What the Bench Actually Reads
Face mapping comes first here, ahead of anything a launch monitor produces. Here's what each tool on the bench does, and why the order matters.
Three Instruments, in the Order We Use Them
Impact Tape
Applied to the face before anything else happens in a session. A dozen relaxed swings reveal exactly where you're making contact — the finding every other decision in the session gets anchored to, since gear effect on a modern head means strike location changes spin, curvature, and carry as much as any component choice would.
What it shows
- Strike cluster location and spread
- Toe, heel, high, or low tendency
- A baseline to re-read after every adjustment
Lie Board & Loft-and-Lie Machine
The lie board reads the scrape line off the sole under normal swing pace — not a static chart reading — and the machine on site bends the club to match, then the board confirms the correction held. Used on nearly every iron and wedge session that comes through the bench.
What it shows
- Delivered lie angle at real swing speed
- Loft consistency across a full set
- Confirmation after bending, not just before
Launch Monitor
Brought in once the face-mapping and machine work has set a specification, to confirm the change actually produces the carry and dispersion it should. It's a verification step here, not the starting point — a launch monitor number taken before strike location is understood can be thrown off by a mishit and mistaken for an equipment problem.
What it shows
- Carry distance and dispersion, post-fitting
- Spin and launch confirmation
- Whether the on-paper spec matches real flight
See It Used in a Session
All three tools show up in most bench sessions, in the order described above.