Launch monitor promises a new spin on driving  

By SCOTT MARTIN

        Winston-Salem’s John Miller has some good news for golfers looking for more distance off the tee. You can drop those weights, put away the yoga books, forget stretching, and completely ignore dieting. Instead, you should take a spin (or actually take less of a spin – more on that later) on Miller’s recently acquired AccuSport launch monitor.

        “Just about any golfer can now get a very accurate driver fitting that based on the physics of their swing,” says Miller who currently represents Cleveland golf clubs. “The main reason that pros are driving the ball so much further is that they are extracting every ounce of energy out of their swing because they are getting accurate numbers from a ball launch monitor.”

        Miller is quite the poster child for the technology, having increased his driver carry 38 yards up to the 270 range. He is currently organizing dates with local club professionals so that club members can benefit from the technology.

        Winston-Salem based AccuSport, Inc. manufactures one of the top ball launch monitors. The company also makes a distance monitor used by most of the major golf companies and provides customized technology services. The ball launch monitor, called the Vector Launch System, measures a player’s ball speed, launch angle and spin rates. Data, fed into a laptop computer, precisely predicts launch distance, dispersion and roll.

For several years, only touring professionals have had access to this type of technology but, after a successful launch at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in January, Accusport has already sold more than 125 units. Each unit costs in the $5,000 range.

        The technology has been a serious eye-opener, according to Miller.

        “This tool essentially backs up the physics,” he adds. “It helps me get the right driver to the golfer. You get the ball flight at the optimal level and that means more distance.”

        Goal number one is getting the best possible backspin for a player’s launch angle. The ball needs to sail on the down flight. In many amateurs’ drives, the ball goes low initially, rises, then drops like a stone. This can be especially true in a headwind.

        “You want a higher launch angle, flatter trajectory, and lower spin,” he says. “That’s one reason why some of the world’s top players are going up in their driver lofts where most amateurs think they have to go down to get the most distance.”

        Most golfers can get a solid 10-13 yards of extra hang time using an optimized driver. If conditions are favorable, there can also be some significant extra roll as the ball comes into the fairway like an airplane landing on a runway, takes a big bounce, then rolls.

        Shaft weight can also play a significant role in launch data. A better player can often benefit from a heavier shaft. The newer drivers like the 983 series from Titleist and the 400 series from Cleveland are at the legal COR limits, which also helps with initial ball speed. But the key is taking the backspin off the drive, getting a launch angle in 11-14 degree range, and having a spin rate that’s between 2200 to 2800 RPM. Many amateurs have spin rates with the driver that are around 3500 RPM, which is too much spin. Additionally, Miller will suggest a ball that helps optimize spin rates and other key elements.

        AccuSport’s John Brooks is optimistic that their Vector product is well-placed in the market.

        “Everyone wants more distance,” he says. “It’s part of the fun of the game and so we’re excited about a product that brings technology that was only really used on the professional tours to good amateurs and weekend golfers.”

        The Vector utilizes a high-speed digital camera to capture two images of the ball in flight, milliseconds after it leaves the club face. It immediately sends all the key data to a laptop computer. The Vector is the only ball launch monitor to measure backspin and sidespin. It weighs eight pounds, can be used indoors or outdoors, for left-handers and right-handers.

        “A foundation of our philosophy is helping to grow the game of golf through technology,” says Brooks. “The type of technology we have developed and are continuing to develop can help reduce the frustration that some people feel when they can’t grasp the game.”

        However, the ball launch monitor is most effective for players who routinely hit the ball straight. The Vector measures sidespin but a fitting will not cure a slice or a hook or some other fatal flaw.

        “If you’re slicing the ball, see a PGA teaching professional,” says Miller. “Then come see me and I can you get the best possible driver for your swing so that you get the most distance possible off the tee.”