Launch Angle is the angle the ball takes off at relative to the horizon
Launch angle is highly correlated to dynamic loft.
Launch angle will always be a little less than dynamic loft, but will have a similar value.
Along with ball speed, launch angle is a primary component to determining the height and distance of a shot.
Every golfer should be fitted to achieve the optimal balance of launch angle and spin rate based on their club speed and ball speed.
Technical Definition:
Launch Angle – The vertical angle relative to the horizon of the golf ball’s center of gravity movement immediately after leaving the club face
Tour Averages
PGA TOUR
- Driver – 10.9 deg
- 6 iron – 14.1 deg
LPGA Tour
- Driver – 13.2 degrees
- 6 iron – 17.1 degrees
For a full list of Tour averages, visit TrackMan PGA and LPGA Tour Averages
TrackMan Combine Averages
Male Amateur (Driver)
- Scratch of Better – 11.2 degrees
- 5 HCP – 11.2 degrees
- 10 HCP – 11.9 degrees
- Average Golfer (14.5) – 12.6 degrees
- Bogey Golfer – 12.1 degrees
Female Amateur (Driver)
- Scratch or Better – 12.7 degrees
- 5 HCP – 12.0 degrees
- 10 HCP – 12.4 degrees
- 15 HCP – 13.6 degrees
Learn more about TrackMan Combine, visit TrackMan Combine Explained
The standard assumption for launch angle comes from the TrackMan Optimizer. For the driver, a club speed of 94 mph, attack angle of 0 degrees, and optimized carry results in a launch angle of 13.6 degrees. For a 6-iron, a club speed of 80 mph and mid-trajectory results in a launch angle of 16.9 degrees. For a PW, a club speed of 72 mph and mid-trajectory results in a launch angle of 26.7 degrees.
What our TrackMan Masters say about Launch Angle…
Joel Mercieca KDV Sports, Australia
Joel Mercieca– “Launch angle is a number that I refer to regularly during the fitting process.
I also use launch angle as one of the four parameters in our shot shaping test.
The test calls for the golfer to purposely manipulate their ball flight on call.
The ability to control your launch angle is a major part of total game development and creative visualization.“
Dom Dijulia Dom DiJulia School of Golf, United States
“Monitoring launch angle can help golfers at all levels. In combination with launch direction, it can be monitored to help less skilled golfers earn “ball-turf” contact for the first time because they invariably launch the ball higher than optimal.
As golfers become more skilled, launch angle can be monitored for many reasons.
One example is using it to develop higher and lower shots to better match course conditions.
It can also be used to check for consistency as it has a big influence on controlling carry.”
Jamie McConnell JM Golf Academy, Ireland
“Having the correct launch angle and combining it with the correct spin rate is really important in order to getthe most out of a golfer’s clubs during a fitting.
Too high or too low a launch angle and the golfer will lose distance.”
The average launch angle for a driver seems low at 10.9. Most guides say from 12-15 deg obviously depending on spin, but high launch low spin for distance. I would have thought with the fitting facilities for tour pro’s the numbers would be better. More like Bubba’s 15 deg 1900 spin. Is this average loft of 10.9 because most pro’s have too much spin so the lower loft counteracts the higher spin?
James,
These number are averages, and when you look at the attack angle for the same chart, you can see that the average attack angle is -1.3 (https://blog.trackmangolf.com/pga-tour-averages-stats/). These averages represent many different players and swing types.
We know that the ball starts 85% from the face/loft and 15% from the path/attack angle. With the launch angle being 10,9 deg, then the Dyn Loft at impact is 11,1 deg. (10,9 + 15% of AoA) and a Spin loft of 12,2 deg.
The relationship of launch angle and spin rate is always different based on the club speed and attack angle.
Due to the fact the the average is hitting down on the ball, and the spin loft being higher than in your example with Bubba, this shot will need a lower launch due to a higher spin rate compared to the shot that can produce a high launch with low spin.
Feel free to contact us at support@trackmangolf.com if you have any additional questions that we can help you with.
Thanks,
Niklas Bergdahl
Support Manager Europe & Asia
How do I calculate the total carry yards with attack angel and clubhead speed?
when was this last updated?
I try to hit my 19° 4 iron with a negative angle of attack to get the ball higher and spin less. If my launch angle is between 16-17° does that mean my dynamic loft is higher than 19°?