Launch angle and spin rate

What is launch angle?

It's the angle the ball takes off at, measured up from the ground. Bushnell describes it as the initial vertical angle of climb in degrees.¹

Trackman says it's always a little less than dynamic loft but close to it.² Dynamic loft is the loft the face has at impact. Read more in dynamic loft explained.

Along with ball speed, launch angle is a primary part of what sets the height and distance of a shot.²

What is spin rate?

It's how fast the ball is rotating, counted in revolutions per minute, or rpm.³ Spin comes in parts. Total spin is the whole amount. Backspin is the part that defines ball lift and trajectory.¹

Why does backspin make the ball fly higher?

Backspin changes how air moves around the ball. Wikipedia explains that a backspinning ball feels an upward lift force. That makes it fly higher and longer than a ball with no spin.⁴

Where does the backspin come from? Nearly every shot gets it from the loft of the club.⁴

What makes spin go up or down?

Two things, according to Trackman. More loft generally means more spin. And with all else equal, more club speed means more spin too.³

Trackman adds a warning for windy days. A high spin rate is the enemy, particularly when you're hitting into the wind. One way to cut spin is to use a club with less loft.³

What numbers do players actually get?

These are Trackman's driver averages.

In this table, the two tour groups show the lowest spin rates.³

How do the numbers change from club to club?

Trackman's standard set-ups show it well. Take a driver swung at 94 mph with an attack angle of 0 degrees. The launch angle is 13.6 degrees and the spin rate is 2,772 rpm.²³

For a 6-iron at 80 mph, it's 16.9 degrees and 5,956 rpm. For a pitching wedge at 72 mph, it's 26.7 degrees and 8,408 rpm.²³

Both numbers climb as the loft climbs. Makes sense. It fits what Trackman says about loft and spin. It also fits the Wikipedia point that the club's loft is what puts backspin on the ball.⁴

Which matters more, angle or spin?

Neither wins. Trackman says every golfer should be fitted for the right balance of launch angle and spin rate, based on club speed and ball speed.²

So read them as a pair. Then add ball speed to the picture, because angle, spin and speed work as a team. The ball speed page covers that third piece.

Why does my screen show more than one spin number?

Some units split spin into parts. Bushnell lists total spin, backspin and side spin as separate lines. Total spin shapes the curve and lift. Side spin is the part that defines curvature.¹ That second one gets its own write-up in spin axis and side spin.