Amateurs launch angles

[SollyinGA]

Let’s say the amateur is a 14 hcap with a repeatable swing and is a good ball striker. 7 iron CHS is around 80 mph(PGAT average is 90).

 

The PGA Tour average according to trackman for launch angle of a 7 iron is 16 degrees. The avg decent angle is 50 degrees.
 

Understanding that most amateurs use jacked lofts, I would guess that would be the equivalent of an amateur launching a 7 iron at 20 degrees (correct me if you have another number).

 

Wouldn’t there be point where the launch angle from the amateur could be too low if they worked on getting it lower? That point would be where the decent angle is less than 45 degrees making it difficult to hold greens.

 

My theory is that most amateurs would be better with a higher launch angle and give up distance in order to stick more approaches on the green?

 

What do you guys think?

[SNIPERBBB]

Most of the jacked irons have low CoG to put the ball up in the air to counter the lower spin 

[SollyinGA]

2 hours ago, SNIPERBBB said:

Most of the jacked irons have low CoG to put the ball up in the air to counter the lower spin 

Right, they do, but I’ve played with players who struggle to get that kind of height that would allow them to hold the green.

Maybe I’m talking more of a 20+ hcap type of player.

 

I suppose the main question that I’m asking, isn’t decent angle more important than launch angle or distance with your irons?

Edited June 3, 2023 by SollyinGA

[iacas]

4 hours ago, SollyinGA said:

I suppose the main question that I’m asking, isn’t decent angle more important than launch angle or distance with your irons?

 

Yes.

 

6 hours ago, SollyinGA said:

My theory is that most amateurs would be better with a higher launch angle and give up distance in order to stick more approaches on the green?

 

Most amateurs (I teach, but I also watch a LOT of the PXG fittings at our academy) actually launch the ball pretty high, and have a decent landing angle.

 

When they do work to improve, they often increase spin and ball speed, so the ball still comes in at a decent landing angle.

 

And below a certain point in ball speed (or swing speed), they're not gonna get 40°+ landing angle with good distance, so they have to start to play a little bounce/roll at the end of their 6I or longer, sometimes their 7Is or longer.

 

In other words, I haven't seen a shallow landing angle being a big issue for many golfers.

 

Edit to add: except with their drivers. Many amateurs hit the ball too low with their drivers, and like to see the ball run out there, when they should be trying to carry the ball farther.

Edited June 3, 2023 by iacas

[getitdaily]

14 cap with a repeatable swing...

 

That's a pseudo oxymoron 

Edited June 3, 2023 by getitdaily

[SNIPERBBB]

13 hours ago, SollyinGA said:

Right, they do, but I’ve played with players who struggle to get that kind of height that would allow them to hold the green.

Maybe I’m talking more of a 20+ hcap type of player.

 

I suppose the main question that I’m asking, isn’t decent angle more important than launch angle or distance with your irons?

Spin and angle help a lot. What one play needs isn't what another does. Some of the old farts I play with...I can probably hit the ball higher with my putter than they can with a  wedge. Those guys master the art of bouncing it on as they don't have the speed to get the ball high enough to hold the green if they land the ball on the green. 

[Chunkitgood]

95 % plus add loft.  That 14 capper with a good repeatable is using his clubs wrong.

 

That’s why he will never be scratch and will get below ten only after really grooving that bad swing, which means when he is a five he will go to a coach who will tell him to make scratch he needs radical changes, upon which he will post his dilemma (whether to change or keep the grooved bad swing that got him to 5) on this forum, and decide based on the advice he receives to not make the changes.

 

If you strike the ball properly (do not add loft on normal shots) you will get good launch angles, good descent angles, good spin, and well all the other good things, or at least a good chance at having them.  
 

If you rely on your clubs to deliver any particular result…you better have the right clubs and be inhumanly consistent.

 

 

[Gsea]

14 caps don't have repeatable swings hence their 14 caps

[GoGoErky]

30 minutes ago, Gsea said:

14 caps don't have repeatable swings hence their 14 caps

They have repeatable swings they just don’t have consistency in the their compensations. 

[phizzy30]

3 hours ago, getitdaily said:

14 cap with a repeatable swing...

 

That's a pseudo oxymoron 

But.......but.......what about the guy that claims he's a good ball striker, but has a s**** short game that's a 14 cap?  🤣  I've seen some of those threads here.........