Want more distance off the tee? Pay close attention to this driver metric

As an equipment writer, this is going to sound sacrilegious, but I'm going to say it anyway: There are ways to gain distance without having to spring for a new driver. In some cases, it could be as simple as using a club wrench to make tweaks to the adjustable weights. Maybe it's a different shaft profile or golf ball that adds a few more yards, without having to make wholesale changes to the longest club in your bag.

When you make a change to the existing driver build, it's natural to use several launch monitor metrics to determine if you're moving in a positive direction with distance. Carry distance, not total distance, is the most reliable distance metric. Spin, launch and angle of attack are just a few of the more obvious metrics that lead to a higher carry number.

Of course, those aren't the only metrics you should be analyzing. During a recent trip to TaylorMade's Kingdom, a 12-acre custom-fitting facility that sits across the street from the company's headquarters, master fitter Duane Anderson revealed there's another metric golfers aren't considering in their distance search. (Note: The topic was covered on this week's Golf IQ podcast.)

"There's the launch angle, which is how high or low your ball is coming off the face right after impact," Anderson said. "From there, the ball peaks at a certain height and then starts its descent. Not many are looking at what's going on during the descent."

The descent is also known as the "landing angle," and it's a good indicator for maximizing distance.

If the landing angle is too low, you're likely missing out on carry distance and relying on rollout to help make up some of the lost distance. If you didn't know it by now, relying on rollout is an inexact science. If the landing angle is too steep, it's very likely your launch angle is too high, which in turn leads to a ball flight that's unsustainable when the wind starts to pick up.

It's all about finding the Goldilocks landing angle.

For Anderson, the magic number is 35—as in a 35-degree landing angle with the driver. Having spoken to numerous respected club fitters in the industry, the number checks out. If you can get close to achieving a 35-degree landing angle, then there's a good chance you're maximizing carry and getting the most out of your existing driver build.

Making changes to your swing or driver could help you achieve a 35-degree landing angle, but if you're simply looking for a cheatsheet of sorts to begin the process, the numbers below are a good place to start.

Over 105 mph (swing speed)

1. Launch: 10-16 degrees
2. Spin: 1800-2300 RPM
3. Peak height: 100-120 feet
4. Landing angle: 34-38 degrees

Between 97 and 104 mph

1. Launch: 12-16 degrees
2. Spin: 2000-2500 RPM
3. Peak height: 87-100 feet
4. Landing angle: 33-37 degrees

Between 84 and 96 mph

1. Launch: 13-16 degrees
2. Spin: 2400-2700 rpm
3. Peak height: 70-86 feet
4. Landing angle: 32-36 degrees

Between 72 and 83 mph

1. Launch: 14-19 degrees
2. Spin: 2600-2900 rpm
3. Peak height: 59-70 feet
4. Landing angle: 31-35 degrees

Less than 72 mph

1. Launch: 14-19 degrees
2. Spin: 2600-2900 rpm
3. Peak height: 45-58 feet
4. Landing angle: 27-31 degrees