What constitutes a low or high ball flight?

[BruceHugo]

If anyone knows of a good video reference, that would be nice. I assume what is too high or low for one club is the right height for another, yes? What else can be used as a reference? Is there a known formula or approximation method for determining the optimum vertical path?

[b.mattay]

Here are some averages for PGA and LPGA. Clubs all go about the same height. With really good players, when you get inside 120 yards, peak heights tend to come down (flighted wedges).

 

Higher speeds=higher flights, lower speeds=lower flights in a relative sense too. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by b.mattay

[Exactice808]

Super Generic answer,  repeatable distance gaps.

 

The issue I personally run into, is.  

 

"wow you hit the ball so high",  whats high to others might be optimal to me.

 

Whats low to others might be optimal to them.

 

for me personally how I edify my height/trajectory is 2 fold.

 

1) Actual ability.  some people just naturally hit higher or lower than others based on their swing.

2) Repeatable and reliable efficient distance.

 

with #2, I generically use the Trajectory optimizer - https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

 

To validate the most optimal ball flight based on my swing speed.    Once I find the OPTIMAL ball flight, I see if I have the talent to replicate, And there is my numbers.

 

Example. 

 

I have a swing speed of 100mph X 1.5 (max optimal smash) = 150mph ball speed. (generically, the most optimal shot I can produce)

 

Now I figure out my launch angle and spin. Generically on any given day for optimization, that would be 14* launch angle and 2500rpms of spin. This should give me 248y of carry,  peak height of 100ft. this is for 150mph ballspeeds,  

 

 

Now I can play with these numbers,  +/-2* of launch angle and +/-500rpms of spin.  this would be my efficiency,

 

But as you can see peak height/trajectory changes.

 

12* LA & 2000rpms of spin  = 78ft - Carry 243y - (Minus - 5 yards)

16* LA & 3000rpms of spin = 122ft - Carry 247y - (Minus 1 yard)

 

 

 

These Numbers ALL change on your ACTUAL ball speeds.

90mph swing speed X 1.50 = 135 ballspeed 

120mph swing speed X 1.50 = 180 ballspeed.

 

 

You would not have the same trajectory as  14* LA and 2500rpms of spin for the most efficient trajectory across the board.  You gotta figure it out. And see if you have the ability to apply it.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Exactice808

[BruceHugo]

13 minutes ago, b.mattay said:

Here are some averages for PGA and LPGA. Clubs all go about the same height. With really good players, when you get inside 120 yards, peak heights tend to come down (flighted wedges).

 

Higher speeds=higher flights, lower speeds=lower flights in a relative sense too. 

 

Any idea what the Max Height std dev is? Assuming 16 yards of max height is still within reason, than full swings that wouldn't clear a three-story building are probably too low, yeah?

[b.mattay]

11 minutes ago, BruceHugo said:

 

Any idea what the Max Height std dev is? Assuming 16 yards of max height is still within reason, than full swings that wouldn't clear a three-story building are probably too low, yeah?

No idea. I just looked up the apex height for driver on the Pga. https://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02407.html. Highest is Bryson at 150ft (really high speed guy), lowest is Fitzpatrick at 68ft. 16 yards is pretty low unless you are intentionally keeping it down or have a super low swing speed. 

[Aviador Naval]

As with everything, there is room for interpretation but link below is a good starting point.

 

Short story - reasonable targets based on 6i SS are:

 

95 mph = 36 yds

85 mph = 32 yds

75 mph = 26 yds

65 mph = 19 yds

 

https://blog.trackmangolf.com/max-height/

 

 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Aviador Naval

[SNIPERBBB]

Another thing to think about too...are you wanting to optimize for distance or holding greens?

 

Better thing to look at is your actual trajectory.  Does it looks more like the first hill of a roller coaster or more of a flat topped arch? The former is great for holding greens but terrible in the wind and distance. The latter is pretty much the opposite.  Somewhere in the middle is where you want to be.