Loft it Up.

Golfgraffix

I have been watching the trend of the pros hitting it high off the tee to get extra distance and the OEM's pushing the idea of "loft it up"

I am not the shortest off the tee, my average carry would 220y off the tee and about 250 with roll out. Playing most of my golf on links this works well but when playing parkland I really suffer with distance off the tee.

I am off for a few weeks so decided to test this loft it up idea, I am testing a few drivers with slightly higher loft and working on catching the ball more in the up swing.

So far the results have been shocking, where I am staying I am lucky to have access to a launch monitor on the range. I never realised I was catching the ball so much on the downswing. With a combination of a slight swing change and the higher loft I am now averaging 240y carry and 274y total with absolutely no change in swing speed. The big change that seems to be effecting the distance is the peak ball height which has gone from 16y to 22y

The weather is pretty calm here so not sure what effect the wind will have but it's definitely something to consider. I was curious if anyone else had tried such a change or does everyone normal hit high?

Here is a screen grab from the range http://postimg.org/image/j2ctncwhz/

J

slave1

Nice tech there!

alxmorgan

Pretty good numbers there. I would think you could get even more by having a positive angle of attack (hit up as much as 5 degrees) and thus a higher launch angle. Spin rates are excellent.

What is driver out of interest ?

Golfgraffix

alxmorgan wrote: »

Pretty good numbers there. I would think you could get even more by having a positive angle of attack (hit up as much as 5 degrees) and thus a higher launch angle. Spin rates are excellent.

What is driver out of interest ?

Cheers

Those numbers are after 2 full sessions with the pro, the original angle was 4 down so getting to almost flat was the target.

It wasn't such a big change, slight more off the inside left foot, wider stance and body tilt to the right.

Driver was a demo of the new 915, not sure what the set up or shaft was.

Very tempted to take it home with me.

Edit

Just looking at the guys notes and this was with the 913, his was the 915. I wonder if I could get one? Don't think they are out yet ?

J

alxmorgan

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Cheers

Those numbers are after 2 full sessions with the pro, the original angle was 4 down so getting to almost flat was the target.

It wasn't such a big change, slight more off the inside left foot, wider stance and body tilt to the right.

Driver was a demo of the new 915, not sure what the set up or shaft was.

Very tempted to take it home with me.

Edit

Just looking at the guys notes and this was with the 913, his was the 915. I wonder if I could get one? Don't think they are out yet ?

J

Other thing you need to check is whether its D2 or D3 model and what the surefit setting was. D3 is 445cc and lower spin. D2 is 460cc and more forgiving (or so they say)

Ben1977

I've always swung up with the driver. If i try to hit down on it, I'll slice it or pull it. I'm using a 9 degree RBZ stage1. I've had low hc guys say my spine tilt is all wrong. But its that setup which gives me the high launch and extra distance. I also find it easier to control side spin. I've seen a 5 hc with a 13 degree driver hit it bullet low carrying about 250 and running for a good 50 yds.
I think the loft up will work for some but not all. If your weekly game is on a links and you hit it low then don't change it. I would imagine that it could be hard to control distance and direction with a ball height that has increase but about 30%.

charlieIRL

Am just thinking of this, my driver has gone downhill seriously the last few rounds / weeks and i was not able to pin point when it went wrong, then i realised i've upped the loft from 9 to 10 degrees on advice from a pro (Taylormade R11)
Am going to go to the range either this evening or tomorrow and change it back and see does it make any difference.

Norfolk Enchants_

charlieIRL wrote: »

Am just thinking of this, my driver has gone downhill seriously the last few rounds / weeks and i was not able to pin point when it went wrong, then i realised i've upped the loft from 9 to 10 degrees on advice from a pro (Taylormade R11)
Am going to go to the range either this evening or tomorrow and change it back and see does it make any difference.

Oh yeah, that'll be it, because it's never ever the indian it's always the arrow is the problem.

charlieIRL

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Oh yeah, that'll be it, because it's never ever the indian it's always the arrow is the problem.

Yet another helpful reply :mad:

alxmorgan

charlieIRL wrote: »

Am just thinking of this, my driver has gone downhill seriously the last few rounds / weeks and i was not able to pin point when it went wrong, then i realised i've upped the loft from 9 to 10 degrees on advice from a pro (Taylormade R11)
Am going to go to the range either this evening or tomorrow and change it back and see does it make any difference.

I would doubt a 1 degree change would make much of a difference. Gone downhill in what way ? Does loft change independent or does face angle change too as that may make a difference ?

Norfolk Enchants_

charlieIRL wrote: »

Yet another helpful reply :mad:

You're welcome Charlie and very maturely taken, does it not seem odd to you when the general consensus is to loft up, that you have a light bulb moment to "loft down", just saying!.

GreeBo

Play nice.

Golfgraffix

charlieIRL wrote: »

Am just thinking of this, my driver has gone downhill seriously the last few rounds / weeks and i was not able to pin point when it went wrong, then i realised i've upped the loft from 9 to 10 degrees on advice from a pro (Taylormade R11)
Am going to go to the range either this evening or tomorrow and change it back and see does it make any difference.

When i was on the launch monitor my 1st 15 or so hits with the new set up where almost duck hooks, certainly low and left.

The feedback was showing that i was hooding the face on address, pro said this was common and a subconsious reaction to looking down at a more open face.

We worked on consiously keeping the face open from address to take back and after 20 mins or so it came a little easier.

J

charlieIRL

Golfgraffix wrote: »

When i was on the launch monitor my 1st 15 or so hits with the new set up where almost duck hooks, certainly low and left.

The feedback was showing that i was hooding the face on address, pro said this was common and a subconsious reaction to looking down at a more open face.

We worked on consiously keeping the face open from address to take back and after 20 mins or so it came a little easier.

J

I've been using my driver a few weeks including a few sessions at the range with the loft up.