UNDERSTANDING TRACKMAN DATA – GUIDELINES

These numbers aren’t here to judge you—they’re here to guide you. I use them daily to help golfers understand what’s happening at impact, where their biggest gains are hiding, and how to actually improve rather than just guess. Use these as reference points, not strict rules. Everyone swings a little differently, but these ranges give us a solid starting line.

Low Point Distance This tells us where the bottom of your swing arc is relative to the ball. With irons, we want the low point after the ball—roughly 3–5 inches. With the driver, it’s usually just before or slightly after the ball (-1 to +1 inch).

Angle of Attack (AoA) AoA shows if you’re hitting up or down at impact. For irons, a downward angle (around -4 to -7°) helps compress the ball. For drivers, we’re usually looking for neutral to slightly upward—anywhere from -1° to +3° works well.

Club Path This measures the direction the club is moving horizontally through impact. A neutral club path (-2° to +2°) gives great control. In-to-out tends to create draws, and out-to-in leans toward fades or slices.

Face Angle Face angle tells us where the clubface is pointing at impact. A square face (0°) is ideal, but small variations (±2°) help shape the ball. Face angle has the biggest influence on where the ball starts. Ideally aim for a face angle that is 50% of the path, so a 2° in to out path matches well with a 1° open face angle to the target.

Club Speed This is how fast your club is moving at impact. Amateurs might swing a 7 iron around 70–85 mph. With drivers, 90–110+ mph is a good range depending on your level and goals.

Ball Speed Ball speed is the true indicator of energy transfer. A solid 7 iron produces around 100–120 mph, while driver ball speed for most amateurs ranges from 120–150 mph. More speed = more distance if you strike it clean.

Launch Angle This is how high the ball launches. A good rule of thumb: launch angle is roughly half your club's loft. So a 20° 7 iron might launch around 10°, and a 10.5° driver should launch around 12–15°.

Height Peak height gives us clues about launch, spin, and land angle. Drivers typically peak around 25–35 yards high, and wedges can go 30+ yards depending on speed and spin.

Spin Rate Spin rate is all about control. Drivers should spin around 2000–3000 RPM, while 7 irons typically spin in the 6000–7000 RPM range. Too much spin? You lose distance. Too little? You lose control.

Carry Carry distance is the number you need to know. It's how far the ball travels before hitting the ground. This is what clears bunkers, hazards, and front edges—more important than total.

Total Total distance is carry plus roll. Great to know for drivers, but secondary for approach shots where carry is king.

Side This is how far the ball finishes left or right of the target. Ideally, side is within ±10 yards. Big numbers here usually point to face or path issues.

Swing Direction This shows your overall swing arc through the ball. A good goal is -2° to +2° with irons, and 0° to +5° with drivers—slightly from the inside helps promote a powerful, controlled draw.

Impact Offset This measures where you hit the ball on the face—heel, toe, or sweet spot. Center hits = consistent flight, feel, and speed. Get this right, and a lot of other problems disappear.

Swing Plane Swing plane is the vertical angle of your swing path. Most players fall between 50–65°, varying by club and body type. The key is matching your plane to your swing style and body mechanics. Hope this data halps you, or gives you some guidance. Most golfers I see only recognise swing speed and distance so open your eyes to more data to help see subtle gains to your game.