Golf instruction has become high-tech with all the sophisticated video equipment and training aids used today by teaching professionals. Now you can add launch monitors to the list of teaching tools. How, you ask? Zelocity has released their latest software version for the PureLaunch Monitor with features that can help you improve your students’ playing performance.

The new features include Club Head Acceleration, Angle of Attack, Club Face Angle, Tempo and Angle of Descent measurements.

This is what the company says about each feature:

Club Head Acceleration – is the speed at which the club is traveling every 6 inches from a point 2.5 feet before and at impact. Ideally the club head should be increasing in speed during this part of the swing but at the least it should be the same speed.

If a golfer has a decelerating club head speed right before impact, it is probably caused by ‘casting”. The teaching pro can work on this aspect along with the Tempo to improve the golfer’s timing. A tour pro will likely show an increase in club head speed during this part of the swing because of their ability to retain their wrist angle and release at the last moment. A good player may see no change while the average golfer may see a slight decrease in club head speed. The Zelocity PureLaunch Monitor actually measures the club head speed and does not calculate it. Therefore, this is important data for teaching consistent swing mechanics.

Angle of Attack – is the difference between the resulting shot’s launch angle and the golf club loft at the point of impact. This angle is the steepness of descent or ascent of the golf club’s forward swing, which influences the trajectory and distance a golf ball will travel. The resulting launch angle of the shot is used along with the loft of the club being hit to determine the angle of attack.

Compare this data to determine if the student is contacting the ball with a negative (downward) or positive (upward) angle. This helps the teaching pro to demonstrate swing set up and what effect ball position has on trajectory.

Club Face Angle – is the position of the clubface at impact relative to the intended line of the ball flight. This data is displayed in fractions of degrees as open, square, or closed.

The results of several swings will help the teaching pro to explain club path and release of the club head at impact for more consistent on-center hits.

Tempo – is the time it takes for the total duration of the golf swing once the backswing commences. Tempo looks at the total time from the start of the backswing, top of the backswing and downswing until impact.

By teaching consistency and at a rate appropriate to the stiffness of the shaft in the golfer’s club, the pro can improve on the number of good shots for the student. It will be easy to see if the golfer is playing with too stiff or too soft of a shaft flex. The wrong shaft will effect the golfer’s swing mechanics.

Angle of Descent – determines the amount of roll the ball generates when it hits the ground. Once the golf ball is launched its speed gradually decays and gravity forces the ball to the ground. After the golf ball reaches the apex of the shot, the angle of its descent is the most important determinant of the total distance the ball will travel. The ideal angle of descent is between 35 and 42 degrees (depending on ball velocity, launch angle, spin and type of landing area).

Teaching pros can use this data to quantify instruction results and show their students their improvement. Achieving consistent distances with each club will surely pay off for the golfer on the course.

Generally speaking when launch monitors are used for fitting purposes, swing instructions are usually given during the fitting process to help improve the golfer’s consistency. Why not just use the launch monitor to instruct golfers to make a better swing. It can be a big help when used with video too. The golfer can see both the swing motion they generate and quantify swing results with the launch monitor data.