In the great quest for more distance and control with the driver, a closer look must be given to spin rate and the accompanying launch angle. There are many different options of spin rates and launch angles that will vary, not only based on ball speed, but also on your angle of attack.
When the testing begins, we must first look into the head and loft that fit the best. This will give us a launch angle between 9 and 17 degrees. This wide window is based on the ball speed and angle of the player being tested. Generally speaking, higher speeds need lower launch angles… generally…
After the launch angel has been selected in the optimum window, a much closer look is paid to the shaft and the hosel settings to ensure the spin rate matches the launch angle, ball speed & angle of attack. The factors attributing to this decision range from shaft weight to tip stiffness to kick points and player preferences.
The ball flight we are looking for must not take off low like an airplane and then rise into the sky as this only produces a steep angle of descent which will decrease the amount of run the ball has as it hits the ground. Having not enough spin will produce a flight that takes a nose dive into the turf after a very short carry. Our flight should take of with a high launch, then flatten out at the peak and turn downward, hitting the ground with a shallow angle of descent to maximize carry and roll.