Intermediate

Launch Angle Benchmarks (Tour and Handicap Averages)

Also known as: average launch angle, average driver launch angle, launch angle by handicap, PGA Tour average launch angle, LPGA average launch angle, tour average launch angle, good launch angle for driver, what launch angle should I have, launch angle chart, launch angle benchmarks, 7 iron launch angle, 6 iron launch angle, pitching wedge launch angle

Definition

TrackMan's published averages put driver launch at 10.4° on the PGA Tour and 12.6° on the LPGA Tour. Male amateurs average 11.2° to 12.6° with the driver, and female amateurs 12.0° to 13.6°, depending on handicap. With a 6-iron, the PGA Tour averages 14.0° and the LPGA Tour 16.7°. Your own best number depends on your speed and spin, so get fitted rather than copy a tour figure.

Launch angle is the vertical angle the ball leaves the face at. TrackMan, the launch-monitor maker, publishes these averages:

Tour players. PGA Tour: driver 10.4°, 6-iron 14.0°. LPGA Tour: driver 12.6°, 6-iron 16.7°.

Male amateurs, driver (TrackMan Combine): scratch or better 11.2°, 5 handicap 11.2°, 10 handicap 11.9°, the average golfer (14.5 handicap) 12.6°, bogey golfer 12.1°.

Female amateurs, driver: scratch or better 12.7°, 5 handicap 12.0°, 10 handicap 12.4°, 15 handicap 13.6°.

TrackMan's optimiser gives a reference point for slower swings. A driver at 94 mph club speed with a level (0°) attack angle launches best at about 13.6°. A 6-iron at 80 mph launches at about 16.9° for a mid trajectory, and a pitching wedge at 72 mph at about 26.7°.

These are averages, not targets. Tour players launch the driver lower because they swing faster. Slower swings usually need more launch to carry the ball. Launch only makes sense alongside spin and ball speed, so the right number for you comes from a fitting on a launch monitor. Launch is always a little less than dynamic loft, so changing loft at impact is the main way to change it.

Beginner tip

Compare your driver launch with golfers of a similar handicap, not with tour players.

Advanced note

Change launch through dynamic loft and attack angle, and check spin every time. Higher launch with too much spin can cost carry.

Example

A 14-handicapper launches his driver at 9° with high spin, and his drives drop out of the sky. TrackMan lists the average golfer at 12.6°. A fitting finds a setup that launches him near 13° with less spin, and he gains carry.

Why it matters

A benchmark tells you whether your launch is in a normal range for golfers like you. It is a starting point for a fitting, not a number to force.

Common mistakes

Copying the PGA Tour driver launch with a slower swing
Judging launch angle without looking at spin
Comparing numbers from different launch monitors as if they were the same
Trying to lift the ball to add launch instead of changing loft or attack angle

Frequently asked questions

What is the average driver launch angle on the PGA Tour?

TrackMan's published PGA Tour average is 10.4°. The LPGA Tour average is 12.6°.

What is a good driver launch angle for an amateur?

TrackMan's Combine averages for male amateurs run from 11.2° for scratch golfers to 12.6° for the average 14.5 handicap. For female amateurs they run from 12.0° to 13.6°. Get fitted for your own speed and spin.

What launch angle should a 6-iron have?

TrackMan lists 14.0° on the PGA Tour and 16.7° on the LPGA Tour. Its optimiser gives about 16.9° for an 80 mph 6-iron swing.

Why do tour players launch the driver lower?

They swing faster. Higher ball speed carries the ball a long way at lower launch, while slower swings usually need more launch to keep the ball in the air.