Golf Launch Monitor Data Explained: Smash Factor, Ball Speed, Spin & More
A plain-English guide to every number on a TrackMan or golf simulator — smash factor, ball speed, attack angle, spin rate, launch angle and more.
Speed & Efficiency
- Ball Speed — How fast the ball leaves the face — the single biggest ingredient in distance.
- Club Speed — The speed of the club head at impact — your distance potential.
- Smash Factor — Ball speed divided by club speed — how efficiently you transfer energy.
Club Delivery
- Attack Angle — Whether the club is moving up or down at impact.
- Club Path — The left/right direction the club head travels through impact.
- Face Angle — Where the face points at impact — the main driver of start direction.
- Face to Path — The face angle relative to the path — what actually creates curve.
- Dynamic Loft — The actual loft delivered at impact — not the loft stamped on the club.
- Spin Loft — The gap between dynamic loft and attack angle — the engine of spin.
Ball Flight
- Launch Angle — The vertical angle the ball leaves the face.
- Spin Rate — How fast the ball spins backward — height, carry and stopping power.
- Spin Axis — The tilt of the ball's spin that makes it curve.
Shot Result
- Carry Distance — How far the ball flies through the air before it lands.
- Total Distance — Carry plus roll — how far the ball ends up.
- Apex Height — The highest point the ball reaches in flight.
- Landing Angle — How steeply the ball comes down — roll vs. stopping power.