Now that more golfers can access golf club fitting systems, there are more terms to know.
So many golfers are picking up their own launch monitor systems and looking for information about where they are hitting the ball and the height that they are getting on their shots.
If you are one of these players trying to learn the specifics and the characteristics of your golf game, then understanding the apex can be important.
Once you have the information in place as to what an apex may be, then you will be able to make changes to your game that help improve your overall ability on the course.
Let’s take a deeper look at what apex means in golf.
What Does Apex Mean In Golf?
The apex in golf is the height of the golf ball at the highest point.
Try to think of a golf shot as being kind of like a large arch.
When you hit the ball, the shot is climbing up and up until it reaches a stopping point where it will change direction and start to move back down.
The apex of the golf shot is the top of that arch, where the ball stopped moving away from the ground and started moving back towards it.
The apex of a golf shot is controlled by several different things, and the players can make some changes that will impact that apex of the golf shot.
Overall, this is not a concept that players should be thinking about when they make a swing.
However, if you are planning to make swing changes, it will make sense to understand the apex and how it will impact you.
Here are a few ways in which the apex of your golf shots may be impacted.
What Factors Impact Apex In Golf?
The apex or total height that you hit the golf ball is a factor that will be impacted by a few key features.
Some of these will have to do with the player’s golf swing, and others will be related to the equipment or golf course conditions.
Here are a few things you should know about what impacts the apex of a golf shot.
1. Ball Speed
The total ball speed that you are able to hit a golf ball will impact the apex.
Golfers who can hit the ball with plenty of speed are going to find that the shots are traditionally higher.
In fact, some players who have really high ball speed will struggle to keep the ball down from time to time.
These players will hit lots of high shots that end up becoming subject to the wind and will decrease consistency.
The ball speed is something that will work in a golfer’s favor as long as it can be controlled.
Some players with high ball speed that go for a custom fitting will look for a golf shaft that will actually help them get the ball flight down.
If the apex is too high, stronger players can lose distance.
However, for those who have an issue with ball speed and can’t get much of it, there can also be problems with ball speed and total distance.
Essentially there is an ideal apex for all players based on the club they are using and the way they are swinging the club.
If you are not getting close to this ideal apex, chances are the ball will not fly all that high.
Ball speed directly impacts apex, but there are typically other things like launch angle and spin rate that will also tie into this equation.
2. Launch Angle
The launch angle of your golf shot has to be ideal to reach your desired apex.
Launch angle is not only impacted by the club you are hitting and the loft of the club but also by where on the clubface you make contact and the characteristics of the impact.
Sometimes your swing may have been a bit more upright, and it led to a higher launch angle.
In addition, there are times when your weight hangs back and increases the overall launch that you get from a shot.
The launch angle is another fitting factor that golfers will need to focus on in order to get a club that is an exact match for their needs.
3. Spin Rate
The spin rate that you get with a golf shot will also impact the height of the golf ball.
Typically speaking, the higher spinning golf shots are going to travel a little higher than the lower spinning ones.
A higher spin rate can help you when it comes to stopping the ball on the green or getting a chip to land exactly near the hole.
However, the lower spin rate is often the better choice for the golfers who are a bit more inconsistent off the tee.
Spin rate will come into play with the golf clubs you’re hitting and the golf ball you are playing, so those are two things to consider when selecting your equipment.
Again, this is where golfers with lots of swing speed will have to work to find the proper equipment that does not spin out of control.
The extra spin a player gets is a good thing as long as it is controlled and helps the player become a better golfer overall.
Paying attention to spin rates and choosing the right golf ball to complement your game is a big step for the golfer who is having a hard time with this concept in their game.
4. Upright Vs. Flat Golf Swing
A golf swing is typically on-plane, upright, or flat.
The players who have a swing that is almost exactly on the plane will likely have an easier time hitting golf shots that reach that ideal apex range.
Players who have trouble with a shallow golf swing will end up with shots that are a bit too low.
Although these lower shallow swing golf shots allow for plenty of roll, this will end up becoming a bit of a problem for stopping the ball on the green.
A flat golf swing is a good option for those who want to hit a draw with a long iron or driver, but it is not the best choice for those who are looking for the ball to stop in a specific location on the green.
The upright swing can be great for increasing the apex of your golf shots.
With a more upright swing, the golf ball will travel higher because the golfer’s swing travels on an increased or steeper plane.
As long as a player is able to release the golf ball and turn their hands over, the chances of them getting a better overall apex is quite high.
The only problem with a more upright swing is that it can sometimes lead to a shot that turns from straight to the right.
Many golfers who slice the ball take it a bit too upright on the backswing.
5. Club Type
The club type that a player uses will impact the apex.
Obviously, if you are using a wedge, you are going to get a higher apex than if you are using a driver.
