Questionable club speed and launch angle for PW?

[Ryan_luan@yahoo.com]

In the last few days my son's PW seems to launch very high, and loses some distance. It used to carry at around 105 yards, but now has dropped to around <100 . I tested him on SkyTrak last night. The result is attached. The club speed, at around 80+ mph, seems to unreasonable. At the same time the launch angle is too high. For background information, the loft of PW is 45 degree; he carries 7 iron (31 degree loft) 135 yards both SkyTrak and in real world.

any idea on the seemly wrong SkyTrak data?

[sroest]

Did you change anything to the physical setup of the Skytrak? (Is it still aligned to the target and level?). Did your son use the same type of balls? What are his distances now with his 7 iron? Are those off as well?

[Ryan_luan@yahoo.com]

No change in physical setup. All other clubs still read correctly (as much as I can tell) except short irons and wedges full-swing. His 7 iron still reads about 132+ carry which matches real world number. I think the reply from Ron below seems to make sense in that my son earlier release and adds some loft.

[GungHoGolf]

In the last few days my son's PW seems to launch very high, and loses some distance. It used to carry at around 105 yards, but now has dropped to around <100 . I tested him on SkyTrak last night. The result is attached. The club speed, at around 80+ mph, seems to unreasonable. At the same time the launch angle is too high. For background information, the loft of PW is 45 degree; he carries 7 iron (31 degree loft) 135 yards both SkyTrak and in real world.

any idea on the seemly wrong SkyTrak data?

Those numbers look reasonable for someone who early releases and adds loft (or, at least, doesn't take loft off) of a PW. SkyTrak is pretty reliable with vertical launch angle numbers. Tour pros launch PW at around 24 deg, and good ams between 24-26 deg. He should probably work to get hands ahead of the ball at impact and have a steeper AoA. Also, your mat may have something to do with it, especially if he's hitting high on the club face (slightly fat) without knowing about it.

That said, don't put too much stock in the club speed numbers from SkyTrak, especially with short irons, as it is calculated rather than measured.

[Ryan_luan@yahoo.com]

Makes good sense to me, I will take him to his golf teacher to check the swing. I will also have the shafts checked by a fitter - he uses a 60+ grams graphite shafts which I suspect maybe too soft..

[Ryan_luan@yahoo.com]

Makes good sense to me, I will take him to his golf teacher to check the swing. I will also have the shafts checked by a fitter - he uses a 60+ grams graphite shafts which I suspect maybe too soft..

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Good info, thanks GungHoGolf !