These 3 launch monitor numbers can improve your swing

By: Zephyr Melton

November 14, 2024

golfer sets up to ball with launch monitor next to them

Launch monitors are great tools — but they can be complicated to learn how to use.

Getty Images

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.

One of the most useful pieces of technology in golf is the launch monitor. It can give you instant data on your swing while you practice, and makes diagnosing swing flaws much easier than just searching in the dirt.

Go to any practice facility at a pro event and you’ll see just about every golfer practicing with a launch monitor by their side. The tech has become so omnipresent in the upper echelon of the game that it’s odd when you encounter a pro not relying on one during their practice sessions.

If you’ve ever used a launch monitor, you’ve likely experienced a bit of information overload. After every shot, the machine spits out dozens of numbers that correlate with various motions in your swing. If you don’t know what to look for — or how to interpret the data — it can be difficult to decipher.

Fortunately, once you know what to look for, these numbers start to make a ton of sense — and knowing how to manipulate them makes swing changes much easier. Check out the video below for a quick tutorial from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood on the simplest way to use a launch monitor.

The simple way to use a launch monitor

Launch monitors can give you dozens of insightful numbers on your swing, but when you’re just starting out using one, it’s wise to start out small. When Yarwood teaches his students who are just beginning to use a launch monitor, he advises focusing on three key numbers.

Club path

The first key number to focus on is the club path. This number tells us the direction your club is moving as you come through impact and also how far off-line it is.

A perfectly square swing will have a club path reading of 0, but anything within a couple degrees on either side is in good shape. For swings that are more in-to-out (for right-handers), the number will be positive, while out-to-in swings with be negative.

Keep an eye on the club path number to get a sense for which direction your club is moving through the impact zone. Once you get a sense for what your typical range is, you can try making swing changes and see how it manipulates your club-path numbers.

Face angle

Another key number is the face angle, which tells us the angle of you clubface at impact. If your clubface is closed (as a right-hander), this number will be negative, while if it is open, it will be positive.

The face angle is important because it tells us how the clubface looks at impact. This, in conjunction with the club path, will determine the shape of the shot.

Attack angle

The final key number that Yarwood suggests keeping an eye on is attack angle. This tells us how steep or shallow the clubhead is working as you make contact with the ball.

An attack angle that is down will be negative, while an attack angle that is up will be positive. For shots with irons and wedges, you’ll want to hit more down on the ball, while with a driver you’ll want to hit up on it.

If you’re just starting out using a launch monitor, keep these three numbers in mind. Make different swings and see how the changes affect the numbers. As you get more comfortable with understanding the numbers, you can continue using the launch monitor and focusing on other data points to understand your swing even better.

If you want to get a launch monitor of your own, check out some of our favorite options below.

FlightScope Mevo+ Launch Monitor

Product Highlights: 20 Data Parameters 12 E6 Connect Simulated Golf Courses – includes Pebble Beach and St Andrews (iOS and PC) Patented Fusion Tracking technology – unique combination of radar and camera Free practice, skills combines and PC software included Action video clips with data overlay Indoor and outdoor

$1839 from Fairway Jockey

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FullSwing KIT Launch Monitor

The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone. Machine-learning enhanced Radar paired with powerful dedicated processors for Radar and media give you the cleanest and most accurate data in the industry. A customizable heads-up OLED display engineered to show you exactly what you want to see what happens every swing or use the free included app to see your data & video across your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and even hear your selected data through your bluetooth headphones. Using the included durable case, bring it to the course and set up in under a minute. Its battery life of up to 5 hours will help you get the most out of your swing whether on the range or with a net at home in your backyard, garage or basement. Items Included: FS Kit Launch Monitor Charging Block USB-C Charging Cable Protective Travel Case Tracking: Patented, 24GHz Dual-Mode, ML Enhanced Radar Display: 5.3” Ultra-bright, Full HD (1920×1080) OLED with 16.7 million colors Camera: Full HD 1080p, 60 fps Processor: Dual-core A9 Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth® 5.0 BR/EDR/LE Battery: Built-in Lithium-ion 8000mAh; Approximately 5 hours of use (depending on conditions) Carry Case: Light-weight, water and impact resistant Charging Port: USB-C Charger: 45W USB-C; 110-240v, 50-60Hz Charging Cable: USB-C, 3’ (1m) Unit Dimensions: 10.23” H x 6.57” W x 2.32” D (3.74” with support leg extended); (260mm x 167mm x 59mm (95mm)) Unit Weight: 4.0 lbs (1.8 Kg) Case Dimensions: 13” L x 8.11” W x 3.86” H (330mm x 206mm x 98mm) Unit, Case, Charger Weight: 5.7 lbs (2.6 Kg) Package Dimensions: 16.5” L x 10.75” W x 4.8” H (419 mm x 273mm x 122mm) Package Weight: 8.4 lbs (3.8 Kg) Return Eligibility If you are not satisfied with your Full Swing device within the first fourteen (14) days from the date of delivery, the Full Swing device may be returned for a full refund or replacement device. For users with a perpetual license for E6 Connect software used in conjunction with a Full Swing, if you are not satisfied with the E6 Connect software within the first fourteen (14) days from the date of activation of the perpetual license, the license may be returned for a full refund. This paragraph applies to users with a perpetual license only; all other subscription forms will not be eligible for refund. Your Full Swing device can no longer be returned after 14 days from the date of delivery. All returns involving devices originally received outside of the U.S. shall be arranged through your local sales channel. Returning Your Device To initiate a return of your device, you must contact Sales Support at The Net Return by telephone at +1 (973) 636 -7354 or email at sales@TheNetReturn.com. The Sales Support team will provide you with a prepaid, shipping label and Return Material Authorization (RMA) number to send the device to The Net Return. Returns without a RMA number will not be accepted by The Net Return. The unit shall be returned with all accessories, including AC adapter and cables with travel case, and in the manufacturer’s original box. Return Processing Upon receipt of a returned device, the unit shall be inspected by The Net Return. If such inspection reveals that any of the warranty exclusions provided hereinafter apply, the warranty shall be voided and a repair fee assessed. For purchases made through Affirm, separate terms and conditions instituted by Affirm will apply; payment options through Affirm can be accessed at https://www.affirm.com/lenders. iPhone® (10 and higher), running iOS 14 and higher iPad® (7th generation and higher), running iOS 14 and higher iPad® Air (3rd generation and higher), running iOS 14 and higher iPad® Pro (all models), running iOS 14 and higher Apple Watch® 3 or higher, running watchOS 7 or higher Apple AirPods® or most any Bluetooth® headphones

$4999 from Fairway Jockey

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Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor (MLM)

Game and industry changing Mobile Launch Monitor The only device to pair iOS camera with radar processing for precise measurement Immediate swing replay with shot trace technology 10 metrics – 4 measured iOS compatible only. iPhone or iPad required Indoors and Outdoors Use Includes 7-day Premium Membership Trial

$299.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.