Rather than choosing the specs that your golf buddy or favorite pro uses, you need to make sure that you get a loft that fits your specific golf game and skill level.
First of all, let’s start off with the definition of what loft is.
The loft is defined as the angle of the face of the club that ranges between 4 and 20 degrees and is used to maximize your distance by increasing or decreasing the ball spin and launch angle.
Ultimately having the right loft creates optimized conditions for you to hit your farthest and straightest shots at your current skill level.
However, if you get the loft wrong it can wreak havoc on your golf game and cause you to struggle even more at a game this is already difficult enough.
So, the key is to get the right specs for your game and keep them up to date as you improve.
Choosing the Right Loft For Your Driver
When figuring out your perfect loft there is one main thing that you need to keep in mind.
The speed of your swing.
The best way to do this is to get a trackman fitting with a professional.
However, if for any reason you aren’t able to you can also estimate it.
You do this by finding the club that you hit 150 yards.
If it’s a 7 iron then your swing speed is between 95 and 104 mph.
Then for every club length that you go down you ad 5 – 10 mph and for every club length, you go up you subtract 5 – 10 mph.
So, if you hit an 8 iron 150 yards then your swing speed is between 104 and 114 and so forth.
Once you know your swing speed, this gives you somewhat of an indicator of what loft you should choose as shown in the table below:
- 85 mph > = 14 – 20 degrees
- 95-104 mph = 10 – 11 degree
- 105 – 115 mph = 7 – 9 degrees
- 116 – 130 + mph = 4 – 7 degrees
The loft angle of your driver is also related to your skill level.
The loft of your club will give you more spin and more launch getting your ball higher in the air with the goal of getting it to go farther.
Typically higher lofts are wanted by less experienced players as they are after distance and consistency more than control.
Additionally, as swing speeds get faster, they naturally create more spin and launch on their own, without needing the help of added loft.
If you are new to the game, you may want to go with a higher loft, while more skilled players want to stick with lower lofts.
Now, swing speed and skill level are closely related as, often, players get faster swing speeds as they get more skilled (age does play a role in this as well).
But, being honest with yourself about your skill level can help you to put yourself in the right general territory as to what loft you should be choosing.
Now, you may have noticed something…
A majority of the ways to tell what loft you should choose for your drivers aren’t very exact and here’s why…
The only way to know exactly what loft you need for your driver is to get a custom trackman fitting at your local pro shop (or wherever you can find it) because this gives you the exact numbers you need.
It tells you your exact swing speed, exact distance, exact attack angle, and everything else that you need to hone in on the perfect specs for your golf game!
So, if you want to take out the guesswork and get the EXACT recommendations for what loft would work best for your specific golf game, then make sure you schedule a custom fitting so that you can have all the information you need to be able to make the best decision possible.
Are you local to Sacramento?
Request a custom trackman fitting at Haggin Oaks by calling (916) 808-2531
And no, you don’t have to buy your golf equipment from the pro that fits you. Once you know your specs you can buy from whoever can get you exactly what you want that you trust the most.
Already know your specs?
We would love it if you would check out our online store mortongolfsales.com for your new equipment.
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