Accuracy of launch monitors

[jmaron9]

I just attended a taylormade demo day at a Golftec location. I currently use a Taylormade R1 - set to 9.5 loft, 1 degree closed with the 10g weight in the heal. My club speed seems to average around 106-112 depending on how hard I go at it.

 

My typical ball speed is 150-160, and spin rates around 3000 with distances 270-290.

 

Today after trying some SLDR 460 with different shafts and lofts they eventually worked me to a SLDR TP 430, 10.5 loft, adjustment fade, S+62 std with x flex.

 

My spin rates with the 460 SLDR were better than my R1 (avg around 2600) but my numbers were with the 430 model were way better.... avg swing speed was the same as always around 110, but spin rate avg was 1974 rpm, carry 285, total distance 311. Other than the shaft change the other major change was they put the weight to fade.

 

My question is - how the heck do I know if these numbers coming out of the machine are valid? I'm a decent golfer - 1 handicap, but I also get skeptical when people are selling me equipment. Could changing a shaft, head size and weighting make such a difference?

 

I appreciate any feedback

[ckguy914]

Which launch monitor was used?

[jmaron9]

[color=#000000]Foresight® launch monitors[/color]

[dbleag]

As long as you were comparing all clubs on the same launch monitor and using the same balls, your comparative results should be dependable.

The distances/spins/angles may not be correct, but as long as you are comparing "apples to apples", you can tell which club works best for you.

[rymail00]

I have played few rounds on simulators around where i live, and averaged 99-104 mph (yes i know with such low swing speed i will probably get kicked off WRX).. 2 days ago i went to our Dicks Sporting Goods and hopped on their POS LM (I worked trust me its terrible).

Anyways. I hit 4 drivers, SLDR 9.5°, 10.5°, BB 9.0°, BBA 9.0°. It said my swing speed ranged from average with all drivers was 87 mph, with averaged over all distance of 274. I am no expert on LM's but, that low of swing speed can not produce those numbers.

The thing that i payed attention to was launch, spin, and over all distance. I am not going to take the distance the LM says seriously. I use it just for comparison between the other drivers but that it. I own a skycaddie so i have an idea of my driver distance is, 275 is not average.

If you can make sure you hit your drive against the one your testing. That way you have a reference to go off of.

[rymail00]

[quote name='dbleag' timestamp='1397702971' post='9108993']
As long as you were comparing all clubs on the same launch monitor and using the same balls, your comparative results should be dependable.

The distances/spins/angles may not be correct, but as long as you are comparing "apples to apples", you can tell which club works best for you.
[/quote]

I was writing my response when you posted this. You said it better and in half as many words lol.

[jmaron9]

appreciate the replies - they make perfect sense. Major Winner - I actually tried a simulator at a Golf Town location that said my club speed was 122 and my overall distance 285 spin rates around 3000...which I knew didn't make any sense from doing some reading.

Not thrilled about shelling out $600 for a driver - but 1000 less rpm is a big deal I guess.

[mhendon]

[quote name='jmaron9' timestamp='1397701142' post='9108729']
I just attended a taylormade demo day at a Golftec location. I currently use a Taylormade R1 - set to 9.5 loft, 1 degree closed with the 10g weight in the heal. My club speed seems to average around 106-112 depending on how hard I go at it.

My typical ball speed is 150-160, and spin rates around 3000 with distances 270-290.

Today after trying some SLDR 460 with different shafts and lofts they eventually worked me to a SLDR TP 430, 10.5 loft, adjustment fade, S+62 std with x flex.

My spin rates with the 460 SLDR were better than my R1 (avg around 2600) but my numbers were with the 430 model were way better.... avg swing speed was the same as always around 110, but spin rate avg was 1974 rpm, carry 285, total distance 311. Other than the shaft change the other major change was they put the weight to fade.

My question is - how the heck do I know if these numbers coming out of the machine are valid? I'm a decent golfer - 1 handicap, but I also get skeptical when people are selling me equipment. Could changing a shaft, head size and weighting make such a difference?

I appreciate any feedback
[/quote]Here's what I do every time I consider a new club and suggest you do if you haven't already bought that club. Go back and put it up against your current gammer side by side. The launch monitor doesn't know which club your hitting and you'll get a better idea of how far your actually hitting it since you already know what your current driver does on the course. What I will say is I've found most launch monitors I've been on pretty accurate on carry distance I'd say within 5 yards. Keep in mind launch monitors are assuming optimum conditions.

[drake47]

The terms "launch monitor" and "simulator" are being thrown around as if they are one in the same. If you were on an actual launch monitor that uses Doppler radar (Trackman, Flightscope) you can be sure that as long as the operator is competent, you numbers should be accurate. Golf simulators are usually camera based systems that use a lot of calculations (guesses!) to come up with the numbers. If you are using a golf simulator, you need to be comparing one club to another only, even then the numbers can be all over the place. The Foresight system you were using is a camera based system (but it is one of the better ones) so your results should really just be used for A/B comparisons between clubs at that time.

[Fade to Black]

Don't worry about the absolute numbers, but rather the relative numbers.

[JEFFERYLEE]

[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1397860013' post='9121661']
Don't worry about the absolute numbers, but rather the relative numbers.
[/quote]

Couldn't agree more-

I was at the PGASS hitting my driver and my total distance never got higher than 270. A short time later I had the chance to use a track man and I was carrying it 280-290 on a good poke. I second using relative numbers!!

[johnnythunders]

Soory Im a rant against launch moniotrs and simulators.

And ranges.

Golf course is where it matters, the rest is all approximation and speculation.

Alos never let someone sell you golf equipment.

Buy golf equipment based on what works for you.

[mwmgolfx]

Question about launch monitor number sounds familiar. I was recently at a TM demo session and the presenter was using a launch monitor (Foresight again, I think). With my 75-80mph clubhead speed, i was getting 180-190 yards carry and 50-70 yards roll with the S driver. He even had me theoretically averaging between 240 and 270 total distance (for my ball speed I don't think so). I questioned the presenter about the validity of the numbers but he claimed they were accurate. Considering that normally I get about the same carry normally most days with my existing driver and normally get about 10-20 yards roll, I just couldn't believe that the driver was going to increase my typical roll by 3-5 times. Played on the course (where the driving range and demo was) and got my usual averages.

From my point of view, the carry numbers were reasonable but roll was out of this world. Needless to say I haven't bought the driver yet. Not when it doesn't improve on what I'm hitting. I've had 4 different fittings for the S in different parts of the country and different days and none of them have improved anything over the old-fashioned r7 that I'm using. Most of them have been worse.

Using your existing club and comparing it to the new proposed club side by side is the only way to be sure. (preferably where you can see the real full ball flight rather than a projected one).