What Does Loft Mean in Golf

In golf, the term “loft” refers to the angle of the clubface relative to the ground. The loft of a golf club is an important factor in determining the trajectory and distance of a golf ball.

Each golf club has a specific loft angle, which is measured in degrees. The loft angle of a golf club is determined by the angle between the clubface and a line perpendicular to the ground. The greater the loft angle, the higher the ball will go when struck by the club.

For example, a driver typically has a loft angle between 8 and 12 degrees, which is relatively low compared to other clubs. This low loft angle helps the ball travel farther through the air, but with a lower trajectory. On the other hand, a wedge has a much higher loft angle, which allows the golfer to hit the ball high into the air, but with less distance.

The loft angle of a golf club also affects the amount of spin that is put on the ball. Clubs with higher loft angles tend to put more backspin on the ball, which can help it stop quickly on the green. Conversely, clubs with lower loft angles tend to put less backspin on the ball, which can cause it to roll farther when it lands.

Understanding the loft of each golf club is essential for golfers of all levels. By selecting the right club with the appropriate loft angle, a golfer can maximize the distance and accuracy of their shots.

In addition to determining the trajectory and spin of a golf ball, the loft angle of a golf club also affects how easy it is to get the ball into the air. Clubs with higher loft angles are generally easier to hit for beginners and those with slower swing speeds, as they provide more lift and help get the ball airborne.

The loft angle of a golf club is also an important factor when it comes to hitting shots from different lies and situations on the golf course. For example, when hitting a shot out of deep rough, a golfer may need to use a club with a higher loft angle to help get the ball up and out of the grass. Similarly, when hitting a shot into the wind, a golfer may need to use a club with a lower loft angle to keep the ball from getting too much lift and being affected by the wind.

It’s worth noting that the loft angle of a golf club can vary depending on the manufacturer and model. For example, one 9-degree driver may have a slightly different loft angle than another 9-degree driver from a different brand. It’s important for golfers to be aware of the loft angles of their clubs and how they compare to other brands and models.

In summary, the loft of a golf club refers to the angle of the clubface relative to the ground, and is an important factor in determining the trajectory, spin, and distance of a golf ball. Understanding the loft angles of each club in a golfer’s bag is essential for making informed club selections and hitting better shots on the course.

Loft Angles for Different Golf Clubs

Club	Loft Angle (Degrees)	Typical Distance (yards)	Trajectory	Ball Speed (mph)
Driver	8-15	200-350	High	120-160
Fairway Wood	13-19	150-275	Mid-High	100-150
Hybrid	16-26	125-225	Mid-High	90-130
Irons (3-9)	18-47	100-200	Mid-Low	70-120
Pitching Wedge	46-50	75-120	High	50-70
Gap Wedge	50-54	60-100	Mid-High	40-60
Sand Wedge	54-58	40-80	High	30-50
Lob Wedge	58-62	25-60	Very High	20-40
Ultra-Lob Wedge	62-64	10-40	Very High	15-30
Putter	1-7	–	–	–

Relationship Between Loft and Ball Flight

Loft Angle (Degrees)	Ball Flight	Spin Rate (rpm)	Launch Angle (Degrees)	Carry Distance (yards)
<10	Low	High	Low	100-150
10-14	Medium-Low	Medium	Medium-Low	150-200
15-20	Medium	Medium	Medium	200-250
21-28	Medium-High	Low	Medium-High	250-300
>28	High	Very Low	High	300+

 Importance of Loft for Different Shots

Shot Type	Recommended Loft Angle (Degrees)	Club Choices
Tee Shot	10-15	Driver
Fairway Shot	18-22	Fairway Wood, Hybrid, Iron
Approach Shot	45-60	Iron, Wedge
Bunker Shot	54-60	Sand Wedge, Lob Wedge
Chip Shot	60+	Lob Wedge, Ultra-Lob Wedge

Factors That Affect Loft

Factor	Effect on Loft
Club Design	Determines initial loft angle
Swing Speed	Higher swing speed can decrease loft
Angle of Attack	Steeper angle of attack can increase loft
Ball Position	Moving the ball forward can decrease loft, while moving it back can increase loft
Ground Conditions	Firm conditions can decrease loft, while soft conditions can increase loft

 

Common Loft Angles for Men’s and Women’s Iron Sets

Club	Men’s Loft Angle (Degrees)	Women’s Loft Angle (Degrees)
3 Iron	21-24	21-24
4 Iron	24-27	24-27
5 Iron	27-30	27-30
6 Iron	30-34	30-34
7 Iron	34-38	34-38
8 Iron	38-42	38-42
9 Iron	42-46	42-46
Pitching Wedge	46-50	46-50
Gap Wedge	50-54	50-54
Sand Wedge	54-58	54-58

 

Loft Angles and Club Numbers for Irons

Iron Number	Loft Angle (Degrees)	Typical Distance (yards)	Trajectory	Ball Speed (mph)
1	16-18	150-180	Mid-Low	90-120
2	19-21	140-170	Mid-Low	80-110
3	22-24	130-160	Mid-Low	70-100
4	25-27	120-150	Mid-Low	60-90
5	28-30	110-140	Mid-Low	50-80
6	31-33	100-130	Mid-Low	40-70
7	34-36	90-120	Mid-Low	30-60
8	37-39	80-110	Mid-Low	25-50
9	40-42	70-100	Mid-Low	20-40

 Loft Angles and Uses for Wedges

Wedge Type	Loft Angle (Degrees)	Uses
Pitching Wedge	44-48	Full shots, approach shots, chipping
Gap Wedge	50-54	Full shots, approach shots, chipping
Sand Wedge	54-58	Bunker shots, high soft shots, chipping
Lob Wedge	58-62	High soft shots, short pitches, chipping
Ultra-Lob Wedge	62-64	Extreme short game, delicate shots, chipping

Effect of Loft on Spin Rate and Launch Angle

Loft Angle (Degrees)	Spin Rate (rpm)	Launch Angle (Degrees)
<10	High	Low
10-14	Medium	Medium-Low
15-20	Medium	Medium
21-28	Low	Medium-High
>28	Very Low	High

Relationship Between Loft and Shot Height

Loft Angle (Degrees)	Shot Height	Distance
<10	Low	Short
10-14	Medium-Low	Medium
15-20	Medium	Medium
21-28	Medium-High	Long
>28	High	Very Long

Typical Loft Angles for Men’s and Women’s Drivers

Driver	Men’s Loft Angle (Degrees)	Women’s Loft Angle (Degrees)
1	8-10	10-13
3	13-15	15-18
5	17-19	19-

Note: The loft angles in this table are based on general industry standards and may vary depending on the manufacturer and specific model of the club.