Lead Tape to Decrease Driver Spin

[Golferguy209]

Does anyone have experience with applying lead tape to decrease their driver spin?

 

Currently gaming a TS3 9.5* AV Raw White 65x set at D1 and still seeing my spin average around 2800.  I thought about applying lead tape towards the face on the bottom of the club to promote less spin.  If that doesn't work, my next plan was to switch to a lower lofted driver.  Ultimate goal is getting spin closer to 2000-2200.

[mcounci2]

Your driver head weighs, let's say 200g for simplicity's sake.  If you add 2g of tape, you'll take it to D2 and add 1% to the mass of the head.  I would think the amount of tape you'd need to produce a measurable effect would be detrimental to swing speed, unless you could swap or remove the weight in the back of the club.  But, if you do that, you're going to have literal gobs of tape on there.  I would think you're probably better off trying a lower spin head or checking out your delivery.

[Golferguy209]

8 minutes ago, mcounci2 said:

Your driver head weighs, let's say 200g for simplicity's sake.  If you add 2g of tape, you'll take it to D2 and add 1% to the mass of the head.  I would think the amount of tape you'd need to produce a measurable effect would be detrimental to swing speed, unless you could swap or remove the weight in the back of the club.  But, if you do that, you're going to have literal gobs of tape on there.  I would think you're probably better off trying a lower spin head or checking out your delivery.

 

Thank you for the advice.  I had read that through other posts and YouTube videos.  I still have a ball flight that is more mid but the spin rate is 2800 like I mentioned.  It may be inevitable to look at a lower spin head.  I can probably go to my local golf shop and look at the delivery, I've been working on hitting up on the ball more.

[Stuart_G]

39 minutes ago, Golferguy209 said:

Does anyone have experience with applying lead tape to decrease their driver spin?

 

Currently gaming a TS3 9.5* AV Raw White 65x set at D1 and still seeing my spin average around 2800.  I thought about applying lead tape towards the face on the bottom of the club to promote less spin.  If that doesn't work, my next plan was to switch to a lower lofted driver.  Ultimate goal is getting spin closer to 2000-2200.

 

lead tape is only going to help if a change of swing weight might help the delivery.   Play around with it (add it 2 gm at a time) but don't worry about where on the head you place it.  The point is to change the head weight or swing weight, not to move the c.g.

 

But first you need to check face impact location and consistency with foot powder spray (don't rely on feel alone).   That is the #1 factor that determines how much spin you get.   If it's below center, then you need to find a way to improve the face impact (higher on the face) before looking at anything else.    If it's at center, you could try to get it up a little higher on the face.   If the impact is already above center, then the going lower with the loft can help a little but but you'd probably have to fix the delivery (forget AoA, you need to lower the dynamic loft delivered) to get it down to your target levels.

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by Stuart_G

[mcounci2]

2 minutes ago, Golferguy209 said:

 

Thank you for the advice.  I had read that through other posts and YouTube videos.  I still have a ball flight that is more mid but the spin rate is 2800 like I mentioned.  It may be inevitable to look at a lower spin head.  I can probably go to my local golf shop and look at the delivery, I've been working on hitting up on the ball more.

 

If you're getting high spin numbers and a reasonably low flight, I'd guess your impact is too low.  I second the foot powder recommendation

[Golferguy209]

2 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

 

lead tape is only going to help if a change of swing weight might help the delivery.   Play around with it (add it 2 gm at a time) but don't worry about where on the head you place it.  The point is to change the head weight or swing weight, not to move the c.g.

 

But first you need to check face impact location and consistency with foot powder spray (don't rely on feel alone).   That is the #1 factor that determines how much spin you get.   If it's below center, then you need to find a way to improve the face impact (higher on the face) before looking at anything else.    If it's at center, you could try to get it up a little higher on the face.   If the impact is already above center, then the going lower with the loft can help a little but but you'd probably have to fix the delivery (forget AoA, you need to lower the dynamic loft delivered) to get it down to your target levels.

 

 

I've definitely been using the foot powder spray, even looking in clearance section if any happens to be on sale.  I'll definitely pay closer attention to face impact.  I need to take more side videos at the range.  Thanks for the tips!

