Vector Launch Monitor - The Analysis

[PeterPumpkinEater]

Finally went to Direct Golf last night for my session on the Launch Monitor and was very very impressed not only with the equipment but also the advice that I got, i can see why people dont buy their clubs without using this.

Anyway my stats were as follows:-

Driver
Club Head Speed - 90.3mph
Ball Speed - 111.6mph
Launch Angle - 10.3deg
Back Spin Rate - 7046rpm

Irons (Using an 8iron)
Club Head Speed - 82.5mph
Ball Speed - 92.5mph
Launch Angle - 12.4deg
Back Spin Rate - 7627rpm

Recommended Clubs
Driver - Something with a higher loft and softer shaft - slicing most shots.
Irons - Maybe something with less of a cavity back and a heavier shaft (Mizuno MX-25 recommended)

So there you go, for people wanting a new clubs I would thoroughly recommend this equipment. I tried a Nike Sasquatch 5000 11.5Deg Reg (I use a Cobra Speed LD 10.5deg Stiff with Adilda NV Shaft) and was hitting it straighter and with a better trajectory so will probably be purchasing it today.

My MX-15 irons were straight and had good distance but they stated that because of big cavity I was getting too much height, by changing I would get a few more yards but i was hitting my 8 iron 150-155 so i'm happy with that for now.

 

[Parmo]

Looks very good Peter, did you try the new Cobra driver per chance?

I went to AG with one and looking back they where pretty [****] and didnt show me any stats or even check the clubs where ok once they had been CF!! I ordered the GW but they can jog on if they think they will get another penny from me.

 

[USER1999]

7000 rpm is monster spin for a driver. This should be about 3000, with a launch angle of about 14°. You must be hitting down on it to gain that sort of spin.

The other thing is that if you middle a driver, the ball speed should be about 150% of the club head speed, giving a smash factor of 1.5. If your ball speed is true, you don't appear to be middling it.

Ditto 12° launch for an 8i. This should surely be higher, unless your 8i is really a 5i, although the rpm will make it climb.

When you look at wedge tests (which are meant to spin), quite often the rpm is 5000 ish.

Not a criticism, just a comment.

Launch monitors are the way to go though. You can't tell anything without one.

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

Looks very good Peter, did you try the new Cobra driver per chance?

I went to AG with one and looking back they where pretty [****] and didnt show me any stats or even check the clubs where ok once they had been CF!! I ordered the GW but they can jog on if they think they will get another penny from me.

Another two good things about this session was that a it was on a proper driving range instead of hitting it into a net. Also, when i've gone to AG (two different stores) they dont have a clue how to use the monitor and just keep saying "oh, its not working properly!"
Didnt try the Cobra mate, i take it that you are referring to the L5V? They had got them in yesterday and they look v.nice.

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

7000 rpm is monster spin for a driver. This should be about 3000, with a launch angle of about 14°. You must be hitting down on it to gain that sort of spin.

The other thing is that if you middle a driver, the ball speed should be about 150% of the club head speed, giving a smash factor of 1.5. If your ball speed is true, you don't appear to be middling it.

Ditto 12° launch for an 8i. This should surely be higher, unless your 8i is really a 5i, although the rpm will make it climb.

When you look at wedge tests (which are meant to spin), quite often the rpm is 5000 ish.

Not a criticism, just a comment.

Launch monitors are the way to go though. You can't tell anything without one.

Haven't taken it as criticism at all mate, appreciate your comments.

I do hit a high slicing drive (coming down steeply and out-in) which is a BIG problem for me at the moment, but I am working on it!

On the irons, It took an average reading over 3 shots and my first one was a bad shank, but I took a few more shots after this report which came up well.

 

[TonyN]

Have to follow on from murphs' comments because the first thing I thought when looking at your stats was, they're all wierd.

20 mph more ball speed than club head speed for driver?
only 10mph more for irons?

7000rpm? Do your drives come back at you?

Look at the spin rates between the driver and 8 iron, there is almost nothing betwen them? So how are you hitting a driver with the same spin as an 8?

Recommended clubs 'something with a higherloft and softer shaft' 7000RPM??????? who were you fitted by??? Ronnie O'Sulliven?

Did they tell you what kick point you needed? I was only getting about 2000 rpm and they recommnded a soft tip (low kick) to increase spin, you need less.. waaaaay less.

What was the fit for? Just to get your stats of your own equipment? Or did you try out different equipment untill you found what suited you? And if so were these stats from that equipment or your own?

Don't take my post the wrong way, I am not saying your wrong or anything but I just cant understand why your stats are so, well, crazy.

 

[USER1999]

That explains it then really. Glad you enjoyed it, and could see the benefits. Could be an expensive Christmas though.

 

[Smiffy]

Hitting an 8 iron 150-155 eh?
Remind me not to play you for money if we ever meet up

 

[SammmeBee]

I'm with Tony here.

