Launch Angle and Backspin

Distance comes down to launch angle and backspin rate. An optimal driver launch sits around 12-15 degrees, with backspin of roughly 2,000-2,500 RPM.

Small changes in the club make a big difference here. A driver lofted just one degree differently can change carry by about 10 meters at the same swing speed. That sensitivity is why fitters obsess over getting the loft exactly right — a fraction of a degree separates a player's longest, most repeatable drives from shots that come up short.