Launch Angle / Spin Ratio

According to the Golf World this past week, Tiger Woods’ swing speed is around 124 mph, fastest among the tour professionals averaging at 110 mph. Tiger's ball speed is 189 mph, again, fastest among the pros at average of 164 mph, yet his launch angle is at 7.6* (average 11.2*) with back spin of 3144 rpm (average 2633 rpm). Tiger’s tee-off drive will create the ultimate impression of power driving where the ball dashing out like a bullet and climb higher gradually, then die out eventually.

According to the Analyst, Tiger's driving method is the third to the least efficient among tour pros, using high-launch / back-spin measuring ratio. In other words, the efficiency measured today is launching the ball optimally higher and reducing back spin significantly. Tiger's driving totally contradicts this concept while he could achieve 20 yds longer his 292 yds average distance, if he choose to launch the ball higher, argued the analyst.

Tiger's comment to Nike: build him a ball with highest back spin (Nike Platinum) so he could attack aggressively around the green (ever seen his ball back spinned from the bunker?) and it is his job to control the ball's launch angle.

Henrik Stenson, on the other hand, led the tour's most efficient launch/spin ratio with 311 yds drive. Anthony Kim, the new young tour pro, drive the ball 295 yds at the Chrysler championship, had ball distance-to-apex at 200 feet while the average range at 175 feet. Bubba Watson, again, another long hitter, ball speed at 182 mph and averaging over 300 yds drive launch the ball significantly higher.

Thus, besides focusing to create back spin off the bunker, it would be optimal to launch the ball higher, drive with least back spin and maybe possible to reach most par 5 in 2 from men’s tee.