Is there a major difference in 9.5 and 10.5 loft

[tmagfan2010]

i know there is mathimatically but distance wise

i notice alot of tour players use 8.5 degree lofts, why is that and is there a major difference in 9.5 and 10.5 lofts cause i dont see much but i may be hitting it wrong. also.. can you change the loft on a r7 but changing the weigthts like making a 10.5 play like a 8.5

[gjones77]

It has more to do with back spin and launch angle than anything else really when they use an 8.5 or a 9.5. or a 10.5 for that matter

 

A perfect example is me at the golf expo in Boston today, I got fitted by the Cleveland Tour Van and because of the amount oif back spin I generate due to my swing speed I needed a 8.5* driver with an X-Flex shaft, now if you're unable to generate enough backspin (Around 2500 - 3000 rpms on average) you need more loft to help create that back spin, back spin is what keeps the ball in the air and creates greater carry, but too much can create the ballooning effect where the ball goes too high and you lose carry.

 

It's also a matter of launch angle based on your swing, some people have a steeper swing and may need less loft to get a proper launch angle, some need more if they have a flatter swing.

 

So in short, the loft differences are there to make a club that fits a persons swing, it's a combination of these two factors, as well as shaft flex and swing speeds.

 

There really are so many variables when it comes to picking the proper loft.

 

I just always happen to find it funny when a guy who swings around 80 mph uses an 8.5* driver, when you're swing at that speed you'd get better distance and carry from a 10.5 - 11.5

(Now, before anyone complains this opinion is one that is also shared by Tom WIshon and Frank Thomas)

 

And to answer the weights question in your R7, no changing the weights doesn't change the loft, but it does change the trajectory because you're moving the weight forward, which creates a boring trajectory as opposed to a higher more arcing trajectory.

 

I really hope this helped

[Nille]

Changing the position of the weights (and thus the position of the centre of gravity) does not change the static loft, but the dynamic loft. (the angle at which the ball leaves the clubface measured against the horizontal line compared with the actual angle of the clubface). So then, as gjoness77 said, it changes the trajectory and backspin-rate.

 

Best wishes,

Nille