Simulator screens throw a lot of numbers at new golfers all at once. Here’s a plain-language guide to the three that matter most, and what to actually do when they look off.
The three numbers that matter most
Backspin, sidespin, and launch angle explain almost everything about ball flight:
- Backspin: higher numbers mean more carry and a softer landing, but too much kills distance
- Sidespin: the number behind your slice or hook — positive and negative map to different directions depending on your dominant hand
- Launch angle: too low and you lose carry distance; too high and you lose roll
“Members ask what a ‘good’ spin number is. There isn’t one — it depends entirely on the shot you’re trying to hit.”
What to actually do with the numbers
Don’t chase a single ideal number. Instead, compare your numbers shot to shot for the same club and swing — consistency matters more than hitting a textbook figure, and it’s a better signal for whether a swing change is working.
For coaches running lessons on Looper venues, showing a student their own trend over a session tends to land better than comparing them to a generic benchmark.