Your figures are (sorry) horrendous....that's more spin than the labour party!!!

The whole point is you try different clubs to get the figures right - didn't Ronnie have any 'softer shafts' with a but more loft to try to (dis)prove that what they are saying is right?

I can't see they point of the session if you're not going to try different clubs to see/feel better results?!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've had a similar experience at AG where they clearly have no idea how to use the monitor or more importantly understand the figures and so blame it on the machine being faulty. If you can't utilise it properly don't use it or get someone in who knows what they are doing!

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

I had an email inviting me to a FREE 20min session which was all I got, this was only enough time for me to evaluate my own clubs. The Nike driver I tried was after the session as they had someone else booked in I couldnt get any stats.

 

[TonyN]

Ahh I see. And was it a profesional quailified to fit? Or just a salesman?

On a serious note now. Take this an an eye opener because believe me, those stats are all over the place. If you have the cash, and are serious about your golf, get your self booked into somewhere for a propper fitting. Somewhere like the belfry or a local range who have all the different stock and launch monitor with qualified fitters. Is this what you intend to do?

I see you play off 15 and fail to understand how given the specs you have shown us. You must be damn good to be able to play too that using equipment that doesn't suit you. Imagine how well you could play if your equipment did suit you?

As was mentioned, stats should be roughly as follows

Ball speed should be 50% faster than club head so

Driver club head speed 90mph + 50%(45mph) = 135mph ball speed
Same difference with Irons.

Your back spin for driver should be about 3000rpm and gradually increasing through your clubs. 7000rpm for a driver is unbelievable.

I am not sure of exact launch angles but my 11.5 should be coming out at around 14 IIRC.

 

[viscount17]

it's a while since mine were done so can't remember all the figures but as a comparison, TM r7 11.5* reg

Club head speed: 88 (fairly consistent as was
Ball speed: 133
Launch angle: 13 - 16 deg
back spin: 2600 - 2700
Side spin: varied between 250 and 1200! (my weak point!)

but it also produced carry and trajectory info
(this on one of the Titleist tour monitors, which is coming back for the winter so I'll get re-checked)

 

[TonyN]

My carry distance was average 220.

 

[Parmo]

Didnt try the Cobra mate, i take it that you are referring to the L5V? They had got them in yesterday and they look v.nice.

The L5V looks sexy, well as sexy as a driver can. I am not sure what to do about AG in terms of them not using the Vector properly, I might write a letter of complaint and see what happens.

 

[USER1999]

Carry for me was 200 yards (which I remember because it is pathetic), spin was just over 3k, launch about 14°, smash was 1.5, club head speed was about 92, so ball speed was about 138, side spin?.
Driver is 9.5°.

Was recommended to find a lower spinning head/shaft combo, but none were available that were better than my 907D1, Harmon tour design combo.

This is why I am waiting for the 909D3, which is supposed to be a low spin head.

In the mean time I have also made a few swing changes (to try to improve my launch and put less spin on it), so it will be fun when I get back on a monitor to see what difference it all makes. My original swing was hitting the ball before the lowest point in my swing, so I am now trying to hit it more on the up.

 

[TonyN]

Pretty much all the same as mine murph except my driver is 10.5 degrees.

Hopefully tommorow i will have time to check out the driver stats after my fittment.

 

[Sam]

Ball speed should be 50% faster than club head so

Driver club head speed 90mph + 50%(45mph) = 135mph ball speed
Same difference with Irons.

Tony
Are you sure that the smash factor of 1.5 is the same for drivers and irons?
The maximum amount of 'elasticity' (the ability of the clubface to compress and then spring out transferring its energy) has now been set at .830 COR. Logic tells me (but HE has often been wrong!) that such 'elasticity' could only be available in woods and maybe hybrids.

Additionally, I know I have read somewhere that, with a club with .830 COR, the maximum smash index is 1.49 (ideal fit and perfect drive)

For those interested (and there wont be many) COR (Coefficient of Restitution) can be roughly measured for a golf ball for example by dropping from 10 feet and measuring the rebound height (5 feet would be .5 COR)

 

[surefire]

Smash factor of 1.5 is the theoretical perfect impact. In real life its actually a bit lower than this.

I think for amateurs it is usually nearer 1.25 although obviously this depends on the individual.

Also I have heard vector launch monitors are not that great for measuring clubhead speed. They are sound activated, and so are triggered at impact. Once trigegred they take high speed photos. This means they only actually capture ball speed and spin in the photos and then use a calculation to work out clubhead speed at impact, as it is too late to capture this by that point.

 

[USER1999]

I can't remember if I was measured on a vector, or a different system. Titleist certainly use Vector. As far as I am aware it is about as good as these things get, and works on a radar type system developed from some Aussie defence stuff. The radar tracks the club head and the ball, through impact and slightly beyond. I think it is pretty accurate for all the stats given.