7 iron smash factor is 1.16 to 1.2

[Joe M]

Hi, I just was fitted with mizuno 921 hot metal with the recoil graphite shaft. I am now getting 10 yards more with these irons. My previous set were callaway x 2 hot in standard steel shaft. I am getting 150 to 150 yards with the New Mizunos Should I be concerned that the driving range feature on TGC 2019 shows a smash factor of 1.16. I was hoping for more ball speed. When I put tape on the face of the club I’m hitting the ball in the center of the face slightly above the mark. It’s a little high but not too much. A friend of mine gets more distance with similar club head speed and a smash factor around 1.35. Any suggestions on how to increase smash factor. It has to do with compressing the ball? Thanks

[Dubville]

You will need to compare the lofts between the two as these days a "7 iron" could be a "5 iron" by traditional lofts (34-35 degrees).
Your hot metal may just be lower loft and a "trick" by the manufacturer to think you are hitting farther

What device do you use as smash factor will rely on accurate club data. Overall ball speed, spin, and launch angle are all that really matter for carry/distance. My uneekor qed doesnt give reliable club data but ball data is accurate, therefore I only pay attention to ball data.

I just looked it up, your new irons are 29 degrees for a 7 iron and your old irons were 30 degrees, so not much different. Both are at least 1 club stronger to 15-20 years ago.

Launch conditions are key, without knowing ballspeed, spin, and Launch it's hard to say. My guess without knowing these is you have a higher launch and more spin which decrease distance compared to your friend. Again though, some launch monitors dont have accurate club data.

[3on3putt]

1. What launch monitor are you hitting on? As Dubville noted, smash factor isn't something to worry about too much if club head speed is being calculated and not measured. I have Skytrak and I don't even pay attention to the smash factor on TGC as I know it's just something to take with a grain of salt.

2. What's the loft of your friend's club? As Dubville also noted, not all 7-irons are the same. And are you hitting the same golf balls?

3. What are his spin and launch angle numbers? Same club head speed can generate different carry distances based on the other launch parameters.

4. If you're hitting it high on the face, that will bring your smash down and is the likely reason for the lower numbers. But again, if club data is not actually being measured the launch monitor doesn't really know where the ball is being struck anyway.

5. You say you got fitted for the irons but are pretty consistently catching it high on the face? Was that not happening during the fitting?

6. I love Mizunos and want the hot metals so bad and am so jealous that you have them and I don't! lol

[Joe M]

My club speed is around 80 mph and my ball speed is around 93. I’m hitting almost in the center of the face just a little north of the sweet spot. My buddy ( using the same club) is hitting with similar club speed of 80 mph but his ball speed is around 105.