Is there a rule of thumb for launch angle vs club's loft?

[Orikoru]

If people are saying launch angle should be half the loft of the club, then I should be launching 6 iron at 12 degrees?? That doesn't sound right.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

If people are saying launch angle should be half the loft of the club, then I should be launching 6 iron at 12 degrees?? That doesn't sound right.

Actually it’s about right and data proves it. But part of the equation is swing speed with that club as well as per below.

6-Iron Launch & Performance Chart (By Swing Speed)
Slow Speed (65–75 mph): 15°–17° launch (130-140 yd carry)
Average Speed (75–85 mph): 14°–16° launch (140-155 yd carry)
Fast Speed (85–95 mph): 13°–15° launch (155-175 yd carry)
Very Fast (95+ mph): 12°–14° launch (175+ yd carry

So you’d need to know your swing speed for your optimum launch. My 6 iron is 27° and my launch with my swing speed should sit in the 13°–15°, which is about right as I usually hit it around 172-175yds, with a launch angle of 13.6° and club head speed of 92mph and spin of 6300rpm.

Edit: if you can’t get your head round it this’ll blow your mind. I launch my 4iron at 11.4° and spin average is 4250, it goes nice and high with a decent carry. The maths do math! It’s just about creating compression with optimal speed & spin.

 

[Taz]

Actually it’s about right and data proves it. But part of the equation is swing speed with that club as well as per below.

6-Iron Launch & Performance Chart (By Swing Speed)
Slow Speed (65–75 mph): 15°–17° launch (130-140 yd carry)
Average Speed (75–85 mph): 14°–16° launch (140-155 yd carry)
Fast Speed (85–95 mph): 13°–15° launch (155-175 yd carry)
Very Fast (95+ mph): 12°–14° launch (175+ yd carry

So you’d need to know your swing speed for your optimum launch. My 6 iron is 27° and my launch with my swing speed should sit in the 13°–15°, which is about right as I usually hit it around 172-175yds, with a launch angle of 13.6° and club head speed of 92mph and spin of 6300rpm.

Edit: if you can’t get your head round it this’ll blow your mind. I launch my 4iron at 11.4° and spin average is 4250, it goes nice and high with a decent carry. The maths do math! It’s just about creating compression with optimal speed & spin.

As Ross mentions in the video it's also nice to have some stopping power so angle of descent is crucial to.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

As Ross mentions in the video it's also nice to have some stopping power so angle of descent is crucial to.

That’s why the spin and speed is an important part of the equation to get the height and descent angle.

I’ve always been lucky in that regard I generate a lot of spin and peak height with a normal shot . Was always taught essentially 1000rpm per iron is optimal and it’s what I’ve always worked on and got. As long as you’ve got the speed it Helps to hit the ball with enough spin to keep it up for distance, descent and stopping power.

It’s a bloody complex game and there’s so many variables and why it intrigues us so much. I’m an absolute nerd when it comes to golf data it’s borderline obsessive

 

[Orikoru]

Actually it’s about right and data proves it. But part of the equation is swing speed with that club as well as per below.

6-Iron Launch & Performance Chart (By Swing Speed)
Slow Speed (65–75 mph): 15°–17° launch (130-140 yd carry)
Average Speed (75–85 mph): 14°–16° launch (140-155 yd carry)
Fast Speed (85–95 mph): 13°–15° launch (155-175 yd carry)
Very Fast (95+ mph): 12°–14° launch (175+ yd carry

So you’d need to know your swing speed for your optimum launch. My 6 iron is 27° and my launch with my swing speed should sit in the 13°–15°, which is about right as I usually hit it around 172-175yds, with a launch angle of 13.6° and club head speed of 92mph and spin of 6300rpm.

Edit: if you can’t get your head round it this’ll blow your mind. I launch my 4iron at 11.4° and spin average is 4250, it goes nice and high with a decent carry. The maths do math! It’s just about creating compression with optimal speed & spin.

Well I would be in the slow category by those metrics.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Well I would be in the slow category by those metrics.

So you compress your irons properly , your launch should be around 15-17° to give you optimal height and descent.

What’s your actual clubhead speed with a 6 iron and spin rates are as they’ll contribute massively and have you ever measured your launch with anything other than driver ?

We are only talking ideals here there will be variations based on swing patterns, speed, spin, strength and club delivery. But it’s a nerdy topic and I love it

 

[SteveJay]

Interesting thing about the Trackman data for me was the peak height comparisons. I have read before that all clubs should have similar peak heights but always wondered how close they should be - those stats confirmed it is actually very similar throughout the bag.

As someone who hits the ball high, its something I maybe need to work on to maximise effectiveness (distance & control).

 

[Neilds]

Does it really matter? Yes, in a perfect world, with a perfect swing in perfect conditions then the maths will work. Any other time it is just background noise that will get in the way and ruin people's swing. Just hit the ball!

