What is Flight Time?
It's a straightforward data metric to understand - Simply put, flight time is how long the ball stays in the air from impact to landing.
Because it's easy to understand, it's importance is often overlooked.
Why Flight Time Matters
If you're an amateur golfer and working away on the range week after week trying to improve then it's easy to look past more simple measures like Flight Time and Apex Height and what it tells you about each shot.
More flight time usually means:
- More carry distance
- Better stopping power
- Typically higher spin rates
Less flight time:
- Lower, more penetrating shots
- More roll
It's an output of how you have hit the ball. A function of all the inputs.
The importance of Flight Time is undervalued. It relates to distance control, being able to handle the conditions on the day, and stopping power on the green.
What Affects Flight Time?
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin rate
- Angle of Attack
Higher launch + optimal spin = longer flight.
By optimising for these inputs, you can optimise the output. By increasing your swing speed, for example, you can improve ball speed and spin rate which will consequently increase Apex Height and therefore the flight time.
Next time your at the range, move the ball slightly forward in your stance and lean the shaft forward slightly - you should see a lower, more penetrating flight compared to your normal flight.
How Golf Tech Helps
Launch monitors measure:
- Exact flight duration
- Apex Height
- Carry distance
- Roll Distance
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- and much more!
You get the full picture. For example, I'm a mid-high handicap golfer and using a FlightScope Mevo Gen2 I have learnt to hit two different shot types for a 125 yard target with the same club - A lower flight trajectory for keeping under the wind with less Flight Time which rolls a lot further after landing, and a shot with much higher Apex height and a higher spin rate which stops close to landing. Using the data in this way has given me different techniques to use around the course to adjust the shot based on the conditions and pin position. The next level is learning to alter my stance to shape the ball (fade/draw) consistently and confidently into the target as needed.
If you're thinking about swing speed training to increase your flight time then the Speed Sticks Pro from Super Speed Golf is the perfect choice. It's essentially a set of three sticks with interchangeable weights which you can set at 5% heavier, 10% lighter and 20% lighter compared to your driver and you'll see a difference in no time. Pair it with a launch monitor, such as the PRGR, as a perfect swing speed monitor to measure your speed and track your progress.
Summary
Flight time isn’t just a number. It’s a output of your swing and tells you how your shot actually performs.
By controlling the flight you can improve your course strategy and have different shots in the bag, not just clubs. Being able to manipulate ball flight is a game changer. Understanding flight time can help you understand distance control, playing in the wind and help stopping the ball on the green.
Use Golf Tech. Understand Your Game. Lower Your Scores.
