high lofted driver for high handicapper myth

[garyinderry]

The stock answer to high handicap players is get a high lofted driver. this may be the case if the player has a negative AOA which many high handicaps will have.

If they have a positive AOA then too much loft may actually be robbing them of distance.

Until I got fitted for loft last week I was in the dark about what loft suited me best. I've used everything from 8.5 to 10.5. turns out I need it low loft due to quite positive AOA numbers.

The real answer should be, go get fitted. Find out what loft gives you your ideal launch numbers.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The stock answer to high handicap players is get a high lofted driver. this may be the case if the player has a negative AOA which many high handicaps will have.

If they have a positive AOA then too much loft may actually be robbing them of distance.

Until I got fitted for loft last week I was in the dark about what loft suited me best. I've used everything from 8.5 to 10.5. turns out I need it low loft due to quite positive AOA numbers.

The real answer should be, go get fitted. Find out what loft gives you your ideal launch numbers.

Think the TM loft up campaign would disagree! However I do agree that for a lot of players, a fitting would be an education and really helpful.

 

[CMAC]

It's not really a myth, it's more that loft is your friend and it is easier to hit a higher loft than a lower lofted club due to more backspin created over sidespin.

Nearly everyone can hit a PW but not many can hit a 2 or 3 iron.

TM even came out with the smaller headed higher lofted driver to reach the many who use a 3 wood (higher loft) off the tee successfully but cannot use a driver.

You are spot on about a fitting though as everyone is different.

 

[garyinderry]

Think the TM loft up campaign would disagree! However I do agree that for a lot of players, a fitting would be an education and really helpful.

The tm loft up is to deal with low spin. If you have enough spin and good launch numbers you don't need to loft up.

Marcel siem has a 7.5 sldr

 

[Evesdad]

But wasn't the fact of loft up campaign was because they moved the weight forward and so needed more loft?

 

[duncan mackie]

The tm loft up is to deal with low spin. If you have enough spin and good launch numbers you don't need to loft up.

Marcel siem has a 7.5 sldr

Surely it's a question of the right amount of spin rather than enough spin?

Having spent last season with a 16 degree driver (SLDRmini) I put a 10.5 RBZ in the bag last Autumn but aquire a 12 degree SLDR a couple of weeks ago which is now working really well for me.

However you cannot talk loft in isolation (of the club head design andspin)

 

[Leereed]

I use a Galloway razr fit driver with pro x stiff shaft.(head came off).So used a high launch rocketballz stage 2 for a few weeks and every shot was very high and right.Galloway back better flight and straighter.(could be the shaft).

 

[garyinderry]

Surely it's a question of the right amount of spin rather than enough spin?

Having spent last season with a 16 degree driver (SLDRmini) I put a 10.5 RBZ in the bag last Autumn but aquire a 12 degree SLDR a couple of weeks ago which is now working really well for me.

However you cannot talk loft in isolation (of the club head design andspin)

Optimal spin for the launch. Yes.

 

[garyinderry]

prime example of someone who believed in the 'loft is my friend' mantra. it just goes to show you how wrong someone can get the loft. rob selected a 16 degree SLDR thinking this is what he needed at his swingspeed of around 92mph.

The TM fitter fit him for a 9.5 degree aeroburner. that's 6.5degrees of loft he took off him.

The reason being is that rob has a positive attack angle of nearing 6 upwards. the last thing he needed for optimal launch and ultimately distance was a 16 degree driver.

this chap has been on many a launch monitor with rick shiels. admittedly rick doesn't do fittings but he should have picked up that rob doesn't really need 16 degrees of loft on his driver.

The final tally. Rob got 6.5 degrees of loft taken off his driver and gained 20yards. that's some difference.

[video=youtube;R4_DlKwufcU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4_DlKwufcU[/video]

 

[garyinderry]

It's not really a myth, it's more that loft is your friend and it is easier to hit a higher loft than a lower lofted club due to more backspin created over sidespin.

Nearly everyone can hit a PW but not many can hit a 2 or 3 iron.

.

this falls down because to get a 2 iron into the air requires a high club head speed to create enough backspin. you can hit a low lofted driver into the air because it is perched up on a tee and you hit it X degrees on the up.

 

[Foxholer]

It's a reasonable generalisation.

But remember that all generalisers are fools!

 

[bobmac]

I miss the 2 wood
Interesting the manufacturers are pushing more loft on the woods but less loft on the irons.

 

[One Planer]

I miss the 2 woodInteresting the manufacturers are pushing more loft on the woods but less loft on the irons.

Is that what was called a Tour Spoon Bob?

 

[bobmac]

Is that what was called a Tour Spoon Bob?

No, a Brassy was a 2 wood. A spoon was a 3 and a baffy a 4 as I remember......just

 

[DCB]

I started out with an old 2 wood, a brassie as they were called. It had about 12° of loft on it and was so much easier to hit than a driver at that age.

 

[rapper]

AOA TM SLDR RBZ RAZR Spoon Brassy Baffy??????????? WTFAYOA?

 

[bobmac]

AOA TM SLDR RBZ RAZR Spoon Brassy Baffy??????????? WTFAYOA?

LOL

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No, a Brassy was a 2 wood. A spoon was a 3 and a baffy a 4 as I remember......just

Weren't you at the naming ceremony?

 

[garyinderry]

I miss the 2 wood
Interesting the manufacturers are pushing more loft on the woods but less loft on the irons.

What loft was your old 2 wood? I have a strong 3 wood @ 13.5 degrees. Bomber off the tee but no good to me off the fairway. I cant hit it hard enough to get it to spin up the air and have any chance of holding a green. I think most manufacturers have cottoned onto the fact that 15 degrees for a 3 wood give the best launch for a wide variety of player.

Still quite a few on tour with 13.5 degree 3 woods. I am not a fan.



As far as this guy picking up 25 yards or so by changing loft goes. I believe this is another advantage of adjustable drivers. Within an hour you could go to a pro and he could completely change your angle of attack making that 12 degree driver now less than optimal. The new Mizuno driver allows you to do this so well. (shameless plug )

 

[One Planer]

What you're forgetting Gary, is the OP.

High handicappers are exactly that. The chances of someone of high handicap swinging with the correct mechanics to maximize static and/or dynamic loft are no particularly good.

High loft, as mentioned above, will help a higher handicapper more than hinder.

Give a high handicapper an 8° drive and, I would wager, they would struggle to hit the ball as consistently as say a 12° like for like head.

I'm not disputing what some of the videos say, but when you consider most high handicapper swings, OTT, steep etc, I would suggest lower loft wouldn't help.