If you are a golfer, you probably know that loft is one of the most important factors that affect the performance of your golf clubs. But what exactly is loft and how do you choose the right loft for your clubs?

What is Loft?

The loft of a golf club is the angle created between the clubface and the ground1. The more loft a golf club has, the higher the ball will launch and the shorter it will travel. Conversely, the less loft a golf club has, the lower the ball will launch and the farther it will travel.

Loft is measured in degrees and varies depending on the type and model of the club. For example, a that you might pick off the rack has around 10 degrees of loft, while a pitching wedge from the rack now has 43 degrees of loft2.

Why is Loft Important?

Loft is important because it affects the trajectory, distance, spin and accuracy of your shots. Depending on your swing speed, angle of attack, ball position and other factors, you may need more or less loft to optimize your ball flight.

Generally speaking, golfers with slower swing speeds and those who hit down on the ball with their driver benefit from more loft, while golfers with faster swing speeds and those who hit up on the ball with their driver benefit from less loft3.

Similarly, golfers who struggle to get the ball in the air with their irons may need more loft, while golfers who hit the ball too high with their irons may need less loft. BTW I have yet to see a golfer in my shop who hits the ball too high with their irons.

How to Choose the Right Loft for Your Golf Clubs

Choosing the right loft for your golf clubs depends on your personal preferences, goals and abilities. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some general guidelines to help you:

• For your driver, start with a loft that matches your swing speed. A good rule of thumb is to use 10 degrees of loft for 100 mph of swing speed3. For swing speeds faster decrease the loft for swing speeds slower increase the loft. For example, if you swing your driver at 90 mph, you may want to start with a 11-degree driver. You can then adjust the loft up or down depending on your ball flight and desired distance.
• For your fairway woods, choose a loft that complements your driver and gives you different options off the tee and from the fairway. A common setup is to have a 3-wood with around 15 degrees of loft and a 5-wood with around 18 degrees of loft2. You can also experiment with different lofts such as a strong 3-wood (13 degrees) or a high-launching 3-wood (16 degrees). Some golfers may forgo the three wood and just go with a five wood.
• For your hybrids, choose a loft that replaces your long irons and gives you more forgiveness and versatility. For example I play with a set of 19, 22, and 25 degree hybrids.
• For your irons, choose a loft that matches your skill level and playing style. Some golfers may want to use game-improvement irons that have stronger lofts and more forgiveness; but remember the additional forgiveness is needed because the stronger lofts make the clubs harder to hit. However, if you are an advanced or low handicapper, you may prefer tour-level irons that have weaker lofts and more control. These irons can help you shape your shots and hit precise distances2.
• For your wedges, choose a loft that gives you enough gap between your pitching wedge and sand wedge. A common setup is to have a gap wedge with around 51 degrees of loft and a sand wedge with around 56 degrees of loft2. You can also add a lob wedge with around 60 degrees of loft for more versatility around the greens.

Conclusion

Loft is one of the key factors that influence how your golf clubs perform. By choosing the right loft for your clubs, you can optimize your ball flight, distance, spin and accuracy.

However, remember that loft is not the only factor that matters. You also need to consider other aspects such as shaft length, flex, weight, lie angle and grip size when fitting your clubs.

The best way to find out what loft works best for you is to test different clubs and see how they affect your shots. You can best do this at your local clubfitter. At Augusta Custom Clubs and Swing Analysis we have more than 30 iron heads from 4 different vendors and more than 20 drivers for you to try.

Happy golfing!

Dan