Ball speed from the face of a driver is determined by the player’s clubhead speed, the impact point on the clubface, the loft and the level of clubface spring-like effect (COR). A direct centre strike achieves more initial ball velocity than one from the toe or heel of the club. Initial ball speeds from a driver can be as low as 90 mph for a weak lady amateur player or more than 170 mph for the top men tour pros. For every ball velocity there is an optimum combination of launch angle and spin rate in order to achieve maximum distance off the tee.

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