What is the ideal range for vertical launch angle for golf shots hit
for each golf club?  For instance, what is the range for optimum
vertical launch angle for shots hit with a 2 iron, 3 iron, 4 iron,
etc., through all woods and Driver?  There are high hitters and low
hitters, so the lower end of optimum vertical launch angle range would
be what a low hitter would hit and the uppper range is what a high
hitter would hit.  Also, softer hitters (hitters with lower club-head
speed) hit shots at different (I think lower) launch angles than
harder hitters (hitters with higher club head speed).  Hence, there is
a range for harder hitters and a range for softer hitters (for
instance).  I asked only one question before that didn't get an
answer--I'd like to be able to pay for this one.  Thanks.

I think you are right about clubhead speed.  It does effect an optimum
launch angle.  Assuming that the angle is for maximum distance, you
should also mention about clubface angle since each manufacturer has
different angle for the same club.  For example, club from Japanese
manufacturer usually steeper by 1-2 degrees just to make player happy
as his ball go a bit longer.  If you check with website of each
manufacturer, they usually provide the optimum launch angle for each
of their club.
Also, you have to see what kind of ball they use, because its spin
does effect the  distance (hence the angle).

By the way, I believe soft-hitter would produce higher launch angle.

Hello aboutgolf-ga,

I'm not sure what you mean by ideal range of angles -- are you looking
for those angles that produce the longest shots, or those that create
the most consistently placed shots?

If it's the former, than in terms of the published scientific
literature, analysis and some limited experiments were performed on
golf drives for the first time in the 1970's.  Two references of
interest are:

P.W. Bearman and J.K. Harvey, "Golf Ball Aerodynamics," Aeronaut. Q.,
May, 1976, p. 112.

C.B. Daish, "The Physics Of Ball Games," The English Universities
Press Ltd, London, 1972.

Bearman and Harvey performed experiments with two groups of players,
and found that the amateur launch angle averaged 9.9 degrees whereas
the professional drives averaged 6.1 degrees.

Regarding the question about the ideal range of angles, we'd like any
information on what would be considered a good range of angles for
each type of golfer for each club.  For instance, a high handicap
player with a slow swing speed using a 17 degree 3 wood might have an
optimum launch angle of 18 degrees, but an acceptable range of angles
of 17-19 degrees.  Further 19 degrees might be best for optimizing
distance, and 17 for accuracy (I have no idea).  We're looking for all
the knowledge we can gain.  It looks like you're giving us some good
info and I'll pass it on to our folks toward end of getting to a paid
conclusion.  Thanks.

The optimal launch angle for a driver is approximately 12 degrees. As
for the other clubs I am not knowledgeable on those. The faster the
club head speed the higher the ball will go from the same club. That
is one reason why most amatuers have trouble with the longer irons,
i.e. 3 iron