Driver - Spin Rate

[Lifter]

Right now, I'm playing an off-the-rack 10.5-degree R9 460 with a stiff Aldila shaft. When I hit it on the Golfsmith launch monitor, it says my launch angle is OK but my spin rate is too high (around 3,000 to 3,300 RPM).

What are the most effective equipment changes I can make to get that spin rate down? Would getting a heavier shaft reduce the spin rate significantly?

I've also heard that the new generation of drivers (like the R11) allow you to adjust the lie angle without adjusting the loft. Would flattening the lie angle by 2 or 3 degrees reduce the spin rate significantly?

Any other ideas?

 

[finncox]

The stock Aldila shaft probably isn't of that high quality. You could look into a heavier, "tip stiff" shaft to bring the spin numbers down. The Aldila NV 75-S is a shaft that I have, which I like a lot. Tip stiff, heavier, and lower-spinning than some others that I've tried.

 

[Frans@France]

Why do you think that spin is to high? The best value depends on launchangle and ballspeed

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

I'd bet you lunch your 10.5 measures out at close 12* of loft.

 

[mgranato]

Way too little info, and from a notoriously bad LM.

 

[counterfall]

Right now, I'm playing an off-the-rack 10.5-degree R9 460 with a stiff Aldila shaft. When I hit it on the Golfsmith launch monitor, it says my launch angle is OK but my spin rate is too high (around 3,000 to 3,300 RPM).

What are the most effective equipment changes I can make to get that spin rate down? Would getting a heavier shaft reduce the spin rate significantly?

I've also heard that the new generation of drivers (like the R11) allow you to adjust the lie angle without adjusting the loft. Would flattening the lie angle by 2 or 3 degrees reduce the spin rate significantly?

Any other ideas?

Assuming the conclusion that 3,000 - 3,300 rpm is too high for you, shaft is the best way to manipulate spin in my experience. A really good low spin/high launch shaft is the Matrix Ozik Xcon line. I have tried the Ozik xcon 5 firm and xcon 7 stiff as my swing speed and contact improved over time. If I put an Aldila NV stiff shaft in the same 10.5 degree driver head, it will balloon on me due to too much spin. Either of the xcon shafts will rise faster and plateau rather than ballooning. The xcon 5 was an immediate 12 to 16 yards of distance gained under the same conditions compared to the Aldila.

 

[Lifter]

Assuming the conclusion that 3,000 - 3,300 rpm is too high for you, shaft is the best way to manipulate spin in my experience. A really good low spin/high launch shaft is the Matrix Ozik Xcon line. I have tried the Ozik xcon 5 firm and xcon 7 stiff as my swing speed and contact improved over time. If I put an Aldila NV stiff shaft in the same 10.5 degree driver head, it will balloon on me due to too much spin. Either of the xcon shafts will rise faster and plateau rather than ballooning. The xcon 5 was an immediate 12 to 16 yards of distance gained under the same conditions compared to the Aldila.

Why spend so much money on an xcon shaft when I can get a heavy low-spin shaft like the UST Mamiya AXIVCore Tour Green shaft for $140 at Golfsmith?

 

[savydan]

I don't know how you can go about lowering your driver spin rate without first determining your Angle of Attack.

 

[Lifter]

I don't know how you can go about lowering your driver spin rate without first determining your Angle of Attack.

Fair enough. The problem there is that I'm aware of no locations in the Austin area with a TrackMan that I can access. The Trackman website's locator says one retailer in Round Rock has it. However, their website and phone number no longer work.

 

[twitch127]

I'm playing an off-the-rack 10.5-degree R9 460 with a stiff Aldila shaft. When I hit it on the Golfsmith launch monitor, it says my launch angle is OK but my spin rate is too high (around 3,000 to 3,300 RPM).

What are the most effective equipment changes I can make to get that spin rate down? Would getting a heavier shaft reduce the spin rate significantly?

If your serious about getting your launch conditions right go and find a fitter who has a trackman or at the very least a flightscope
how do you know what your spin rate should be? Your clubhead and ball speed is the starting point for spin rate and launch angle numbers. What were they?

 

[Richie3Jack]

Fair enough. The problem there is that I'm aware of no locations in the Austin area with a TrackMan that I can access. The Trackman website's locator says one retailer in Round Rock has it. However, their website and phone number no longer work.

I would ask the Trackman Web site. They are not always good at updating their locator and there's usually quite a few people who have Trackman, but they are not on the locator.




3JACK

 

[counterfall]

Why spend so much money on an xcon shaft when I can get a heavy low-spin shaft like the UST Mamiya AXIVCore Tour Green shaft for $140 at Golfsmith?

Fair enough question. I bought both used from ebay 160.00 for the first one and 144.00 for the second. The Nakashima 10.5 HTEC head (adjustable hosel) they fit into was a gift. Plus, I didn't mean you had to buy the xcon, it was just an example of my own experience with lower spin shafts.

For information, the fitting was done using Flightscope.

 

[mb6606]

I would ask the Trackman Web site. They are not always good at updating their locator and there's usually quite a few people who have Trackman, but they are not on the locator.
3JACK[/QUOTE

Few shops have a good launch monitor and quality high end shafts.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Proper fitting ABC's

1) Clubhead type
2) Loft
2a) face angle
3) Shaft

That's the proper way to do imo

 

[mgranato]

Proper fitting ABC's

1) Clubhead type
2) Loft
2a) face angle
3) Shaft

That's the proper way to do imo

Pretty much nails it.

 

[Lifter]

Proper fitting ABC's

1) Clubhead type
2) Loft
2a) face angle
3) Shaft

That's the proper way to do imo

That is an interesting point about the importance of clubhead type. As a result of clubhead type, could a 9.5-degree R9 460 actually have a higher launch / spin rate than a 10.5-degree Ping G15?

 

[Lifter]

I would ask the Trackman Web site. They are not always good at updating their locator and there's usually quite a few people who have Trackman, but they are not on the locator.
3JACK[/QUOTE

Few shops have a good launch monitor and quality high end shafts.

One thing that isn't clear to me is what benefits the super high-end shafts offer compared lower-priced low-spin shafts.

 

[mb6606]

One thing that isn't clear to me is what benefits the super high-end shafts offer compared lower-priced low-spin shafts.

IF you have the swing speed you see/feel the difference. Better feeling and lower spin rates.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

That is an interesting point about the importance of clubhead type. As a result of clubhead type, could a 9.5-degree R9 460 actually have a higher launch / spin rate than a 10.5-degree Ping G15?

One thing to keep in mind is that stated loft on the head means nothing, they are all +/- anywhere from 1-2*. If you look on the manufacturers website they generally tell you the +/- variation, Ping is generally the best as they will hand pick actual loft for you if you request it.

But to your original question, yes if you have 2 clubheads with identical loft and face angles with identical shafts in them you can have different results.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

IF you have the swing speed you see/feel the difference. Better feeling and lower spin rates.

Sometimes, but at what cost? Essentially the higher end shafts won't feel so boardy but also produce lower spin rates. I have a friend that makes his own shafts in china, there isn't as much voodoo involved as they might make you think their is; as always in the golf business a lot of marketing is involved.