Same Loft, Different CG, Different Flight

We see this comparison run at least once a week: a golfer brings in a current driver and a demo head at the exact same stated loft, expecting them to fly close to identically. On the rig, the two heads almost never match — and once we plot their CG positions, it's obvious why.

Loft Is an Angle. CG Is a Position.

Loft describes how the face is angled relative to the shaft. It says nothing about where the mass behind that face sits. A manufacturer can hold loft constant while moving internal weighting lower, higher, deeper, or shallower to chase a different design goal — more forgiveness, less spin, a different sound, a different price point. The loft sticker never changes; the flight absolutely does.

A Real Comparison From the Rig

Take two 10.5° drivers from different manufacturers. One reads low-back on the balance fixture and the other reads high-forward. Put both through the same swing on the launch monitor and the low-back head typically launches two to three degrees higher with meaningfully more backspin, while the high-forward head comes out flatter and lower-spinning. Same loft, same swing, two different flight windows — and neither reading is visible anywhere on the box.

If two heads share a loft number, that tells you they'll present the face at a similar angle. It tells you nothing about where the mass behind that face will send the ball.

Why This Matters When You're Shopping

Chasing a specific loft number across brands without checking CG placement is how golfers end up disappointed by a head that tested well for someone else. The loft got them in the door; the CG position is what actually decided whether the fit worked.

The Takeaway

Loft alone can't predict flight. Comparing two heads fairly means putting both on the balance fixture first, then on the launch monitor, so you know exactly which variable is doing the work.