Need help - Launch angle of Driver

[gene438]

Need help to tweak my system. I use a 10.5 degree driver and when I hit a solid drive in real life, it is usually a low then rising shot of about 265 yds...slight draw. On the simulator, I noticed I was only getting 245 yds and when I dug into the numbers, I saw that even on shots that I know I hit low (hit screen about1.5 ft from bottom) I am still registering a launch angle of 17 to 18 degrees. In fact, I cannot recall ever hitting a drive with less than 17 degrees.

My question is, is there a setting or adjustment to the driver (like clubface adjustment) that will correct my launch angle? I feel that my irons are spot on as far as distance and launch angles.....

any ideas or thoughts?

Gene

[MainStGolf]

If you lower your tee height you can lower your launch. I was messing around with that yesterday. With a higher tee I was getting 16-20 degrees. I used a lower tee and got it down around 10-14.

[kinitex@gmail.com]

First, is your launch angle of 17+ being shown as calculated(by the sensor mat) or captured(by the vcam)? If it is calculated then you could adjust the launch angle of your driver in the interface settings (ALT + E). I found a lot of those values are 4-6 degrees too high for most of the average numbers even for PGA tour numbers.

If your driver launch angle is being captured (by the vcam), then you need to do some tweaking with it. I'm not exactly sure how the ball on tee for driver works to affect launch angles but you could try playing with that.

[aja]

Open the VCam window and look at what it is showing. If it is properly picking up the ball streak and using that angle, then that is your launch angle.

Your "solid drive in real life, it is usually a low then rising shot of about 265 yds" is strictly aneccdotal evidence since you haven't measured anything. The VCam does not lie if it is working properly.

Don't assume the your drives launch at 10.5 degrees just because your driver says 10.5. To hit a ball at 10.5 degrees launch and have it go 265 you have to have a very high ball speed and unless you're on the PGA tour it's unlikely. And since you don't mention the ball speed for your drives, there is very little to go on.

[Bnorman58]

It would either be vcam not lined correctly - line needs to be parallel to the mat with the ball in square when on the mat. in the interface, hit shots and make sure it is picking up the ball streak and not an area of swing arch. Lighting and background play a big part. my launch angle with 10.5 titleist is 12 on average.

[gene438]

I wanted to update everyone because I did find the answer plus really, really learned the value of using a simulator.

First, I confirmed that I was getting v-cam readings, not calculating.

Second, I adjusted my camera, verified placement with little red box (I had to tilt camera down a bit as my ball was actually on top of the red box and not in the middle of it.)

Third, in the vcam settings there are some settings for "ball on tee" or something like that....for the driver, mine was on 5 and I played around with that and ended up setting it to 1

After hitting a few balls, I got the readings down to 15 or so....then.......

I started lowering my tee and really concentrating on trying to hit low....a couple 14 then 13 .......

I then felt as I was getting too close to the ball, so, I backed up some and starting really swinging out on my downswing (like swinging to the 1 or 2 o'clock position) more 13's...then 11 again and again....!!!!

Now my stats were looking like 109 club head speed, 1.43 smash factor, 11 launch angle and 295 yd drives on range, no wind.

Here is my point, yes there are some settings that must be right and tweaked to get a more accurate reading....but, once I started using the data and really focusing on improving specific numbers....ie launch angle, I was able to make some changes on my setup and swing and get the desired improvement......this is what I bought a simulator for!!!!!

It is amazing how little bad habits (teeing up too high, standing too close to ball, etc) had drifted into my swing but with the data from my simulator and a little effort, I was able to correct and get back on track.

Now let's just hope I can keep it up on the course.

[MainStGolf]

It really is amazing how those little things have such a huge impact. I was starting to lose my drives in both directions again, but mainly to the right. Had it teed to high. Lowered the tee and boom I'm back on target, sometimes with a baby fade, which is definitely livable. Went out last night and shot a 78 and probably averaged 265ish off the tee box which for me is spot on. I think I almost hit the 300 mark last night a couple of times, but the course I normally play is so short that I can't get an accurate reading from my PIQ because the button on my 54-degree wedge isn't working properly so the distance doesn't get measured on the second shot. Going to fix that today :-).

[keither5150]

You can use this right angle triangle calculator to figure out your LA. If you are 10 feet away from the screen and the ball hits 12 inches up the screen, this calculator will give you the LA.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/righttricalc.html

I have a two camera GSA system and find that my Vcam usually registers a LA that is lower than it really is.