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Does it really matter? Yes, in a perfect world, with a perfect swing in perfect conditions then the maths will work. Any other time it is just background noise that will get in the way and ruin people's swing. Just hit the ball!

And despite all The science behind it and chase for perfection your point is the one of ultimate truth of it. Hit the ball have fun and enjoy the walk.

 

[Orikoru]

Does it really matter? Yes, in a perfect world, with a perfect swing in perfect conditions then the maths will work. Any other time it is just background noise that will get in the way and ruin people's swing. Just hit the ball!

I think there are two types of golfers, broadly. You have feel guys and numbers guys. Personally I like numbers, even if I'm kidding myself to say I understand them all. Would love to be a feel guy, but when I'm on the course I couldn't tell you what's 40 yards and what's 80 yards, my brain just isn't intuitive to that stuff.

 

[Neilds]

I think there are two types of golfers, broadly. You have feel guys and numbers guys. Personally I like numbers, even if I'm kidding myself to say I understand them all. Would love to be a feel guy, but when I'm on the course I couldn't tell you what's 40 yards and what's 80 yards, my brain just isn't intuitive to that stuff.

But surely all you need to know is how to hit a club 40 or 80 yards? You don't need to know that to hit the ball 80 yards you need to swing at x mph, with a loft of y degrees and an angle of attack of z degrees

 

[Orikoru]

But surely all you need to know is how to hit a club 40 or 80 yards? You don't need to know that to hit the ball 80 yards you need to swing at x mph, with a loft of y degrees and an angle of attack of z degrees

I was just using it as an example. The type of guy who has to know what club they hit 50 yards probably also wants to know what his launch angle is on a 6 iron. The type of person who just uses one club for pitching from all distances and 'feels' it, is the type who doesn't care about launch angles.

Personally, I probably would pay more attention to numbers like that, but then I'd have to be paying out for simulator time to get those numbers and I don't do that very often. The last session I went to I don't think the numbers were very reliable. It suggested my 6 iron launch angle was between 17.5 and 20.5, and the spin was as low as 1270. I just don't see that being correct.

 

[sjw]

But surely all you need to know is how to hit a club 40 or 80 yards? You don't need to know that to hit the ball 80 yards you need to swing at x mph, with a loft of y degrees and an angle of attack of z degrees

You could look at it like that.

However there are times when the numbers help. I know I have enough CHS to carry my 4i 190, but out on the course I'm using it for 175-180y shots. It would be nicer to hit the higher number all the time, because it would make the game easier. So when I go to the range, I can look at the numbers and try to optimise

When I'm out on the course I don't then think of the numbers but the feel I had at the range on the shots that had the right launch angle

 

[sjw]

I was just using it as an example. The type of guy who has to know what club they hit 50 yards probably also wants to know what his launch angle is on a 6 iron. The type of person who just uses one club for pitching from all distances and 'feels' it, is the type who doesn't care about launch angles.

Personally, I probably would pay more attention to numbers like that, but then I'd have to be paying out for simulator time to get those numbers and I don't do that very often. The last session I went to I don't think the numbers were very reliable. It suggested my 6 iron launch angle was between 17.5 and 20.5, and the spin was as low as 1270. I just don't see that being correct.

I don't know, I've seen you play

 

[Orikoru]

I don't know, I've seen you play

I don't even know how it would be possible. ChatGPT suggests it probably isn't.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I was just using it as an example. The type of guy who has to know what club they hit 50 yards probably also wants to know what his launch angle is on a 6 iron. The type of person who just uses one club for pitching from all distances and 'feels' it, is the type who doesn't care about launch angles.

Personally, I probably would pay more attention to numbers like that, but then I'd have to be paying out for simulator time to get those numbers and I don't do that very often. The last session I went to I don't think the numbers were very reliable. It suggested my 6 iron launch angle was between 17.5 and 20.5, and the spin was as low as 1270. I just don't see that being correct.

With those angles and low spin I’d be surprised if the ball barely got airborne
Would say that’s not a monitor you can particularly trust unless that’s the feedback from a thinned shot

Using your 50yard shot example, Weirdly I’d say knowing launch angles and spin numbers enables the player to be able to utilise more than one club from that distance rather than focusing on feels for a single club.

I can play any of my wedges from PW to 60° from that range depending on what flight and spin needed depending on wind, obstacles to carry etc and whether I want in coming in high and soft or low and spinny.

You could look at it like that.

However there are times when the numbers help. I know I have enough CHS to carry my 4i 190, but out on the course I'm using it for 175-180y shots. It would be nicer to hit the higher number all the time, because it would make the game easier. So when I go to the range, I can look at the numbers and try to optimise

When I'm out on the course I don't then think of the numbers but the feel I had at the range on the shots that had the right launch angle

That last paragraph for me is exactly what I’ve always done since I was a kid. Learn, know and improve my numbers on the range to try and be optimal which lets me practice with purpose rather bashing balls.

But on the course a I’m hugely a fee player, don’t think about the number other than need to know the carry. Trust the practice and rely on the feels only.