Bryson DeChambeau’s driver setup differs significantly from what is recommended for amateur golfers. He uses a Krank Formula Fire LD chief with a 6˚ loft. Rory McIlroy, by contrast, uses a 7.75˚ TaylorMade driver, while Scottie Scheffler’s is set at 8.25˚.
The Science of Driver Loft
Ged Walters, a leading PGA Professional, explains why there’s such a difference – potentially as much as 8˚ – between a tour player’s driver loft and that of an amateur. The key factor is speed. ‘The lower the loft you have, the more speed required to keep the ball airborne,’ Walters notes.
Players like Rory McIlroy swing the clubhead in excess of 120mph. McIlroy’s angle of attack is positive, around 4˚ up. According to Walters, if McIlroy used a 10.5˚ driver at that speed, the ball would ‘balloon and spin’. To control his launch angle, optimise spin, trajectory and distance, McIlroy needs to lower the dynamic loft. And with his speed, he can use a club with less loft to start with.
Dynamic loft is the actual angle of the clubface at impact, relative to the horizon. It differs from static loft (the angle printed on the club) and is affected by swing mechanics like shaft lean and angle of attack. Dynamic loft determines launch angle, spin rate and total trajectory.
Angle of Attack and Spin Loft
Walters explains that some tour players hit 1-2˚ down on the ball, requiring a 10-10.5˚ loft. Their loft changes their launch to optimise their spin and their trajectory because their angle of attack is more downward. He adds that if you’ve got loads of speed, you can hit down on the driver.
Amateur club golfers, however, generally don’t have the speed to keep the ball airborne with a lower loft. They need more loft to control the launch, flight and spin. For most club golfers, optimising their angle of attack to 2-3˚ positive is desirable.
Getting Fitted is Key
Walters advises that club golfers should get fitted for their clubs. Spin loft is important. Spin loft is the relationship between the dynamic loft and the angle of attack.
If your dynamic loft is 16˚ and you’re delivering the club at 1˚ up, you’re going to have the ball spinning too much and popping up in the air too high, so you’ve got to control that. You can still have your dynamic loft in the same place but you’ve got to then create a different angle of attack to bring them down.
As a general rule, 10.5˚ of loft is most golfers’ starting point. A lot of golfers will have a 9˚ driver simply because of vanity. To get the most distance, speed is the key element and if your speed isn’t to a certain level…