Swing Data and Personal History

FairwayFriend brings cutting-edge technology to your fingertips, helping you improve your game by analyzing swing data and tracking personal history. These features, powered by machine learning, give you the insights you need to take your golf skills to the next level.

Golf Swing Data for Different Clubs

Golf swings vary depending on the club being used. The key parameters include launch angle, attack angle, clubface orientation, and shaft angle at impact. For each club, the relevant data points include:

Driver: Optimal launch angles between 10-15°, attack angle around +5°, and clubhead speed averaging 90-120 mph for professional golfers.
Irons (3-9): Launch angles from 15° to 40° (higher for short irons), attack angle around -3° to -5°, and clubhead speed decreasing from long irons to short irons.
Wedges (Pitching, Sand, Lob): Launch angles between 40-60°, higher loft angles, and slower clubhead speed around 70-90 mph.
Putter: Focus on path, tempo, and face angle at impact, typically between 1-3° off-center.

Key Variables for Each Club:

Clubhead Speed: Varies with club type; typically, faster for drivers and slower for wedges.
Ball Speed: The result of clubhead speed, face angle, and impact quality.
Launch Angle: The vertical angle at which the ball takes off.
Swing Path: Inside-out, outside-in, or straight.
Face Angle: Open, square, or closed at impact.
Attack Angle: Positive (ascending) for drivers, negative (descending) for irons.
Spin Rate: Higher for short irons, wedges, and putters.

2. Grip Data

The grip is essential in controlling the clubface orientation and ball flight. The types of grip include:

Strong Grip: More control over a draw or hook shot, where the hands are rotated clockwise.
Neutral Grip: Standard position with the "V" shape formed by the thumb and index finger pointing to the right shoulder.
Weak Grip: Can produce fade or slice, with hands rotated counterclockwise.

For machine learning, grip can be measured via:

Hand Position: Coordinates of hands relative to the club shaft.
Pressure Distribution: Measured using sensors to detect variations in grip pressure along the swing.
Rotation of the Hands: Rotation degrees of wrists and hands at different points of the swing.

3. Posture and Stance Data

Correct posture affects the efficiency of the swing, ball trajectory, and shot consistency. Critical parameters include:

Spine Angle: Should remain consistent throughout the swing. Typically around 35-45° tilt forward.
Knee Flexion: Ranges from 20-30° for most golfers.
Weight Distribution: Measured through foot pressure sensors. For a driver, weight distribution at address is around 55-60% on the back foot.
Hip Rotation: Hip turn angles should be measured for backswing and downswing. Backswing hip rotation for pros averages 45°; downswing hip rotation reaches around 40-60°.
Shoulder Tilt and Rotation: Shoulders typically rotate between 80-100° in the backswing for professional players, with some lateral tilt for ball control.

Below is an example from an actual player who has used the app.

Category

Data

Notes

Name

John Doe

Age

Handedness

Right-handed

Years Playing Golf

Golf Handicap

8.0

Indicates an experienced amateur golfer

Clubhead Speed (avg)

105 mph (Driver)

Faster swing speed results in longer distance

Grip Style

Interlocking grip

Common grip for control and stability

Playing Style

Aggressive (Long-hitter)

Often goes for distance over precision

Favorite Club

7-Iron

Main Issues

Inconsistent ball flight, hooking

Common issues impacting performance

Driver Swing Data

Metric	Value	Optimal Range	Notes
Clubhead Speed	105 mph	95-110 mph	Slightly faster than average, good for distance.
Attack Angle	+4.0°	+2° to +4°	Positive angle optimizes for launch and distance.
Ball Speed	155 mph	140-160 mph	High ball speed, correlates with long drives.
Launch Angle	14.0°	12°-15°	High launch for maximum carry and rollout.
Spin Rate	2400 rpm	2000-2600 rpm	Good spin rate for distance without too much side spin.
Carry Distance	270 yards	250-275 yards	Solid carry distance, common for clubhead speed.
Total Distance	300 yards	275-310 yards	Ideal for an aggressive playing style.
Shot Shape	Slight Draw	Straight or slight draw	Draw preferred for extra distance.
Face Angle	+1.5° (open)	0° to +2° open	Slightly open face, promoting a fade or neutral shot.
Club Path	+2.0° (in-to-out)	+1° to +3° in-to-out	In-to-out swing path promotes a draw shot.
Smash Factor	1.48	1.45-1.50	High smash factor, maximizing ball speed relative to clubhead speed.

