Launch Conditions

[RASWING]

MJ,
There’s always a lot of talk about ideal launch conditions for the driver but are there ideal launch conditions for high launching irons that fall soft;

Short irons and mid irons and long irons

I know that it seems as if short irons look like they launch higher but they reach apex closer to us visually so them seem as if there higher but normally they should all reach the same peak height but the mid and long irons move farther away before the reach there peak so the look lower in flight trajectory so in your studies what’s the ideal launch for irons at say 88 mph for a 6 iron...

If there are would you share them with us?


R/RA

[Michael Jacobs]

MJ,
There’s always a lot of talk about ideal launch conditions for the driver but are there ideal launch conditions for high launching irons that fall soft;

Short irons and mid irons and long irons

I know that it seems as if short irons look like they launch higher but they reach apex closer to us visually so them seem as if there higher but normally they should all reach the same peak height but the mid and long irons move farther away before the reach there peak so the look lower in flight trajectory so in your studies what’s the ideal launch for irons at say 88 mph for a 6 iron...

If there are would you share them with us?


R/RA

RA,

Great question!!! I have some charts and a great article on this in my research files. I am going to dig it up this weekend and try to post it here so we can discuss. This is a great topic !

[RASWING]

Thanks
Looking forward to learning!!!
RA

[Michael Jacobs]

Haven't forgotten you RA, getting you some data. This will be a great help to us all and it will be great to have this posted here for future reference.

[RASWING]

MJ,
Thats cool.
R/
RA

[Michael Jacobs]

Here are some basic statistics to get us started on the topic:

This is data from the PGA and LPGA tours. I always recommend that average golfers pay close attention to the LPGA averages as they are more common to speeds and trajectories produced by the everyday middle of the road handicap male.

PGA TOUR AVERAGE VERTICAL LAUNCH IN DEGREES {initial launch}
5 iron 12.1
6 iron 14.1
7 iron 16.3
8 iron 18.1
9 Iron 20.4
PW 24.2

LPGA TOUR AVERAGE VERTICAL LAUNCH IN DEGREES {initial launch}
5 iron 14.8
6 iron 17.1
7 iron 19
8 iron 20.8
9 Iron 23.9
PW 25.6

PGA TOUR AVERAGE Maximum Height of Ball in Yards
5 iron 31
6 iron 30
7 iron 32
8 iron 31
9 Iron 30
PW 29

LPGA TOUR AVERAGE Maximum Height of Ball in Yards
5 iron 23
6 iron 25
7 iron 26
8 iron 25
9 Iron 26
PW 23


PGA TOUR AVERAGE Land Angle {in degrees}
5 iron 49
6 iron 50
7 iron 50
8 iron 50
9 Iron 51
PW 52

LPGA TOUR AVERAGE Land Angle {in degrees}
5 iron 45
6 iron 46
7 iron 47
8 iron 47
9 Iron 47
PW 48


You probably have found this data to be very interesting, this is the data reported by Trackman

[RASWING]

MJ,
Thanks yes I found this very helpful as I went and found some more data and I went for a trackman session. One on a tour stop with Bmanz then with a place here in FLA.

Learning all the info and numbers and the work done with Brian on the swing, I needed a better launching iron head design as I was launching my shots to low with the iron heads that I have and I was trying so hard to get axis tilt to get the ball up and causing faults in my body action.
So we did some work and with that work my iron club head speed jumped to 91 mph with a 6 iron which is good but my VLA was 11 degrees far from optimized.

I always thought I was a low ball hitter but with a careful eye and the trackman system and checking the data.

I needed a bit of help from my club head design and not through the shafts (which I was always told to sell me more shafts)

The shafts I have are too soft for my action (hard transition in the downswing) which was spinning the ball way to much so I was scared to really swing them as I should also had improper weight.
So I went from a stiff shafted driver off the tee (frequency checked) to be a true stiff shaft to a soft regular flex for my second shots. I had no chance of being consistent no chance.

CPM was so low that they were soft regular shafts... I thought I was properly fit when I purchase them (another joker beating me out of hard earned money). Until I started reading all the info from you and Bmanz

So armed with the knowledge of the data I went and did a fitting on trackman looking for a club head design that would give me the best numbers as close to the data as possible with the correct yardage gaps.... for me.....

So with the 6 iron today best club numbers where these are avgs 91.6 club head speed, vert launch angle 15 degrees, landing angle 47, Ball speed 126.4,

So I was happy with the info and the carry distance and it was a head that I really never would have choose because it’s not what I thought I would like and /or my ego would say to play....

I didn’t do an impulse purchase trying to be smart this time ... my golf club has this company’s demo day this Thursday with trackman on the range off of grass so I will try to confirm the data.... Before I commit to this purchase…. Arm with the data we learn some much the guy said to me “that it was refreshing to have someone in there that knew what they needed and want and had the data with them”.

Thanks MJ, I see why the Pro’s work with the data and numbers to optimize there equipment to match their swings and games….

[RASWING]

To all ,
Sorry all for the long post just wanted everyone to know how I used the data.

Very Very helpful.....

Lessons and the proper fitted clubs makes so much sense.
V/R
RA

[Michael Jacobs]

To all ,
Sorry all for the long post just wanted everyone to know how I used the data.

Very Very helpful.....

Lessons and the proper fitted clubs makes so much sense.
V/R
RA

RA,

There is a definite benefit to having the best equipment possible for the individual. Performance and scoring can indeed be enhanced by applying some very basic ideas. There is always the question of is it worth getting extensively fitted ? I always say it depends on the individual and the golfer's goals. Good stuff!

[RASWING]

MJ,
Headed off to work but i had a thought this morning as i was gettting ready and wanted to ask you about .... I dont know about you and the rest of the site members but i have had the toughiest time finding the ideal 3 wood. In the bag I have been working to get the right set for my game with the use of the data but the 3 wood has been a challenge ... what type do you play? Also i am looking for something for my 3 wood that would be a back up off the tee and also that would launch at a bit lower and produce low spin so that it can roll on the FW... I have a 5 wodd that i love that i hit well all over the place from the tee and FW butits my high launch club and i dont want to change it ... but i think the 3 wood for me needs to be a low burner type club for the shots poff the tee i need to hit low that just take off...

Whats your thoughts?
R/
RA