Launch Monitor & Simulator – Values, Parameters, Data & Comparisons

Revised January 2026: Golf launch monitors are a great way to take your game to the next level—not just in winter—by training based on data and improving specific metrics. Here, you’ll learn which metrics to pay special attention to during training and what they mean. To train as effectively as possible with a simulator, you need some basic knowledge of the metrics it generates. Up to 25 different metrics are recorded with every swing.

The measured data describes the ball's flight and the movement of the clubhead. This data can be further broken down into speeds, spin, distance, angles, impact characteristics, and performance metrics such as dispersion. Understanding this data will help you improve your golf game.

How launch monitors work

Launch monitors are highly sophisticated devices. That is why it is important to learn and understand the basics. During the swing, some data is measured directly, while other data is calculated by the software using complex formulas.

Examples of calculated data include carry, roll, and total distance for a shot, since the launch monitor only records data immediately before impact, during impact, and for a few moments afterward. Often, the ball lands on a screen, so the trajectory must be calculated.

There are three fundamentally different measurement techniques:

1. Camera-based measurement technology
2. Radar-based measurement technology
3. Combined measurement technology

A photometric system (1) uses high-speed cameras that capture thousands of images at the moment of impact. These images are processed in a matter of seconds using an algorithm. The cameras used in launch monitors are much, much faster than commercially available cameras and can capture several thousand images per second. However, there are also significant drawbacks, such as the sensitivity of the cameras.

A Doppler radar system (2), on the other hand, does not use cameras for measurement but instead analyzes waves reflected by the ball and the clubhead. This measurement technique is very robust and user-friendly, but it reaches its limits when it comes to parameters such as ball spin, as this requires imaging technology.

The best data quality and user-friendliness are achieved by combining both measurement techniques (3). This allows you to combine the advantages of both technologies and eliminate many of the drawbacks associated with each individual technique. Be sure to read the article on the pros and cons of each system; we’ve summarized our purchasing recommendations in this informative article.

Key metrics and data

Launch Angle

The vertical launch angle is a measure of the ball’s launch angle relative to the slope of the ground. Simply put, it indicates how high the ball launches off the ground. It is particularly important when using a driver, as it significantly affects the distance the ball travels. An optimal launch angle plays a major role in how far the ball flies; if it’s too high, the ball climbs quickly, gains too much spin, and drops straight back down; if it’s too low, the ball falls before it can reach its full potential.

Back Spin (Rate)

Back spin is a measure of the speed at which the golf ball rotates from front to back as it leaves the clubface. Wedges generate a lot of spin, while a driver shouldn’t have too much. An optimal value for a driver is likely around 2,500 rpm, whereas wedges can reach about 10,000 rpm.

Club Speed – Clubhead Speed

This value refers to the clubhead speed. Clubhead speed is measured at the point of contact and has a direct impact on the distance the ball travels. For every kilometer per hour of clubhead speed, the distance increases by two meters.

Long-drive champions can reach clubhead speeds of up to 240 km/h.

Ball Speed – Ball Speed

This value represents the ball's speed. It is measured immediately after impact. For every kilometer per hour of ball speed, the ball travels one meter farther.

Long-drive champions can hit the ball at speeds of up to 360 km/h.

Smash Factor

The Smash Factor compares these two values. It measures the energy transfer from the clubhead to the ball at the moment of impact. The higher the Smash Factor, the better the transfer. The ball speed is divided by the clubhead speed to calculate the Smash Factor. For a driver, a value of 1.5 is the target. This would mean that with a clubhead speed of 100 km/h, the ball speed would be 150 km/h. The shorter the club, the lower the optimal Smash Factor (e.g., a pitching wedge is 1.25).

Carry Distance – Pure Ball Flight Distance

This metric pretty much speaks for itself: it refers to the pure flight distance of the golf ball, excluding roll. It is particularly important, and you should know it for every club in your bag. Roll cannot be measured; it depends on the ground, wind, spin, etc., and is estimated by all launch monitors.

Shot Dispersion – Ball Dispersion

Ball dispersion indicates how far the golf ball lands from the target. This is often shown as a cluster of several consecutive golf shots. The closer the cluster of golf balls is, the more accurately you have struck that series of shots. However, the higher the club, the greater the ball dispersion naturally becomes. Professionals aim for a value of 3%.

Max. Height – Maximum ball flight height

The value says it all: it’s the apex of the ball’s flight path, measured at the highest point above the ground. This can be particularly interesting when using a driver, because a flight path that’s too high indicates too much spin and reduces distance.

Additional measurements at the clubhead

Angle of Attack

The attack angle indicates the vertical direction from which the clubhead strikes the ball. For shots played off the ground, the attack angle should be negative—that is, from top to bottom. This means you strike the ball first and then the ground. For longer woods and the driver, the opposite applies: the attack angle should be positive—that is, from bottom to top. This results in more distance and less spin.

Face Angle – Angle of the clubface

The face angle is important because it affects the golf ball’s side spin and direction of flight. It is the horizontal angle of the clubface at the moment of impact. In simple terms, the face angle is also referred to as an open or closed clubface. If a negative number appears on the screen, the clubface is closed. A positive value indicates an open clubface.

For the straightest possible shot, this value should be zero. If you want to hit a draw or a fade, the face angle should be half the club path (with the same sign).

Club Path – Ball Flight Path

Club path describes the path of the club through the moment of impact. Simply put, we say the clubhead moves either from outside to inside or from inside to outside. If the displayed value is positive, the clubhead’s swing path was from inside to outside. If the value is negative, the clubhead moves from outside to inside through the ball.

To hit a draw, you should swing from the inside out; for a fade, do the exact opposite.

Face to Path – Clubface to Swing Path

Face-to-path is a key factor in generating significant side spin and describes the angle of the clubface relative to the swing path. This relationship is the primary factor in generating the side angle and the side spin of the golf ball.

Loft and Lie – Why These Variables Are So Important

For serious golfers, it is crucial to understand thatloft and lie are not fixed values, but variables that can change due to wear and tear or improper storage, thereby affecting the ball’s flight path.

Additional measurements on the golf ball

Side Angle – Pull, Push, and Straight

The side angle is also known as the pull or push and refers to the deviation from a straight ball flight: the initial horizontal angle relative to the target line. The side angle, combined with side spin, determines the final ball trajectory and position relative to the target line. This results in shots such as draws, fades, hooks, and slices.

Side Spin – Side Spin

Side spin is a component of total spin that determines the curvature of the ball's trajectory. It also refers to the spin-tilt axis.

Average statistics on the PGA Tour

Trackman, the tour partner, provides the average stats of tour pros, which is very interesting for any golfer. On the one hand, it gives you an idea of what constitutes good numbers. On the other hand, it lets you see where you currently stand. The metrics measured include club speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin rate, and carry.

Average statistics on the LPGA Tour

The Tour Trackman partner provides average statistics for the participants, which is very interesting for every female golfer. On the one hand, it gives you an idea of what constitutes good numbers. On the other hand, it allows you to see where you currently stand. The following metrics were measured: club speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin rate, and carry.

Average scores for amateur golfers

Unfortunately, we were only able to find the average values for the driver. However, we are continuing our research and will update this list. The following metrics were measured: clubhead speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin rate, and carry.

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