7-Iron Swing Data

Metric	Value	Optimal Range	Notes
Clubhead Speed	90 mph	80-90 mph	On the higher end of the range, for distance.
Attack Angle	-3.0°	-3° to -5°	Negative angle indicates downward strike, typical for irons.
Ball Speed	120 mph	115-125 mph	High ball speed for solid contact.
Launch Angle	19.0°	18°-21°	Good launch for maximizing carry and stopping power on greens.
Spin Rate	6200 rpm	6000-7000 rpm	High spin rate allows better control of distance and accuracy.
Carry Distance	155 yards	150-160 yards	Ideal carry for an aggressive swing.
Total Distance	165 yards	160-170 yards	Slight rollout after landing.
Shot Shape	Slight Draw	Straight or slight draw	Draw preferred for distance and control.
Face Angle	+0.5° (open)	0° to +1° open	Neutral face angle, slightly open, promoting a straight or slight fade.
Club Path	+1.0° (in-to-out)	0° to +2° in-to-out	In-to-out path promotes a draw.
Smash Factor	1.35	1.30-1.38	Efficient transfer of energy from club to ball.

Sand Wedge Swing Data

Metric	Value	Optimal Range	Notes
Clubhead Speed	75 mph	70-80 mph	Lower speed to maintain control in shorter shots.
Attack Angle	-7.0°	-6° to -8°	Steep angle of attack for maximum backspin and control.
Ball Speed	85 mph	80-90 mph	Lower ball speed due to shorter club.
Launch Angle	30.0°	28°-32°	Higher launch to achieve maximum height and softness.
Spin Rate	9800 rpm	9000-11000 rpm	High spin rate for stopping the ball quickly on greens.
Carry Distance	80 yards	75-85 yards	Consistent carry for short approach shots.
Total Distance	85 yards	80-90 yards	Minimal rollout for wedge shots.
Shot Shape	Straight	Straight or slight fade	Accuracy is key for wedge shots; straight shot preferred.
Face Angle	+1.0° (open)	+1° to +2° open	Slightly open face to add loft and spin.
Club Path	0.0° (neutral)	-1° to +1°	Neutral path for high control.
Smash Factor	1.13	1.10-1.15	Efficiency lower due to shorter shots but optimized for control.

Sand Wedge Swing Data

Metric	Value	Optimal Range	Notes
Clubhead Speed	75 mph	70-80 mph	Lower speed to maintain control in shorter shots.
Attack Angle	-7.0°	-6° to -8°	Steep angle of attack for maximum backspin and control.
Ball Speed	85 mph	80-90 mph	Lower ball speed due to shorter club.
Launch Angle	30.0°	28°-32°	Higher launch to achieve maximum height and softness.
Spin Rate	9800 rpm	9000-11000 rpm	High spin rate for stopping the ball quickly on greens.
Carry Distance	80 yards	75-85 yards	Consistent carry for short approach shots.
Total Distance	85 yards	80-90 yards	Minimal rollout for wedge shots.
Shot Shape	Straight	Straight or slight fade	Accuracy is key for wedge shots; straight shot preferred.
Face Angle	+1.0° (open)	+1° to +2° open	Slightly open face to add loft and spin.
Club Path	0.0° (neutral)	-1° to +1°	Neutral path for high control.
Smash Factor	1.13	1.10-1.15	Efficiency lower due to shorter shots but optimized for control.

Putting Stroke Data

Metric	Value	Optimal Range	Notes
Clubhead Speed	2.5 mph	2-3 mph	Low speed to ensure precision.
Ball Speed	1.8 mph	1.5-2.0 mph	Consistent speed for controlled distance.
Launch Angle	1.0°	0.5°-1.5°	Very low launch angle, ensuring ball rolls quickly after impact.
Path (Backswing)	-0.5° (inside)	-0.5° to 0.5°	Slight inside backswing, common for putts.
Path (Follow Through)	+0.5° (outside)	-0.5° to +0.5°	Slight outside follow-through, promotes a straight stroke.
Face Angle	0.0° (square)	0°	Perfectly square to target line.
Total Distance Control	30 ft	25-35 ft	Accurate distance control for longer putts.

Personal Golfing History

Event	Performance	Notes
Recent Tournament	Top 10 finish in club championship	Strong putting, inconsistent driver performance.
Coaching Sessions	3 lessons per month	Focused on improving consistency and shot accuracy.
Notable Achievements	5-time club match-play winner	Strong under pressure, excels in match-play situations.
Injury History	Minor wrist injury (2019)	Required swing adjustment for recovery.
Training Focus	Consistency with driver, better wedge control	Recently invested in new wedges and putter for improved short game.