If you haven’t had the pleasure (or displeasure) of getting on a Trackman or GC Quad device - do yourself a favor and find a local place that offers them. I say pleasure because it’s great info and good fun. I say displeasure because a lot of folks are shocked to see how far they actually hit the ball. Unless you believe Twitter, where EVERYONE hits it 300….

Typically you can rent a bay for $30-$60 and gain invaluable information about your game. Starting out, you don’t even have to understand what you’re looking at. Trackman, for instance, will record all the data from your session and you can send it to yourself in an email and open it later to get REALLLY granular.

If nothing else, everyone should at least do a gapping session to understand EXACTLY how far they carry every club in the bag…not just how far they THINK they hit that 7-iron downwind on their A-swing days. This week we dig into a few launch monitor metrics that you can start with…

Mastering Launch Monitors: Key Data Points for Precision Performance

Launching a golf ball isn't just about swinging the club; it's a symphony of factors that influence its flight. Enter launch monitors like Trackman and GC Quad—the technological maestros behind dissecting every nuance of a golf shot. To hit your stride and perfect your game, keeping an eagle eye on certain data points is key. Ball speed is key, and we are all looking to increase it - and focusing on certain metrics can help with that chase. Here are the top 5 crucial metrics to monitor and why they hold the reins to your performance:

1. Clubhead Speed

Why it Matters: Clubhead speed is the engine driving your shot. It determines how much energy transfers to the ball upon impact. A higher clubhead speed typically correlates with greater distance.

Impact on Ball Flight: A faster clubhead speed often results in a higher initial ball speed, launching the ball farther down the fairway.

Effect on Shot Dispersion: Faster clubhead speeds, if not controlled, might lead to increased shot dispersion, potentially causing erratic ball flight.

2. Launch Angle

Why it Matters: The launch angle sets the ball's initial trajectory. Finding the optimal angle based on the club and shot type maximizes distance and control.

Impact on Ball Flight: A higher launch angle with the appropriate spin can help the ball stay airborne longer, increasing carry distance.

Effect on Shot Dispersion: Launch angles that deviate significantly from the ideal can cause inconsistencies in shot shape and distance.

3. Spin Rate

Why it Matters: Spin rate influences the ball's stability and its ability to maintain a consistent trajectory through the air.

Impact on Ball Flight: Proper spin rate optimizes lift and control. Too much spin can lead to ballooning shots that don't travel far; too little can cause shots to fall short.

Effect on Shot Dispersion: High spin rates might lead to more control but can result in shorter distances and potential accuracy issues if excessive.

4. Smash Factor

Why it Matters: Smash Factor is the efficiency of energy transfer from the clubhead to the ball. It’s the ratio of ball speed to clubhead speed.

Impact on Ball Flight: A higher smash factor indicates more efficient energy transfer, leading to increased ball speed and, subsequently, greater distance.

Effect on Shot Dispersion: Consistent smash factors generally result in more predictable ball flights and distances.

5. Angle of Attack (AoA)

Why it Matters: Angle of Attack refers to the angle at which the clubhead approaches the ball concerning the ground. It affects launch angle and spin rate.

Impact on Ball Flight: A positive angle of attack (hitting up on the ball) can increase launch angle and distance for certain shots. Conversely, a negative angle of attack (hitting down on the ball) can decrease launch and distance.

Effect on Shot Dispersion: An inconsistent angle of attack can lead to unpredictable shots, affecting both distance and direction.

While the metrics listed above are often some of the most important ones - they are by no means the only ones. Depending on how deep you want dive into the data, others such as these can also deliver crucial information to help sort out an errant swing:

• Face Angle - the horizontal direction your club face is pointing at impact - is it open, closed, or square. Most of the time, the direction your club face is pointing at impact dictates the start direction of the ball (if you are a right-handed golfer and your face is closed at impact - your ball will likely start left of the target line).

• Club Path - the direction you are swinging the club. If you hear someone say “in-to-out” or “out-to-in” this is typically what they mean. The Club Path typically influences the curve of the ball. A positive Club Path (in-to-out) will create a draw for a right-hander and vice-versa.

• Low Point - here is one I often struggle with. The Low Point indicates the bottom of the swing - are you hitting the bottom of that swing arc BEFORE or AFTER the ball. As a sweeper who doesn’t make deep divots, this is one metric I constantly work to improve.

Mastering these critical data points transforms a golf swing from an art to a science. They provide the roadmap to optimize your launch conditions, guiding the ball through the air with precision and consistency. Whether fine-tuning for maximum distance or dialing in accuracy, monitoring and adjusting these metrics lay the groundwork for achieving your desired results on the course.

For even more info to educate yourself on launch monitor data, I highly recommend the Trackman sites. Their blog is available here and has more than enough to keep you entertained for hours.

Adam Porzak Golf

There are waaay too many YouTube options out there for golf instruction, and many of the tips and tricks available have nothing whatsoever to do with your particular swing. So while I don’t advocate getting too bogged down in the myriad of crap out there - there are some instructors that do it well and offer some pretty darn good content. Adam Porzak has a stable of great young players that he coaches on the channel - and those dudes are pretty salty. His style seems a little more rigid than say a Milo Lines (featured in an Issue #2), but he’s a good follow and you certainly can’t go wrong building a swing off his fundamentals.

Some of Our Favorite Instagram Follows:

• The King of Scoobie, the G-Man - George Gankas

• Evan Schiller Photography - showcasing some of the most amazing courses in the world

• Decade Golf and Scott Fawcett - common sense strategy to lower your scores

• My Golf Spy - love the testing, gear reviews and especially the annual Ball Test

• Adam Porzak Golf - lots of great tips and sweet golf swings