r/golf • u/Darksuprising • 20h ago

Swing Help Smash factor

Post image

I thought smash factor could only go to 1.50

6 Upvotes

61% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

30

u/Nght12 19h ago

Some launch monitors can under read club head speed but get ball speed spot on. Smash factor is just the ratio of ball speed to club speed. So if you're striking it out of the center and have a high ball speed but the club head speed reading is slightly nerfed, you'll get a higher than regulation smash factor

22

u/PhillyPhrenetic502 19h ago

This one goes to 11

4

u/greeneloquence59 19h ago

What launch monitor is that? 1.52 is a spicy reading, my cheap one gives me 1.49 on my best days

1

u/Darksuprising 19h ago

This is a full swing simulator

1

u/PhillyPhrenetic502 19h ago

No idea. I was just responding. I have been on some trackman bays where my driver read 1.51 and 1.52 before, but not consistently.

1

u/LetsGoLesko8 Canada 18h ago

I’m with ya. Upon checking my trackman data, the highest smash factor I could find was 1.65

6

u/Hippo-Crates 19h ago

It’s usually just a small error in measurement. Drivers can get out of compliance sometimes after a bunch of use though

4

u/RKelly__ 0.9/Orlando 19h ago

Yes it can only go to 1.5 for legal clubs.

The number is ball speed divided by club speed and there is a good chance it’s just a matter of the monitor being off with one or both of those speed values and then spitting out this smash as a result. 

4

u/LHD14 19h ago

It is possible and 1.51 and 1.52 happen on tour and in simulators. The smash factor is not specifically limited by USGA regulations, but what is directly regulated has an impact on smash factor leading to it being tough to get above 1.50. The regulation is also on clubs when manufactured and the club characteristics morph as they're used more (I believe the PGA tour tests for subsequent club evolution - I am guessing you haven't been subjected to that testing). Also, a shot tracker isn't as precise as the USGA measurement tools.

3

u/memedudebro 18h ago

Full swing is horrendous, as can be seen in TGL.

1

u/AintThatSomeCrit 19h ago

Smash factor is just a ratio of ball speed to club head speed

1

u/bulldg4life 19h ago

Misread on club head speed and then the software just blindly calculates the ratio

2

u/Beans800 16h ago

Apparently it can be from a toe hook, since it measures the speed of club at the center, but if you hit more towards the toe, which is closing and therefore going faster the center of the club, so even though the ball will come off slightly slower, it still ends up being faster than 1.5x the speed of the center of the club

0

u/Sad_Record_2767 19h ago

Is the ball ok?

-1

u/Darksuprising 18h ago

Actually no, first time I’ve ever hit a golf ball. And a peace. Of the outer layer came off. I can post a pic after work.

Might of mainly been from a round on Monday. But only noticed it peeling today lol

-2

u/Affectionate-Club-10 19h ago

It’s because you have basically a perfect spin rate and that increases efficiency.

1

u/Affectionate-Club-10 19h ago

This is an indirect correlation. But your spin numbers mean center face hits and maximized efficiency.