Why obsessing only over ball speed can actually cost you distance

Let’s face it, we golfers are all obsessed with speed.

Ask almost any player what the most important data point is when looking for a new driver and most will prioritize speed and distance over anything else. One of the most satisfying feelings on the golf course is outdriving your fellow competitors — followed by being able to smack-talk them as you wait to hit last. Trouble is, for many of us, speed comes at a cost.  

Maximizing your ball speed during a driver fitting will undoubtedly result in longer drives. But if you don’t also prioritize some other metrics, those long bombs are going to be few and far between.  

Don’t get me wrong, you obviously want to gain speed if you are adding a new driver to the bag. We just need to make sure that speed is being added while also maintaining control and consistency. Let’s take a look at a few additional data points and how to combine the appropriate speed to playable launch parameters. 

I’ll pick on myself as an example. My average driver clubhead speed is close to 112 mph. In a perfect world, if I maximize my efficiency (aka smash factor), I have the potential to produce a maximum ball speed of 168 miles per hour.  

Now that we know how we arrived on my potential max number, let’s talk about real world applications and managing expectations.

If I ever have any hope of seeing 168 mph of ball speed from my current clubhead speed, I would need to play a very low lofted driver and hit the center of the face most of the time. Even at a 2 index (okay, closer to a 3 index!), I miss the center of the face more than I hit it. Missing the center of the face means that I need to make sure my launch angle, spin, apex height and landing angle are all optimized to keep my ball in play when I’m not striking it my best.  

To optimize my launch and spin, I need to play a higher lofted head than what I would play to maximize my ball speed. For example, if I am chasing 168 mph of ball speed, I am probably going to be achieving that number with 8° or less of static loft on my driver head. Unfortunately, that low loft is also going to produce a lower launch (with lower spin) and generally carry shorter than something with a higher loft. While the higher lofted head will yield a slower ball speed, the higher loft will produce a higher launch and more spin.

This is where fitting comes into play and provides an understanding of when it’s appropriate to sacrifice speed for control.  Sacrificing a couple miles an hour of ball speed, but optimizing my launch, spin, apex height and landing angle will average out to consistently longer and more accurate drives.

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Let me explain: My clubhead speed doesn’t change but playing a driver with a higher static loft (going from 8° to 10.5°) will cost me 3-4 mph of ball speed. But the additional spin and higher launch will ensure more consistent carry numbers and maintain a tighter dispersion more often. Knowing this, let’s reference my current gamer driver and the numbers I average off the tee optimized with 10.5° head. 

If you continue to focus on the fastest ball speed, you could be costing yourself carry yardage and total distance. What we land in is a constantly changing variable, so work with a fitter to figure out what works best for you.

Remember, hitting 3 off the tee is never fun, so don’t get caught speeding! Maximize your carry potential and embrace a little more control in your life.  

To dial in the perfect driver for your game, consult a fitter at your local True Spec Golf.