Clubface Roll - Affect of Loft

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There are numerous things that affect the overall distance you will hit your drives and one of the biggest factors is not your golf swing, it's your equipment. Today's modern high performance drivers are far more advanced then drivers of just 10 years ago, but some old "technology" remains the same. In this video, I am discussing the effect of the "roll" designed into the clubface and how it can dramatically help or hurt your driving distance.

  • Learn about the characteristics of the driver face so you can take them into account and hit longer drives
  • The driver has bulge from heel to toe, developed to improve huge hooks & slices when hitting near the heel or toe
  • The face also has roll, a curve on the vertical axis that changes the loft of the club by several degrees depending on where it is hit
  • Each additional degree of loft adds about 300 rpm of spin to the ball, which affects distance
  • Use a loft/lie gauge to learn more about your club, and a dry erase marker to show where the ball is striking the club face

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Mark
Your talking of 1500 rpm backspin with the higher loft 12vs 7 so it goes shorter. Unless your need to get it up in the air with lower swing speed player. What about if you want lots of forward roll or topspin / do you just hit it lower?
June 29, 2022
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. You still have to find that sweet spot between your AOA and Spin. The goal for more roll would be having a shallower plane and a slightly positive AOA. Hitting too much down will give excessive spin and sometime trying to create the topspin you can get the nosedive effect or snap hook.
June 30, 2022
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Fred
Hi there. I have been a member now for about two months and have made some small improvements. I feel that I am hitting my irons, hybrids, 3 wood and wedges much better as far as accuracy, trajectory and distance goes. However I have two clubs that have headed south since my swing adjustments - the driver and 5 iron. I have become a big slicer with the driver and my 5 iron just doesn't get in the air like my other irons, I hit my 6 and 7 further. Any suggestions? Thanks
August 2, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Fred. Make sure you are making the proper setup adjustments with the driver first. Proper Tee Height Video. Also, it sounds with both clubs you are trying to force the ball into the air. You need to remember not to help lift the ball. Players tend to add extra help with long irons and their driver which curtails the quality of the shot. Make sure with the longer iron as well to not have too steep an AOA. Take a look at Angle of Attack Video.
August 2, 2019
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Christopher
I have a set of Strata clubs. With an average of two over par I haven't yet seen the need for new clubs. Nevertheless, how do I go about this task?
November 23, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Christopher. You need to find a good fitter. Depends on your location. There are many fitters around the country. Try to find a licensed fitter at your local PGA Store or search online in your area.
November 25, 2016
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Marc
I have a 9.5 Taylor Made R15 TP with a 460cc head with a stiff shaft. I hit the ball a long way (300 yards+) and have good head speed. My understanding was that I had to put the middle of the ball at address at the level of the top of the club head. But if I understand correctly what you are saying by doing by doing so I will have more spin than if I hit it a bit lower and I am therefore not maximising my distance. What is your perspective on this, where is the best place to put the ball?
October 22, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Marc. It sounds like you could be getting too much spin. It all depends on your specs and attack angle. The norm is tee height 3/4" up the face. But, I would experiment. Teeing it a tad lower "than middle ball at the top of the face" could maximize your drive.
October 22, 2015
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Marc
Hi Creg what do you mean by 3/4' up the face?
October 22, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Marc. Take a look at the Proper Tee Height Video. The top of the tee will be 3/4 up the face of the driver. Leaving the top 1/4 seeing the ball.
November 25, 2016
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Christian
I have a 10 degree driver and if I hit it high on the clubface I could be looking almost a 14 degree driver. I have high spin on my driver and this could be the reason.
December 8, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Yes, it could be one of the culprits.
December 8, 2014
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Andrew
What are your thoughts/opinions on learning from tour issue clubs? My logic is that with the right training, I will accelerate much faster.
October 24, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Andrew. With the proper training you should be able to generate more speed. However, practice with clubs early on that don't suit your swing speed might discourage you with the results.
October 24, 2014
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Andrew
Hi Craig, Thanks for your feedback and opinion. I am pretty discipline and expect unfavorable results in the beginning, but I know I will get better faster. I wanted to hear from an expert/pro to confirm my logic. Thanks again. Andrew
October 25, 2014
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Mike
I listen to Sirius a bit and hear a lot about the same.......my question is keeping the same club head and change the shaft with kick points changes everything coming into the ball correct....and how many max degrees could that change.......it changed my tragectory completely years ago but nobody talks about that now
October 23, 2014
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
Mike, That would be a question to ask the manufacturer of the golf shaft. Every company has their own specs and definitions for flex. If you have an extra stiff shaft with a low torque and high bend point, it will play a significantly different trajectory than a senior flex shaft with a high torque and low bend point. The maximum degree of which it will change would be impossible for us to know. If you go to a custom club fitter, he or she might be able to assist you more with this question and even they might need a launch monitor. R.J.
October 23, 2014
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Grant
My clubs are Tom Wishon clubs. Thanks for mentioning them. Any other information I could get about them? Your opinions, perhaps? Thanks, Grant
September 2, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Grant. I know of the brand, but its hard for me to comment on them. We haven't not done any testing on them.
September 2, 2014

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