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What data is produced by a launch monitor?
Welcome to Part 2 of our Golf Launch Monitor Guide, following on from our introduction to golf launch monitors.
In this post we will look in detail at the data that golf launch monitors deliver.
Now that we have an idea of how the different launch monitors measure data, here we will cover the data points that camera-based launch monitors report, and how they are measured.
Ball Data (launch conditions)
The following terms are used to describe various types of ball data, also known as the launch conditions.
Ball speed
Measuring the speed of the ball immediately after impact, measured in mph.
Vertical Launch Angle
The initial vertical direction of the golf ball, relative to the ground plane, measured in degrees.
Horizontal Launch Angle
The initial horizontal direction of the golf ball, relative to the target line, measured in degrees.
Spin (backspin)
The phenomenon of the ball rotating backwards towards the player after it has been hit.
Spin-axis (side spin)
A spin axis is referring to the angle that the golf ball is spinning, causing the ball to curve in that same direction.
Ball Flight Data
The following points describe the ball’s journey from the point of contact with the club, to the point that it reaches the ground.
Carry Distance
The distance the golf ball travels before it makes any contact with the ground. The ball’s first contact with the ground is where the carry distance is measured to.
Peak Height
The tallest point that the ball reaches relative to the height where the ball was hit from.
Curvature
The distance that the ball has moved either left or right of the intended target line.
Descent Angle
The angle that the golf ball approaches the ground, measured in degrees.
Club Data
The following points describe the ball’s journey from the point of contact with the club, to the point that it reaches the ground.
Club speed
The speed that the golf club is travelling just before impact.
Club path
The horizontal direction that the golf club is travelling immediately prior to impact, relative to the target line, measured in degrees. A positive number indicates the club was travelling to the right of the target line, negative indicates a leftward swing.
Angle of Attack
The vertical path that the club travels relative to the ground plane immediately before it hits the ball, measured in degrees.
Face Angle
The horizontal angle of the club head’s face plane as it hits the golf ball
Delivered Loft
The vertical angle of the club face plane at the point of contact between the club and ball.
Delivered Lie
The angle of the club’s sole immediately prior to impact, relative to the ground plane, measured from the centre toe and heel fiducials, displayed in degrees. A negative number means the club is ‘toe down’ at impact, while a positive number means the club is ‘toe up’.
Closure Rate
The three-dimensional ‘closing’ of the club face immediately prior to impact, encompassing change in loft, lie and face angle, measured in degrees per second.
Read the next article in our Golf Launch Monitor Guide to learn about the different types of launch monitor.
You are also welcome to explore our PEAK online education platform. The training will help you understand how to read and interpret launch monitor data and let you hone in on target areas to improve your golf.
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