Why is my PW smash factor (PTI) < 1.00? Club speed faster than ball speed!

[GungHoGolf]

Here are the last several shots and averages from a pitching wedge session tonight, using a Mizuno MP-4 stock PW and a Titleist Pro V1. I ended on the last shot because it felt like I pured it, good compression, etc.



The ball speeds are where I would expect them - avg of 89, best shot was 95 (LPGA is 86, PGA is 102).

But wtf is going on with the club speeds? They're all faster than the ball speed, leading to a PTI below 1.00 (0.97 avg). The club speed of 98 on my good shot cannot be close to right, as I only swing my driver around 105.

I understand that club speed is calculated, and based on spin, launch angle, etc. And I see my backspin avg is 9751, vs LPGA of 8403 and PGA of 9304, so a little high on the backspin. And my launch angle is 25.8, a little higher than PGA of 24.2 and LPGA of 25.6.

But the PTI number for PGA PW is 1.23 (ball speed 102, club speed 83) and LPGA PW is 1.23 also (ball speed 86, club speed 70).

Why does SkyTrak think I'm swinging my PW faster than a PGA player, and faster than my ball speed?

[Yrrdead81]

So first off do you realize that SkyTrak doesn't measure club speed? It doesn't, it is derived from ball speed and some club tables (afaik). So don't read too much into it.

Also I would caution you on "chasing numbers". It's fine if you are doing a fitting, comparing balls or comparing something else :P . But outside of that it can be dangerous to your actual golf game.

[jut111]

It's not real. It's a big gripe I have, skytrak shouldn't even show clubhead speed or PTI IMO as they are basically guesses. GC2 does the same thing. Just ignore it and focus on ball speed, spin, launch angle - i.e. things that are actually measured.

[p3eps]

GC2 calculates it on ball speed multiplied by smash factor. Although it's based on a perfect strike on the centre of the club, it's a semi realistic number. The number on skytrak is nonsense!