Driver launches too high, spin too low -- are mini drivers a good alternative?

[hlca]

My SS is about 95-100.  Went to try some clubs today @ Golf Mart against my 10 year old X2 Hot driver.  Tried the AI Smoke Max and Paradym.  Fitter said my launch is too high (16 degrees) with a 5 degree AoA and spin is too low so hard to fit.  Went down in loft and he lowered my tee height and that was really bad for spin.  I used to tee off with my 3W with decent results.  Surprisingly he didn't have me try out any 12 degree heads.  Wondering if a mini driver might be a better tee club for me.  Any thoughts? 

Edited May 14, 2024 by hlca

[JStang]

Just now, hlca said:

My SS is about 95-100.  Went to try some clubs today @ Golf Mart against my 10 year old X2 Hot driver.  Tried the AI Smoke Max and Paradym.  Fitter said my launch is too high (16 degrees) with a 5 degree AoA and spin is too low so hard to fit.  Went down in loft and he lowered my tee height and that was really bad for spin.  I used to tee off with my 3W with decent results.  Surprisingly he didn't have me try out any 12 degree heads.  Wondering if a mini driver might be a better tee club for me.  Any thoughts?  Should I get a lesson instead?

 

What spin were you seeing? 5 up is a lot but not unheard of. I would work on bringing angle of attack down a couple of degrees.

[Barnacle]

Please provide your carry and total distance and spin rate.

[phizzy30]

16* launch is on the higher side but isn't too high, IMO.  High launch and low spin are actually key to max carry.  What exactly were your spin numbers? 

Edited May 14, 2024 by phizzy30

[Lemonde]

1 hour ago, phizzy30 said:

16* launch is on the higher side but isn't too high, IMO.  High launch and low spin are actually key to max carry.  What exactly were your spin numbers? 

Yeah I agree.  Isn’t 1700rpm and 17 degree launch the holy grail? 

[Valtiel]

6 hours ago, Lemonde said:

Yeah I agree.  Isn’t 1700rpm and 17 degree launch the holy grail (of marketing)? 

Fixed that for you 😅

No one should ever actually chase those numbers, they were the product of a marketing push behind a VERY unforgiving driver that represented the epitome of launch monitor based fitting with very little actual on course practicality. On paper those numbers produce big distance, in practice though what is needed to create them is borderline absurd. You either need a combination of very high strikes on a low MOI/unforgiving head, an absurdly upwards angle of attack, or some combo of both. And if you're good enough to do both of those with the required level of consistency then you're also good enough to *not* need the extra few yards that offers, because otherwise the equipment and technique required here is a recipe for disaster on the course if you mishit the ball at all. The head that can produce 17* and 1,700rpm is the same head that will produce 8* and 3,500rpm if struck low and snap hooks/slices if mishit out of the toe/heel. There is a very good reason that the design formula of the SLDR was "fixed" with later heads and as such, abandoned.

Edited May 15, 2024 by Valtiel

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, hlca said:

My SS is about 95-100.  Went to try some clubs today @ Golf Mart against my 10 year old X2 Hot driver.  Tried the AI Smoke Max and Paradym.  Fitter said my launch is too high (16 degrees) with a 5 degree AoA and spin is too low so hard to fit.  Went down in loft and he lowered my tee height and that was really bad for spin.  I used to tee off with my 3W with decent results.  Surprisingly he didn't have me try out any 12 degree heads.  Wondering if a mini driver might be a better tee club for me.  Any thoughts? 

Sounds like your contact is on the higher side of the face, which actually isn’t a bad thing since most modern drivers are very efficient from that location. Do you know what your spin number was? Honestly it’s very easy to add spin to the driver. Several models can do that. 

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, Lemonde said:

Yeah I agree.  Isn’t 1700rpm and 17 degree launch the holy grail? 

It might be the holy grail on a golf SIM, but not out on the course.  I'd say that 12-15* and 2400 rpm would be ideal in real life. 

Edited May 14, 2024 by phizzy30

[robbie91]

You should be able to find a driver that works at 5* AOA. I think Rory is around 5* and his driver seems to suit him pretty well. The mini driver doesn't solve the issue, it just acts like a slightly longer three wood. 

[g_nw]

One or all of: weight into back of the head, lower tee height, ball change, shaft profile change, or loft down on the same head to raise COG… tons of drivers are adjustable and could accommodate the fit. Higher lofted driver would be great for someone who cannot hit up on the ball (so wouldn’t be for you without some of these other changes, or a delivery change). That said, I’m just an amateur enthusiast at this stuff.

[gbang15]

sounds like a strike point issue on the high toe. but a good problem to have if that makes sense. I would purchase a tsr2 or 3 and work on bringing the strike inward to help bring launch down. 

[maowv]

I'll take "Words I've Never Spoken" for $200

 

What is My Driver launches too high and spins too low?

Edited May 15, 2024 by maowv

[hlca]

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Sounds like your contact is on the higher side of the face, which actually isn’t a bad thing since most modern drivers are very efficient from that location. Do you know what your spin number was? Honestly it’s very easy to add spin to the driver. Several models can do that. 

 

On mishits as low as 500 rpm.  Better hits are 1600 or so.  On the sim, I get a lot of knuckleballs that fall out of the sky -- don't see this as much on the course as I tee it up higher than I did in the store.  I posted in Instruction and got a bunch of feedback.  Was wondering if there was an equipment-based bandaid for now.

[hammergolf]

34 minutes ago, hlca said:

 

On mishits as low as 500 rpm.  Better hits are 1600 or so.  On the sim, I get a lot of knuckleballs that fall out of the sky -- don't see this as much on the course as I tee it up higher than I did in the store.  I posted in Instruction and got a bunch of feedback.  Was wondering if there was an equipment-based bandaid for now.

There is not much wrong with 16* launch and 1600 spin. Just tee the ball down about 1”. That should bring contact down to horizontal center and increase your spin. 

[nsxguy]

33 minutes ago, hlca said:

 

On mishits as low as 500 rpm.  Better hits are 1600 or so.  On the sim, I get a lot of knuckleballs that fall out of the sky -- don't see this as much on the course as I tee it up higher than I did in the store.  I posted in Instruction and got a bunch of feedback.  Was wondering if there was an equipment-based bandaid for now.

 

Nobody cares about mishits.

 

1600, presumably on good/flush (not just "better") strikes is still too low for a 90 mph swing. What did they say in the instruction section about your techique ? You know, to get such low spin.

 

And if you can't tee the ball at the height you play at, the fitting is basically useless - as are the results.