High Launch Vs Low Launch Driver Shaft – Which Should I Use?

Do you generate excessive spin off the tee, leading to a ballooned drive and a loss of distance? Or, do you struggle to consistently get your ball in the area and hit low grass cutters?

In this post, I am looking at a high launch vs low launch driver shaft?

The aim is to unveil the pros and cons of each shaft to help you determine which construction is better suited to your game.

Intro To Driver Shafts And How They Affect Launch

When we are considering new driver options, we tend to focus our energy on the features of the actual clubhead.

However, we should take our driver shafts seriously. Since they impact the spin that you generate and the height of your launch.

If your shaft is too light and flexible for your swing, you may sky your drives. Conversely, if it is heavy and stiff, you will struggle to consistently get your ball in the air.

What Is A High Launch Driver Shaft?

As the name suggests, a high launch driver helps slower swinging golfers hit soaring drives to achieve maximum carry distance.

High launch drivers are often lighter, more flexible, and possess a low kick point.

What Is A Low Launch Driver Shaft?

Contrary to a high launch driver shaft. The low launch design helps faster swinging golfers achieve neutral ball flight for maximum total distance.

These shafts are often heavier, stiffer, and feature a high kick point.

High Launch Driver Shaft vs Low Launch Driver Shafts

Pros And Cons Of High launch Driver Shaft

Pros

  • Easy Launching

The beauty of a high launch driver shaft is that it is easy for all players to consistently get the ball airborne. That means that slower swingers enjoy more consistent carry distance.

  • Increased Spin

Although manufacturers always talk about low spin with a driver, you still need sufficient amounts to get the ball in the air. Slower swingers struggle to consistently achieve that, leading to a loss of carry and total distance.

  • Clubhead Speed

The lighter construction of these shafts helps you generate accelerated clubhead speed on your downswing to transfer that energy to your ball at impact.

  • Carry Distance

The result of accelerated clubhead and ball speed and an easy launching driver is maximum carry distance off the tee.

Cons

  • Spin

A high launch driver shaft helps players to generate sufficient spin to get the ball airborne. However, those with faster swing speeds that don’t require additional spin may balloon their drives.

  • Ballooned Shots

When players balloon their drives with a high launch shaft, it stems from the excess spin they generate. A ballooned shot results in a loss of carry distance which in turn impacts your total yardage.

Pros And Cons Of Low launch Driver – Heading And Paragraphs For Each One

Pros

  • Low Launch

If you are a faster driver swinger, a low launch shaft reduces spin to promote a neutral shot. That helps to optimize your carry and total distance.

  • Low Spin

The low spin qualities of this driver shaft mean that it gathers forward momentum in the air. When it lands, it can gain you an additional ten to twenty yards of roll.

  • Total Distance

Thanks to the combination of low spin and launch, your ball achieves additional yardage on the roll. As a result, you enjoy consistently long total distance.

Cons

  • Launch

A low launch driver is detrimental to slow-swinging golfers who cannot generate sufficient spin to get their ball in the air.

  • Carry Distance

As I mentioned above, a low launch driver does not suit slow swingers. The lack of spin and flex at impact makes it difficult for your ball to glide through the air. As a result, your flight is cut short, and you lose significant carry distance.

Best Low Launch Driver Shaft

Aldila Rogue Silver 130 T-XS

The premium-priced Aldila Rogue Silver 130 T-XS is crafted for the superior players among us, looking to achieve a low launch tee shot.

Furthermore, the shaft promotes low spin to prompt forward momentum for optimal roll and total distance.

The Rogue Silver 130 T-XS includes a durable graphite carbon fiber that produces a high kick point and moderate torque to resist flex and restrict backspin rpm.

Following Golf.com and True Spec golf findings, this shaft is best suited to those players with an average driver swing speed exceeding 105 mph. That is because the shaft is a tour, extra-stiff flex designed to resist whip and keep your ball flying low.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Promotes a low ball flight for faster swinging golfers
  • Reduces spin
  • Generates increased forward momentum
  • Best suited to players who generate excessive spin and sky their shots
  • Encourages optimal distance

Cons

  • Expensive
  • The extra stiff flex is a challenge for slower swingers to launch

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Best Mid Launch Driver Shaft

Mitsubishi Diamana ZF-60 Stiff

The Mitsubishi Diamana ZF-60 combines a sturdy, stable butt with a soft, active middle point to produce mid-launching drives. Its design is ideal for those with an average swing speed between 84 mph to 96 mph who demand neutral ball flight.

As a mid launching driver shaft, the Diamana ZF-60 is best suited to players with medium swing speeds, looking for a combination of moderate spin and accelerated ball speed.

Plus, it marginally increases your clubhead speed to help you generate optimal power at impact.

In summary, if you swing a driver at a moderate speed, you will appreciate the modest spin and mid-launch that leads to consistent carry distance.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • It encourages a mid-level launch for moderate swing speeds
  • Helps you generate modest spin for a consistent mid ball flight
  • Neutral ball flight
  • Durable
  • Promotes accelerated clubhead speed

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Slower swinging players may find it challenging to consistently launch a driver with this shaft.

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Best High Launch Driver Shaft

UST Proforce V2 HL

The UST Proforce V2 HL shaft is the most affordable and highest launching shaft on our list. If you lose out on optimal carry due to a lower launch. This shaft may offer the solution.

As high launch shafts, they help players with slower clubhead speeds generate sufficient power at impact. That helps to maximize the time their ball spends in the air.

UST Mamiya constructed the shaft’s walls to enhance its spring on your downswing, resulting in a more powerful impact. As a result, you enjoy extra carry distance.

To further ensure the high launching qualities of the UST Proforce V2 HL is the increased spin. Thanks to a stiffer tip. Therefore you enjoy consistent carry distance and yardage off the tee.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Affordable
  • High launching
  • Increased carry distance
  • Best suited to players with slower swing speeds
  • Produces optimal spring at impact to initiate a high launch

Cons

  • The added spin may cause faster-swinging golfers to balloon their drives and lose distance.

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Conclusion On High Launch vs Low Launch Driver Shaft

That wraps up my review of a high launch vs low launch driver shaft. We see that low launch driver shafts best suit faster-swinging golfers, looking for neutral ball flight.

Conversely, a high launch driver offers more value to slow swingers looking for assistance to launch soaring drives.

If you are a faster swinger, take a look at the Aldila Rogue Silver 130 T-XS specs here. However, those on the lower end of the spectrum are better off considering the UST Proforce V2 HL.