140 swing speed? what is really needed to compete?

[1ofsix399]

Had a few discussions lately about what speed it takes to compete... its hard to throw around 130-140 to most people cause they just don't believe it... anyway what is the average? Can 115-120 guys cut it with a straight ball... or Is
is my 135 and up still king? I know how I feel about it... just looking for other oppinions!

[ceejay]

Depends on what device you used to measure your speed.

Trackman? Then 135 is enough to take you to the top 8 in the WLDC if you hit the ball good.

[BigButSmall]

I look at ball speed as a stronger indicator than ch/swing speed. Personally I would say over 200mph is competitive, working on a 1.45 smash factor that equals a perfect strike with a chs of 137mph. so can a swing of 120 keep up, no but a technically solid swing at 137 from someone who can handle the pressure of the lights and crowd.

Just my view.

Matt UK

[Geekoman]

"someone who can handle the pressure of the lights and crowd." said Matt.


Matt...let's call this...............'The Brass Factor'!  Very few talk about it...but, George S. and other elite Sluggers and most (LDers) really understand how important it is!

...and you need plenty of it!

[BigButSmall]

And with practice you can channel those brass balls to an extra 10yds!

[swift16]

For people who have competed in the WLDC what are the average swing speeds in the final few rounds of the guys who make it that far?

[hightee]

140

[Wallawallaman]

1 of 6,

There are already bunch of threds on this topic if you search incepta. Launch angle, spin, angle of attack, swing path and contact are far more importait than speed IMO... 135 these days without perfect contact will get you sent home. Good luck.

~Henson

[bigreed]

Well no wonder I suck.   

[TheDoctor]

Anybody less then 130 in the open division is out before they even started, doesn't matter how well they are hitting it.  135 is the point where if you are absolutely pure you can compete ON THE RIGHT GRID.  You will get smoked in a carry competition at 135.  140-145 is world class speed where if you are hitting it really pure you can compete with anybody.  Winther was 150.5 in San Diego earlier this year and I dare anybody to claim they are faster then Winther.

Trackman.

[bradfromearth]

One way to swing slow and do well is to hit high. If you can get your launch to 20+ degrees and your spin down to 1200 you can launch a bomb with 185 ball speed. There is a variety of ball flight software that allows you to model this. You need to hit up on the ball and strike it well.

[KSanford33]

One way to swing slow and do well is to hit high. If you can get your launch to 20+ degrees and your spin down to 1200 you can launch a bomb with 185 ball speed. There is a variety of ball flight software that allows you to model this. You need to hit up on the ball and strike it well.

Hey Brad,
 I'm relatively new to the LD game; how do you get a launch angle that high with that low of spin? I've been playing with the numbers in a launch simulator (Trajectoware) and come up with a real high AofA, like 16 degrees or so. I'm really interested because the flight path looks like the bombs you see in the WLDC. Thanks!


    -KS

[DeadRed]

Ball speed

Launch angle

Spin rate

are the real indicators for distance (pending weather and grid conditions obviosuly)

Someone could be swinging it 155 but with lousy contact it may travel less than someone with 135 ss.

Solid contact is key for both ball speed and spin

Josh Camitta

[ukrainien]

One way to swing slow and do well is to hit high. If you can get your launch to 20+ degrees and your spin down to 1200 you can launch a bomb with 185 ball speed. There is a variety of ball flight software that allows you to model this. You need to hit up on the ball and strike it well.

Gotta disagree with that - all the energy is wasted hitting the ball up into the sky , rather than hitting it forward - and  that ball speed aint gonna get you too far either

[Bama.drew]

20+ is pretty high
More like 13 I would think
But if you are lacking in speed you need that
Low spin so you can milk every yard out of it

[Roach]

Ask Mobley 

[bradfromearth]

One way to swing slow and do well is to hit high. If you can get your launch to 20+ degrees and your spin down to 1200 you can launch a bomb with 185 ball speed. There is a variety of ball flight software that allows you to model this. You need to hit up on the ball and strike it well.

Gotta disagree with that - all the energy is wasted hitting the ball up into the sky , rather than hitting it forward - and  that ball speed aint gonna get you too far either

I guess I should not have called it a bomb. The point I was trying to make was that you can still get a decent shot with those numbers. Take a look at the link below. You may be shocked at what a paltry 185 ball speed can do when sent off optimally.

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Aa4dCbD5m0NAZHFzMzQzZ18zNWN3Z2htemY3

These are screen shots from my Vector database. The first image is sorted by total yards descending and filtered to 185 mph ball speed or less. The second image is the same without the ball speed filter. The environment is set to Mesquite at 1600 feet elevation, 70°F with no wind. The ball is the competition balls that were sent out to locals this year and it is 90-95 compression. (I tested the batch randomly)

As for the energy waste I don't know about others that but I can hit the same ball speeds with a 9 degree or a 20+ degree launch.

[keiko]

There is a guy who has been measured at 180mph but they can't find a shaft or head that can take that kind of pounding. I personally watched him hit it 500 yards on a fly then it rolled another 50 yards on a 550 yd. par 5, ball ended up on the edge of the green.
He's 6'9" and 330 lbs. pure muscle with body fat of 5%

[Geekoman]

There is a guy who has been measured at 180mph but they can't find a shaft or head that can take that kind of pounding. I personally watched him hit it 500 yards on a fly then it rolled another 50 yards on a 550 yd. par 5, ball ended up on the edge of the green.
He's 6'9" and 330 lbs. pure muscle with body fat of 5%

Correction:  Your 1 Yard off.  It was 551...LOL!  True story!  One miracle per Long Driver per lifetime!BP, BW and M. Rodrigues told me that!!

[TheDoctor]

Not sure if keiko is serious.  If he is serious that makes baby pandas cry.