Understanding Your Numbers

Launch monitors spit out a lot of numbers. Here’s what they mean and which ones to care about first.

Which Numbers Matter Most?

For most players, the biggest levers are shot shape and consistency (face and path), then distance and efficiency (speed and smash). Spin and launch matter a lot for dialing in a specific club (e.g. wedges vs driver) but often matter less than “am I hitting it where I’m aimed?”

Start here: Face to Path, Club Path, Face to Target — these explain why the ball curves and where it starts.
Then: Smash factor, Club Speed, Ball Speed — efficiency and distance.
For fine-tuning a club: Launch, Spin (back and side), Carry, Descent — optimal windows depend on club and goal.

Metrics Dictionary

Carry182Target: 195-205	Total196Target: 210-215	Club Spd92.4Target: 94+	Ball Spd124.8Target: 135+	Back Spin4840Target: 4k-5k	Side Spin724Target: < 250
HLA-2.4°Target: ±1.5°	Launch16.2°Target: 12°-14°	Descent38.0°Target: 40°-45°	Face Tgt-2.7°Target: ±1.0°	Face Path2.1°Target: ±2.0°	Smash1.35Target: 1.45+

Carry 182

Carry

How far the ball travels in the air (yards) before it hits the ground. What you care about for approach shots and par 3s.

Total 196

Total

Carry plus roll. More relevant for driver and fairway woods; for irons, carry is usually the number that matters.

Club Spd 92.4

Club Speed

Speed of the clubhead at impact (mph). Raw speed; efficiency is measured by smash factor (ball speed ÷ club speed).

Ball Spd 124.8

Ball Speed

Speed of the ball right after impact (mph). Directly tied to distance. Higher ball speed with the same club speed means better contact (see Smash).

Smash 1.35

Smash Factor

Ball speed ÷ club speed. Measures how efficiently you’re transferring energy. For a driver, 1.48–1.50+ is excellent; for irons it’s lower (e.g. mid-1.3s for a 7-iron). Low smash usually means mishits or poor contact.

Face Path 2.1°

Face to Path

Difference between clubface direction and club path at impact (degrees). This is the main driver of side spin and curve. Negative = ball curves left (for a righty), positive = curves right. Near zero = straighter. One of the most important numbers for fixing a slice or hook.

Face Tgt -2.7°

Face to Target (Face Angle)

Where the clubface is pointing at impact relative to the target (degrees). Largely determines where the ball starts. Combined with path, it explains shot shape (e.g. face open to path = cut/slice).

Club Path —

Club Path (Path)

Direction the clubhead is moving through impact (degrees relative to target). In-to-out = path right (for a righty), out-to-in = path left. Works with face to create curve.

HLA -2.4°

HLA (Horizontal Launch Angle)

Angle at which the ball leaves the clubface sideways (left or right of target). Tied to face and path. Big HLA numbers often mean big curves or misalignment.

Launch 16.2°

Launch (Angle)

Angle the ball leaves the clubface upward (degrees). Driver wants a certain window (e.g. 12–16° for many players); irons launch higher as loft increases. Too low or too high for the club usually costs distance or control.

Descent 38.0°

Descent (Angle)

Angle the ball comes down to the ground (degrees). Steeper descent = ball stops faster (good for approaches); flatter = more roll (driver).

Back Spin 4840

Back Spin

Rpm of spin around a horizontal axis (backspin). Affects carry, height, and stopping power. Too much or too little for the club and conditions hurts distance or control.

Side Spin 724

Side Spin

Rpm of spin that makes the ball curve left or right. Caused mainly by face-to-path relationship. Lower side spin (with a manageable shot shape) usually means tighter dispersion.

FAQ

What file do I upload?

A CSV export from your launch monitor or sim software (e.g. GSPro, Garmin Golf, Foresight, SkyTrak, Trackman). The file should contain shot-by-shot data with columns like ball speed, club speed, launch, spin, etc.

Which monitors or apps are supported?

We support CSV exports from many systems: Trackman, Foresight/BLP, SkyTrak, Garmin Golf App, FlightScope Mevo+, and GSPro. If you can export to CSV, we can often work with it.

What’s in the report?

A summary of your key metrics vs target ranges for that club and your goal, shot shape diagnosis (e.g. pull cut, draw), and specific drills to work on your biggest leak.