Launch Monitor Glossary

65 essential terms every golfer should understand

Showing 65 of 65 terms

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Smash Factor

The ratio of ball speed to club speed, measuring energy transfer efficiency.

Strike Quality

Spin Rate

How fast the ball rotates around its axis, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Launch Conditions

Spin Rate Type

Indicates whether the spin rate was directly measured or calculated from other data.

Launch Conditions

Sidespin

The sideways rotation of the ball that causes it to curve left or right.

Launch Conditions

Spin Index

A normalized percentage comparing your actual spin rate to the expected optimal spin rate.

Launch Conditions

Smash Index

A normalized percentage comparing your smash factor to the maximum expected for your club speed.

Strike Quality

Spin Loft

The difference between dynamic loft and attack angle, which determines spin rate.

Launch Conditions

Spin Axis

The tilt of the ball's spin axis, which determines curvature direction.

Launch Conditions

Shot Type

The classification of your shot based on its ball flight shape.

Directional Control

Start Line

The initial direction the ball travels immediately after impact.

Directional Control

Shaft Lean

How much the shaft is leaning forward or backward at impact.

Club Data

Side Deviation

How far left or right of target the ball finishes.

Directional Control

Swing Plane

The angle of the club's circular path relative to the ground during the swing.

Club Data

Swing Radius

The radius of the clubhead's circular path during the swing.

Club Data

Swing Direction

The horizontal direction the club is traveling at the bottom of the swing arc.

Club Data

Start Line Control

A SimSights metric that measures the percentage of shots where the ball's initial direction stays within ±3° of your target line.

Consistency & Repeatability

Strike Quality Score

A SimSights metric that measures the percentage of shots struck well enough to meet the smash factor and impact location thresholds for your club type.

Consistency & Repeatability

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