Velocity vs. Sweet Spot

[12 piece bucket]

Here is something i posted on another site showing the differences of a longer versus shorter driver and the effects. What i have below is assuming that you will hit the shorter driver flush more often, hence the higher efficiency rating i used:

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Here is an easy way to figure it out...we'll take the guy in the person in this thread who says he swings @ 120 with a 45" and 115 with a 44"

lets assume a 1.45 smash factor

45" Driver = 120 swing speed x 1.45 = 174mph ball speed
44" Driver = 115 swing speed x 1.45 = 167mph ball speed

Difference of 7mph of ball speed

What is that 7mph of ball speed worth in carry distance?

120mph x 2.5 (max efficiency) = 300 yard carry
115mph x 2.5 (max efficiency) = 288 yard carry

So what is that worth per yard per mph of ball speed?

12 yards (difference in carry) / 7 (difference in ball speed) = roughly 1.71 yard per mph of ball speed you lose.

Here's the check:

7mph of ball speed x 1.71 ~ 11.97yards

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Hmm....so this poster for that one inch he lost he gave up about 12 yards of carry distance. However this is taking into account he is hitting the center of the face on both drivers.

So we have to change a variable....basically change the efficiency rating by decreasing it.

120mph x 2.3 = 276 yard carry
115mph x 2.5 (max efficiency) = 288 yard carry

hmmm....which is looking better now

also just for giggles 115mph x 2.3 = 265 yard carry

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So what the hell does all this mean?

Basically with your 45" driver you are going to be much further on flush hits but your AVERAGE driving distance should theoretically be LESS than the shorter driver because you should be able to hit it flush more often.

But conversely if you mishit the short driver you are much shorter than you would've been with the mishited 45" driver.

DECISIONS? DECISIONS?

Thanks. I kind of figured this intuitively, but this is great data. Not sure I understand the smash factor stuff, but basically chasing a few extra MPH may not be what you need.