[Howard_Jones]

55 minutes ago, Golferguy209 said:

 

I've definitely been using the foot powder spray, even looking in clearance section if any happens to be on sale.  I'll definitely pay closer attention to face impact.  I need to take more side videos at the range.  Thanks for the tips!

Spin on DRIVERs, is ALL about vertical gear effects made by the difference to COG on the club head vs COG in the ball.

Imagine a train standing still on a strait railway line, and another train comes from behind....
COG in the train in front is 100% in level with COG of the train behind, so its 100% power transfer, all strait forward.

If we could do the same with a driver, the only reduction to power transfer who is converted to launch and spin comes from loft at impact or dynamic loft.

But...we hardly ever make impact "that pure", we vary a little, and when we move impact up or down vs COG on the face, the club head will either twist forward (below COG impact), who reduces launch angle, but add tons of spin, and the other way, a impact above COG will make the club head to twist back, add launch and cut off spin.

The only thing lead tape can help out with here, is like Stuart said, to tune up head weight so we can improve impact consistency in the area of the face we want it. (go by feel and how it works, just forget grams and SW values)

This 3 charts and the illustrations explains how a driver works for a player we measure to 100 mph club speed. The club speed vary on the face. with a "slow heel side" and "fast toe side", and this "speed lines" goes in a angle of about 60* on the face, thats why the lines are diagonal.

2/8 against the toe is 1 mph faster and opposite, so the lines ive made is 0.5" apart and 2 mph (Blue to the Green line is 0.5" apart)
Speed on the blue line is 99, on the black its 100, and on the green its 101

 
The chart shows the expected spin and launch values, depending on impact height on the 3 chosen club speed lines, and as carry, there is about 16 yards difference from the BLUE to the RED dot, and total about 25 yards...ALL due to where we make impact.

1/8" UP or DOWN will as average change spin with 240 Rpm, and launch by 0.35* so all it takes for you to get spin level down to where you want it, move impact about 3/8" higher than where it is now (on a 60* angle up against the toe, like the club speed lines)

Simply avoid making impact below the center line, keep it above it and a tad toe side in the area of the RED spot to maximize ball speed, to add launch, and cut off spin by taking advantage of vertical gear effects.



If you want the max out of your driver (who dont?), follow this DIY driver tune up who helps you to locate Vertical Center of Gravity (VCOG) and to tune up both shaft length, shaft weight and head weight.

Lead tape is fantastic here, but it cant do anything with spin directly, only indirectly if added weight improves your ability to make impact in the ideal area of the face, since thats where spin is made and comes from due to head twisting at impact and vertical gear effects
 

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by Howard_Jones

[BigBlue7]

Just adjust your driver down in loft.  Will make a much more noticeable difference in spin than adding lead tape would ever do

[Golferguy209]

@Howard_Jones thank you for the information!  I enjoy learning the more technical aspects of golf.  I'll definitely subscribe to that posting you shared.

 

Thanks again.

[Golferguy209]

1 hour ago, jlukes said:

Just adjust your driver down in loft.  Will make a much more noticeable difference in spin than adding lead tape would ever do

 

Thanks.  As I mentioned I currently have my setting at D1 but I guess if I moved the setting to C2 it will be .75 upright and -.75* loft so should be more delofted at impact.

[Red4282]

3 hours ago, Golferguy209 said:

 

Thanks.  As I mentioned I currently have my setting at D1 but I guess if I moved the setting to C2 it will be .75 upright and -.75* loft so should be more delofted at impact.

Only loft down if the launch numbers supports such a move. Do you know them? Also check strike of course. Last, the TS3 isnt the best head for low spin. The (4) is their low spin head, you might give that a look. I found the (3) 400-500 rpms more spin than my current gamer SIM. You can use lead tape to change cog and spin properties but you would need to add a significant amount (10g or so) low and forward near the face, but also at the same time removing the rear weighting to counter that. This move will also decrease dynamic loft as there will be less shaft deflection. You will lost a bit of forgiveness, but that can definitely bring spin down. 

Edited February 25, 2021 by Red4282