Question

1.50K viewsFebruary 27, 2023

BConnellan 52 February 27, 2023 0 Comments

Let me apologize in advance for the long winded question… I’ve spent some time on Trackman in the last few weeks getting ready for the season. Looking at my driver numbers I am wondering if I am missing out a some carry distance. I’ll give you numbers from my last driver (which was fit in 2013) for reference

2013 Ping G25 – SS 105.2mph Ball 156.8mph Smash 1.49 Launch 13.2′ Spin 2597rpm Carry 260.9yds

2023 Ping G410LST – SS 108.2mph Ball 156.6mph Smash 1.45 Launch 13.0′ Spin 2547rpm Carry 262.3yds

I know that Trackman had issues with G410 when it first came out and was inflating clubhead speeds but I would assume firmware updates would have corrected that by now. My 5 wood speed is 101mph and 3 wood is 103mph so 108mph seems reasonable to me but maybe I’m just trying to inflate my 50yo ego! Looking at the optimal launch & spin chart from Ping I appear to be pretty close. If 108 is correct I guess I need to work on my strike because I would hope with an extra 3mph of speed I could gain more than 1.4 yards.

I know that the G410 is bordering on antique at this point but does anybody know if that trackman issue still exists? I am fighting the urge to buy the KE4 TCMax but these numbers seem really good to me, I just wish I could sneak a little more carry out of it.

theblake7 Answered question February 27, 2023

2 Answers

Answer 1 · 2023-02-27T19:30:52+00:00

Trackman has an feature called Optimiser – it will tell you if you are losing distance and which metric/s you need to improve, see here (scroll down), so you dont need to wonder. you just need to get each category inside the blue bar. Once you have achieved that you cant do anything more. Then if you are not sure which one to start with, Turn on the AI feature called Tracy, it will teach you how to get the maximum.

https://www.trackman.com/golf/trackman-4/software

BTW, in my humble opinion, based on using trackman a bit, your spin is too high. I swing it at 97 and my optimal is 2600rpm. Also check out the Spin Loft stat – thats an important one. (i cant explain it, does my head in)

As an example, When I last used Optimiser, it was Spin and Launch for me that were outside the blue lines, i changed my loft down 1 degree and I was fully optimised. now all i can do is go to the gym or get younger.

as a guide check these averages for Tour men and women, would seem your numbers might need to be somewhere in the middle of those to (but Optimiser will sort that out for you) – I match up to the girls numbers pretty closely, so when my mates tell me I swing it like a lady i say – Yeah, and damn they are good.

https://www.trackman.com/golf/trackman-4/software

I agree that my spin loft probably needs to be optimized. Historically I have hit slinging draws/hooks so over the last couple of years I have been working on getting my path more out to in and my face ends up a touch open. The reality is that I have developed a really consistent tight cut and my driving accuracy has never been better. I hit it plenty long enough for the courses I play. The elephant in the room, which I conveniently ignore, is that I really need to spend lots of time with my wedges and putter to lower my handicap. I’m just a junkie looking for a quick hit!! :)

Answer 2 · 2023-02-27T15:45:08+00:00

Generally speaking, 1 mph of club head speed is 2.3 yards. Of course there are a lot of factors. Launch and spins are basically the same and I have to assume the ball used was the same. Believe it or not, the technology in drivers related to ball speed has not changed much in 10 years. The USGA has that line in the sand drawn and it has not changed in more than 10 years. Rumors are it’s going to, but hasn’t yet. All manufacturers make the ball speed numbers come right up to that line. Variations in performance can come from other factors such as club length, overall club weight, shaft profile, cg location, golf ball, attack angle, impact point … I think your numbers being that close is giving you a good picture of where you are assuming the length, the shaft and all the other factors are the same or similar. I don’t know, or did not hear about a tracman issue with the G410, so I can’t comment on that.

I think the KE4 MAX would perform great, but of course that is a biased opinion. The G410 and the G25 were good products. Playing around with specs, shafts, golf balls, etc. can sometimes yield a few more yards, but I wouldn’t expect a dramatic increase. You already have good numbers. Back to the 2.3 yards per 1 MPH of club head speed. 3 mph increase should yield 6.9 yards, in theory, but again, many other factors can play into it, including the strike.

Britt Lindsey