Smash factor improvement

[mazzofab]

Hi guys,

Seeking assistance on the matter in subject. I have bought myself a portable launch monitor and it's the past month I have been practicing and analyzing my numbers. I have done a lot of improvement and now know well my numbers but it seems that I have got to a standstill. I am comparing my numbers with a chart I have found of average PGA tour numbers and I cannot get past certain numbers. For example, with a 5 iron I have an average swing speed of 92 mph but I cannot go over a smash factor of 1.3 and I am getting a carry distance of 180 yards out of it. The PGA averages are 94 mph 195 carry with a smash factor of 1.41. I know for sure that I am hitting the sweet spot as I have impact tape and I see that the club is not hitting toe or heel. I have taken my measurements and I have setup my clubs. I am 6 1" and I use standard length clubs with a +1° upright adjustment as per Taylor specs. I have tested the clubs with a lie board and the impact on the sole if perfect center. The clubs I play are Taylormade MC tour preferred 2011 model and the length of the 5 iron is 37.75 inches (shaft length, grip not included). These are 1/4 inch shorter than "standard" as per taylormade spec sheet. I have project X 6.0 shafts on these.

So the question is: what else should I look on to in order to improve my smash factor to get around the 1.4 ish which seems to roughly be the "perfect" number for a 5 iron and get those extra 10 yards and better consistency?

Thanks and regards to all!!

[mgoblue83]

What launch monitor are you using?

Smash factor is simply a ratio between ball speed and club speed and dramatically changes based on how different monitors measure club speed. For example Foresight products always have a lower smash factor than Trackman because they measure swing speed faster than Trackman.

 

If I were you I would NOT care about smash factor OR carry distance at all and just try to improve your ball speed through better contact and a faster swing. Most likely your launch monitor is reading your swing speed differently than the monitors used for those "PGA Tour averages" and the carry distance won't be accurate without accurate spin numbers but the ball speed number should be accurate. Even cheap monitors do a good job with ball speed and should be how you determine quality strikes and improvement.

[MonteScheinblum]

I’ll agree with mgoblue. The easiest way to mess up your golf swing is to chase numbers on a chart. Especially PgA tour averages. They are just that, averages and all of them fall in a huge range. Tour average AoA for 6 iron is 4.1 down. Koepka has a screenshot on the net that’s down 9. Rahm down 6.

 

The numbers are also not to be looked at as a singularity. You look at all of them and look for mismatches of 1-2 numbers and your ball flight, not one number that doesn’t match the tour average.

I had a client who ruined his swing before he came to me with his flightscope. He was steep than the tour average with his irons and did everything he could to make them match. He showed me before and after videos of his quest and turned himself into a massive hip thruster. Flightscope AOA measures in a different spot than trackman and tend to be steeper.

 

Numbers on a launch monitor are only to be analyzed against themselves for that individual.

[ThinkingPlus]

The only numbers in golf to chase are the ones you write on your scorecard.

[mazzofab]

It's the swing caddie 100. Thanks for all info. I'll definitely have a look at the ball speed.

[Hawkeye77]

So basically ball speed, carry and smash factor? What do those really get you in terms of practice and improvement?

[xmanhockey7]

Assuming numbers are accurate it’s likely a spin loft issue. Too many people don’t square the face properly or don’t have enough forward shaft lean at impact. Like Monte said don’t chase numbers to chase numbers.