight and good feel.

 

[SugarPenguin]

My ball position is almost to my left heel.
thanks for all your replies.

The fitting wasnt the most rigorous one ever done but the shaft I have gone with is known for being one of the most low spinning out there so I dont think its the equipment

 

[fundy]

My ball position is almost to my left heel.
thanks for all your replies.

The fitting wasnt the most rigorous one ever done but the shaft I have gone with is known for being one of the most low spinning out there so I dont think its the equipment

http://media.titleist.com/images/ti...oklet.pdf?_ga=1.79075155.699498503.1453134544

Its low-mid spin and low-mid launch, and quite light, there are plenty of shafts out there that will spin a lot less that may work better for you imo

 

[bobmac]

My ball position is almost to my left heel.
thanks for all your replies.

The fitting wasnt the most rigorous one ever done but the shaft I have gone with is known for being one of the most low spinning out there so I dont think its the equipment

What size tee do you use?

 

[the_coach]

So I recently got fitted for a new 915 D3 with an Aldila Rouge Silver X-Flex shaft. My swing speed is 110mph and I managed around 20 more yards on average with the D3 over my old Nike Vapor (Stiff shaft).

My largest drive was 295 yards which I was very pleased with but my average was around 275 yards total and around 263 carry on the GC2 Launch monitor.

My main question is regarding reducing the spin to increase distance and how much it effects total distance. I know more spin makes the ball fly higher and rolls less but how much of a factor is it? I rarely managed to hit anything less than 3400 spin. My large drives were round 2700 in 8.5 degrees. I was only hitting up on the ball a couple of degrees and my peak height was 40 yards average. If I remember. I hit the ball with a tiny bit of Draw.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the spin? Or is it just a case of hitting up on it more?

would say the thing to look to first off, assuming set-up is all good, is strike - (as the type of shaft to swing speed looks to be in the solid ball park area of fit)

given that the spin rate is little ways over optimum so too the peak height
as at 3400 with that CHS that's well over a 1000 rpm than would be around a realistic optimum of say an approx ball park 1900 to 2200, and at 40 yards PH that's approx 10 yards so 30 feet higher than a reasonable ball park figure - given you are definitely sure (through monitored LM numbers) you have a pretty reasonable +AoA
would for sure monitor just where the strike location is with a can of spray
strike location has to playing into those spin rate/peak height #'s

would say it's more likely to be a strike location issue along with perhaps with AoA to LA, so between them the spin loft angle is too large hence the spin and height issue - wondering if that AoA is perhaps more down than you think

ideal strike location just a fraction above the driver face equator, with just a fraction to the toe side of the vertical center - with bulge and roll of the face there's only a small area around the center that's the true loft of 8.5 - may sound counter-intuitive but that loft could well be a tad too low possibly

plus as eluded too previously in posts - tee height/ball position - will play into strike location

best ways to monitor for real would be GC2+HMT - looking at strike location plus AoA/LA

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Did the fitter not discuss spin rates as he was doing the fitting. The spin rates do seem too high

 

[mab]

Guys, just can't automatically assume it's a bad fitting - if the AoA isn't great and the strike location is all over the show (no disrespect OP ), then the fitter only has so much to work with.

We need more data to opine on an informed basis, but safe to say that switching out a Rogue for an Ad-Di or a Devotion or even a Kiyoshi Black isn't going to find the OP 1000-1500rpm...