However, there are other factors that come into play aside from the club type.
Some golf clubs just produce a higher loft.
For instance, if you are a golfer who has a game improvement set of irons, the loft may be altered a bit to get you more distance.
Certain shots will not allow you to get as much height, but with other modifications made to the club, the performance should be similar.
The golf club technology on the market is designed to help players get the exact apex or height that will result in the best distance with the most control over their shots.
The club type, as well as the manufacturer of the club and the type of technology they used, is going to impact the overall height you get on the golf ball.
In addition, some golf clubs, like a 7 wood, are just naturally easy to hit high.
They have a graphite shaft, are lighter, and typically have about 22 degrees of loft.
The same can be said about a pitching wedge.
However, when you look at the 4 iron or the 6 iron, chances are the golf ball will not go quite as high as the 4 hybrid or the 6 hybrids with a graphite shaft.
6. Turf Conditions
Turf conditions will impact the apex of a golf shot.
If you have ever tried to hit a golf shot off of a lie board, you will learn this concept rather quickly.
A lie board is a flat panel that will let you clip your golf shots cleanly for analysis of which clubs are the perfect fit for you.
However, when you hit from this lie board, you will also notice that it is quite easy to get a good distance and overall height from your shots.
Turf conditions can vary greatly, and sometimes, when you are hitting out of soft and wet turf, the apex of the shot can be affected.
This won’t apply to the driver quite as much as you will normally be hitting the shot from a tee.
Around the greens, golfers are using wedges from a variety of different lies.
Some of these lies require a player to be very careful as to how the ball comes out.
If a golf shot is sitting down in the deep rough, the apex will not be nearly as high.
When the lie is clean and the ball is located on the short grass, you will see better overall ball flight.
Overall, turf conditions impact everything about our game, and that is why it is so important to continually replace the golf ball in the shortest grass possible.
Does The Golf Ball You Play With Affect Apex?
Every golf ball on the market will have a different dimple pattern that can impact the overall ball flight of your golf shot.
The golf ball that you play with will impact the overall launch and height of your golf shot.
If you have made swing adjustments and worked on trying to get the ball to the highest height and are still struggling, it may be time to think about switching to a different golf ball.
A golf ball that is a higher compression ball sometimes will have a harder time flying as high as a lower compression ball when hit by a slower swinging player.
The slower swinging golfer who is looking for an increase in overall height in their golf shots should consider playing with a low compression golf ball.
The height that you hit your shots is important and will impact the overall performance of your golf game, so play with the proper golf ball to ensure that you are not leaving performance out on the course.
Does The Height Of A Golf Shot Matter?
The height of a golf shot does matter.
With the proper height on your golf ball, you can get more distance and better overall performance when it comes to stopping ability and spin.
When you hit the ball lower, it becomes harder to stop the ball where you need it to stop.
Also, over time, golf manufacturers have determined that the longer the golf ball can stay in the air, the further it will go.
Getting this extra distance is really important for players as they will want to be as close to the hole as possible after their driver.
The fact that more height leads to distance is what makes this such an important factor for players.
Do Golfers Need To Know How To Vary The Height Of Their Golf Shots?
We have now heard all of this advice about how important it is to be able to hit a golf ball high.
However, is the high golf shot always the best one?
The answer is no.
Golfers need to be able to vary the height of the shots they hit if they want to have greater success on the golf course.
The more shots you are able to hit that allow you to manipulate the golf ball, the better the player you are going to be.
Golfers need to be able to hit lower shots into the wind and hit high shots that get over a hazard.
The key is that golfers should be capable of varying shot height if they really want to succeed on the golf course.
The players who are able to do this will notice increased accuracy and even some lower scores.
Think about the difference of being able to control where your ball goes instead of hitting and hoping it ends up in the right location.
However, in order to vary the height of the golf shot that you hit, you must also have the right clubs in your hands.
If your golf shafts are a bit too stiff or too flexible, chances are you will struggle with your ability to get the ball up in the air when you want to and keep it down when you need to.
Overall, we always try to let golfers know and understand that the more they can do with the variation of the ball flight, the better their scores will be in the end.
Players who can learn to hit the ball both high and low will be better golfers.
In addition, it makes sense to be able to hit the ball left and right, and that will only take you even further in the game.
One of the things that professionals do best is to work the ball around the golf course.
They design shots, and then they are capable of pulling them off because they understand the technique.
Conclusion
We hope you now feel as though you understand what apex means in golf.
If you are able to get a launch monitor and learn what your apex is and how it is impacted by the clubs you play, chances are you will be able to make some strides toward becoming an even better player.
The apex is not much different than the total height that a golfer gets from their shot.
If your apex does not seem to be within the ideal range for your golf swing and playing style, be sure to check the clubs you are playing.
NEXT: What To Wear Parasailing (Everything To Know)