Landing Ball Speed
The speed of the ball when it lands, after decelerating during flight.
Full Definition
Landing ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling at the moment it touches down at the carry distance. Due to air resistance (drag), the ball continuously slows during flight, so landing speed is always lower than launch ball speed. Higher spinning shots experience more drag and land slower. The landing ball speed affects how much the ball rolls out and how much it bounces on landing.
Optimal RangeGeneral guidance based on tour averages. Your optimal range depends on swing speed, physical attributes, and individual technique. Many golfers succeed with metrics outside these ranges.
Typically 40-60% of initial ball speed depending on trajectory and spin
Why It Matters
Landing ball speed influences how the ball behaves on landing. A ball landing at higher speed with a shallow angle will bounce and roll more. A ball landing slower with a steep angle stops quicker. This metric helps explain the relationship between carry and total distance.