Can too little (low) Driver Loft actually make spin higher?

[HoganHO]

I know there'd a lot that goes in to what I am asking. But, any thoughts on too little driver loft actually exacerbating spin numbers? 

 

Yes, I understand the concept of fitting, etc, but I am curious what experienced fitters have seen.

 

For example, are there some players who are "high-spin" at 8 degrees loft at address that end up benefiting from lofting up?

[bnperrone]

I fought high spin and wound up in the highest lofted driver I’ve played (10.5*).

 

My best guess is that the lower loft produces a compensation to try and launch the ball that is a feedback loop into the wrong move. 

[HoganHO]

3 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

I fought high spin and wound up in the highest lofted driver I’ve played (10.5*).

 

My best guess is that the lower loft produces a compensation to try and launch the ball that is a feedback loop into the wrong move. 

I assume you mean that the 10.5 has helped?

[manima1]

I think it certainly can if it causes you to add subconsciously loft to get the ball up.  This also could cause a low-strike pattern driving spin up.  If your delivery is equal with both then of course the lower lofted driver will be lower spin.

 

I used to play lower lofted drivers but now I'm in a 10.0 TSi2 head as my delivery is quite a bit more neutral with hands more forward at impact.  I get lower spin with this delivery and the higher lofted head then I ever head with drivers at 8.0 degrees or lower

 

 

[HoganHO]

5 minutes ago, manima1 said:

I think it certainly can if it causes you to add subconsciously loft to get the ball up.  This also could cause a low-strike pattern driving spin up.  If your delivery is equal with both then of course the lower lofted driver will be lower spin.

 

I used to play lower lofted drivers but now I'm in a 10.0 TSi2 head as my delivery is quite a bit more neutral with hands more forward at impact.  I get lower spin with this delivery and the higher lofted head then I ever head with drivers at 8.0 degrees or lower

 

 

Definitely have a low strike pattern....

[manima1]

4 minutes ago, HoganHO said:

Definitely have a low strike pattern....

 

Well there you go, that is 100% the problem.  Strike is the #1 factor aside from loft that can influence spin.  No head is going to spin low though with a low strike.

 

Try higher loft to see if it influences a more neutral delivery and strike patter, you could find this actually lowers spin.

[Krt22]

1 minute ago, HoganHO said:

Definitely have a low strike pattern....

Low launch/high spin from low strikes is common when players try to hit up too much on driver...in their attempt to hit high launch/low spin. A more level approach to move strike vertically up the face should be your goal before changing anything. The true sweet spot of a modern driver is a few mm above the centerline

[Valtiel]

18 minutes ago, manima1 said:

 

Well there you go, that is 100% the problem.  Strike is the #1 factor aside from loft that can influence spin.  No head is going to spin low though with a low strike.

 

Try higher loft to see if it influences a more neutral delivery and strike patter, you could find this actually lowers spin.

 

17 minutes ago, Krt22 said:

Low launch/high spin from low strikes is common when players try to hit up too much on driver...in their attempt to hit high launch/low spin. A more level approach to move strike vertically up the face should be your goal before changing anything. The true sweet spot of a modern driver is a few mm above the centerline

These. 

A lower lofted driver will only produce more spin if you do something to override the fact that it would otherwise always produce less. Strike location is one key as low strikes will always spin up on any driver, and controlling your dynamic loft is the other (flipping/casting/out to in w/ open clubface etc). 

[bnperrone]

1 hour ago, HoganHO said:

I assume you mean that the 10.5 has helped?

Correct. Happier than ever. A prior instructor tried to get me into position and swinging to hit way up on lower loft but it wasn’t going to work. I hit bombs but I hit others all over and my back hurt from one session. I’m 41, been playing since I was 4 or 5, and some things aren’t going to change!

[Cwebb]

3 hours ago, HoganHO said:

Definitely have a low strike pattern....

 

 Try to hit some lower drives with a more level angle of attack, while monitoring your impact pattern in detail.  If it helps to move your impact up on the face, then you are onto something and may then need a little extra loft to take full advantage of it.  Or you may not need a different loft and simply needed a change in your delivery intention

Edited July 13, 2022 by Cwebb

[HoganHO]

Thanks for all the replies. 

 

Taking a 10.5 degree head out today (versus my 8 ) will see how it goes.

[Valtiel]

On 7/12/2022 at 2:49 PM, bnperrone said:

I fought high spin and wound up in the highest lofted driver I’ve played (10.5*).

 

My best guess is that the lower loft produces a compensation to try and launch the ball that is a feedback loop into the wrong move. 

 

7 hours ago, HoganHO said:

Thanks for all the replies. 

 

Taking a 10.5 degree head out today (versus my 8 ) will see how it goes.

Ian on TXG talked about this a bit earlier this year. The idea that fighting high launch and spin by going super low lofted (something he struggled with himself) and how that can be a bandaid, suggesting that he actually wants to stick a really HIGH lofted driver in that person's hands with the hopes it exposes the problem more pushes them towards changing their mechanics. If you are indeed someone that adds too much loft and/or hits excessively up on it then a higher loft can be beneficial in helping you reduce that.