Most golfers think launch angle is purely a swing problem. They’ll spend hours on the range trying to “fix” their ball flight, convinced they need to change their entire swing plane or attack angle. I’ve been teaching golf for years and i can tell you launch issues are rarely that simple.

Your launch angle results from multiple factors working together or against each other. Sometimes, what you think is a problem isn’t actually a problem at all.

When high launch is a problem

I worked with a player who was convinced his irons were launching too high. He’d hit what looked like beautiful shots but they’d balloon in any wind and he was losing 10-15 yards on every iron.

Adding loft at impact

The most common culprit for sky-high iron shots is adding loft at impact. This happens when your hands fall behind the ball at contact, effectively increasing the loft of the club. I’ve seen students turn a 7-iron into a 9-iron this way. You’ll know this is your issue if your divots are shallow or non-existent and the ball feels like it’s just floating up there.

Falling back through impact

Related to adding loft is the weight shift issue. When you hang back on your trail foot through impact, you’re essentially trying to “help” the ball into the air. The club bottoms out too early, you catch it on the upswing, and suddenly your 6-iron is launching like a pitching wedge.

Equipment factors

Here’s where it gets interesting. A shaft that’s too flexible for your swing speed will lag behind and add loft at impact. The shaft loads up on the downswing but doesn’t return to square. It presents more loft than the club is designed to deliver.

Modern game-improvement irons add another layer to this. Yes, they have stronger lofts, but manufacturers engineer them with low and deep centers of gravity to create the proper launch window. Without that low CG, those stronger lofts would launch the ball lower. The low CG compensates to produce higher launch angles. If you’re playing super game-improvement irons with a flexible shaft and you’re adding loft with your swing, you’re compounding the problem.

When low launch is holding you back

On the flip side, I’ve got students who hit these piercing, low bullets that look great on the range but don’t hold greens and run through everything.

Delofting at impact

This is the opposite problem: taking loft off the club at impact. It usually happens when players get too aggressive with forward shaft lean. Yes, you want some shaft lean at impact, but there’s a limit. When your hands get too far ahead of the ball, you’re turning your 7-iron into a 5-iron. You’ll hit it far, but you’ll have no stopping power.

The hands-too-forward problem

I see this especially with better players who’ve read too many instruction articles about “trapping” the ball. They set up with their hands way ahead of the ball and maintain that relationship through impact. You create a ton of forward lean, reduce the effective loft dramatically, and produce a low, hard shot that’s nearly impossible to control on approach shots.

Contact issues

Sometimes, low launch is just about strike quality. Topped shots and thin contact obviously produce low ball flights. But even a slightly thin contact (catching it even half a groove low on the face) will significantly reduce launch and spin. The ball comes out hot and low and you might think you’ve hit it pure until you see where it ends up.

Shaft stiffness

A shaft that’s too stiff won’t load properly, won’t release fully and will tend to produce lower launch angles. This is less common than the too-flexible problem but I see it with players who think they need to “play what the pros play.”

When launch angle actually is fine

Here’s where I get slightly contrarian: not every launch issue needs fixing.

If you’re a high-ball hitter who plays in calm conditions on soft courses, your high launch might be an advantage. You’ll stop the ball on a dime. Similarly, if you play in the wind or on firm courses, a lower ball flight can be a weapon.

The question isn’t whether your launch is high or low. It’s whether it’s costing you strokes.

Equipment versus swing: What to fix first

When a student comes to me with launch issues, I always check their equipment first. It’s the easier fix, and it’s often the actual problem. A simple shaft change or even adjusting your ball position can make a dramatic difference.

But if your equipment is appropriate for your swing speed and skill level then, yes, we need to look at swing mechanics. Usually, it comes down to impact position: where your hands are relative to the ball, where your weight is and how the club is releasing.

The bottom line

Your iron launch angle is a combination of your swing mechanics, your equipment and your setup. Before you rebuild your swing, make sure you’re playing the right equipment. Before you buy new clubs, make sure your swing isn’t creating the problem.

Remember: the goal isn’t to launch it at some “perfect” angle you read about online. The goal is to launch it at an angle that helps you score better on the courses you actually play.

Match your launch to your game, not to someone else’s ideal.

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