Being tall an advantage?

[colin007]

From [URL=http://www.pgatour.com]http://www.pgatour.com[/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/99678/] [/URL]

Lol why would I believe what that says?

[Moppy]

Lol why would I believe what that says?

It's either that or your own lyin' eyes.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Let me tell you about a few disadvantages of being tall. First, my shafts are +1, but that is still a relatively shorter shaft than an average-sized golfer would use, so I have to bend over more when I'm swinging the club (see Kuchar, Bradley). I would prefer to stand up straighter. For this reason, lies with the ball below my feet are very difficult because I'm bent over even more just to get to the ball. You can fold yourself only so much and still put a good swing on the ball, especially when your knees are in the way. I had my putter fitted when I bought it, and got a 38" shaft, which lets me be fairly upright when I putt.

Balance is also an issue. I have to work on that a lot.

One advantage, though, is that I can see more of the course. Really. I was playing with a friend of mine who is a foot shorter, on a long uphill par 4, leveling out at the green complex. This was his first time playing the course, so he asked me where he should aim, and I said, at the pin or to the right, because you don't want to get into that bunker on the left. He said, What bunker? I said, The one right there on the left. He said, I don't see a bunker on the left. I was about to say, It's right there!, but it then dawned on me.

[colin007]

It's either that or your own lyin' eyes.

Nope. My eyes tell me he's a couple packs of cards under 6 feet. No lyin'... :-D

[Moppy]

Nope. My eyes tell me he's a couple packs of cards under 6 feet. No lyin'...

Yeah, I should have put a smiley on that comment. :)

[Lihu]

Let me tell you about a few disadvantages of being tall. First, my shafts are +1, but that is still a relatively shorter shaft than an average-sized golfer would use, so I have to bend over more when I'm swinging the club (see Kuchar, Bradley). I would prefer to stand up straighter. For this reason, lies with the ball below my feet are very difficult because I'm bent over even more just to get to the ball. You can fold yourself only so much and still put a good swing on the ball, especially when your knees are in the way. I had my putter fitted when I bought it, and got a 38" shaft, which lets me be fairly upright when I putt.

Balance is also an issue. I have to work on that a lot.

One advantage, though, is that I can see more of the course. Really. I was playing with a friend of mine who is a foot shorter, on a long uphill par 4, leveling out at the green complex. This was his first time playing the course, so he asked me where he should aim, and I said, at the pin or to the right, because you don't want to get into that bunker on the left. He said, What bunker? I said, The one right there on the left. He said, I don't see a bunker on the left. I was about to say, It's right there!, but it then dawned on me.

I always ask my taller playing partners to see what's over so and so obstacles, they usually tell me then I hit.

[CarlSpackler]

I always ask my taller playing partners to see what's over so and so obstacles, they usually tell me then I hit. B-)

They also come in handy when somebody who took too long and the turn tries to cut back in. =D

[Williamevanl]

Athletes are often listed taller than they actually are. I remember watching an interview years ago where the interviewer called out some football player on his listed height. He said something like, you're listed at 6'1 and I'm 5'11 and definitely taller than you. :) The response wasn't a positive one. :)

As for Rory, if he is indeed 5'9, that would make him two inches taller than the average person from Ireland. (I suspect they are all inflated a little)

[Lihu]

Athletes are often listed taller than they actually are. I remember watching an interview years ago where the interviewer called out some football player on his listed height. He said something like, you're listed at 6'1 and I'm 5'11 and definitely taller than you. :) The response wasn't a positive one. :)  As for Rory, if he is indeed 5'9, that would make him two inches taller than the average person from Ireland. (I suspect they are all inflated a little)

It could also be that many people list their height with shoes on. Maybe tallness adds to the mystique.

[vangator]

I played in a scramble with a guy who brought his 20 year old daughter. She is 5'4", 125 ilbs and she was our A player. Scratch golfer. She could regularly pound the ball 300. I am not a short driver. It was humbling to pick up my 280-300 yard drives in favor of hers. Plus, she played the reds. I think her quest for a pro career has been sidelined by a herniated disk. I played in another scramble a few years back with Brittany Lincicome in the foursome behind us. She was still in High School. She could bomb the ball. She is 5'9 (a little taller than me). I am 5'8" and have won a few long drive contests in scrambles. Longest was 375 yards (hard fairways). That was in a Fourth of July tournament in1976 (bicentennial). I was a crappy golfer but, as I tell people, "I swing hard in case I hit it." We have 2 drivable par 4s at the course I play regularly. 296 yards and 311 yards. I reguarly drive the 311 yard hole (flat approach) and sometimes the 296 yarder (uphill approach). It's all clubhead speed but obviously, with equal technique, the tall guy should outdrive the shorter guy. Every now and then, during Spring Training here in Florida, I play with some minor league baseball players. Mostly pitchers. Most are 20 years old, 6'3" and can flat out dent the ball. Sometimes it would be in a fairway (or two) over from the one we're playing though. :) Can be intimidating. When you're usually the longest hitter in your group and get outdriven by 50 yards, you have to black that out or your round is done.

[Lihu]

:-\[quote name="vangator" url="/t/75159/being-tall-an-advantage/72#post_1005606"]I played in a scramble with a guy who brought his 20 year old daughter. She is 5'4", 125 ilbs and she was our A player. Scratch golfer. She could regularly pound the ball 300. I am not a short driver. It was humbling to pick up my 280-300 yard drives in favor of hers. Plus, she played the reds. I think her quest for a pro career has been sidelined by a herniated disk. I played in another scramble a few years back with Brittany Lincicome in the foursome behind us. She was still in High School. She could bomb the ball. She is 5'9 (a little taller than me). I am 5'8" and have won a few long drive contests in scrambles. Longest was 375 yards (hard fairways). That was in a Fourth of July tournament in1976 (bicentennial). I was a crappy golfer but, as I tell people, "I swing hard in case I hit it." We have 2 drivable par 4s at the course I play regularly. 296 yards and 311 yards. I reguarly drive the 311 yard hole (flat approach) and sometimes the 296 yarder (uphill approach). It's all clubhead speed but obviously, with equal technique, the tall guy should outdrive the shorter guy. Every now and then, during Spring Training here in Florida, I play with some minor league baseball players. Mostly pitchers. Most are 20 years old, 6'3" and can flat out dent the ball. Sometimes it would be in a fairway (or two) over from the one we're playing though. :) Can be intimidating. When you're usually the longest hitter in your group and get outdriven by 50 yards, you have to black that out or your round is done.[/quote] At 280-300 yards drives, I doubt many golfers out drive you with any frequency tall or short.

[colin007]

:-\ At 280-300 yards drives, I doubt many golfers out drive you with any frequency tall or short.

Much less a 5'4" girl...

[Williamevanl]

I played in a scramble with a guy who brought his 20 year old daughter. She is 5'4", 125 ilbs and she was our A player. Scratch golfer. She could regularly pound the ball 300. I am not a short driver. It was humbling to pick up my 280-300 yard drives in favor of hers. Plus, she played the reds. I think her quest for a pro career has been sidelined by a herniated disk.

I played in another scramble a few years back with Brittany Lincicome in the foursome behind us. She was still in High School. She could bomb the ball. She is 5'9 (a little taller than me).

I am 5'8" and have won a few long drive contests in scrambles. Longest was 375 yards (hard fairways). That was in a Fourth of July tournament in1976 (bicentennial). I was a crappy golfer but, as I tell people, "I swing hard in case I hit it."

We have 2 drivable par 4s at the course I play regularly. 296 yards and 311 yards. I reguarly drive the 311 yard hole (flat approach) and sometimes the 296 yarder (uphill approach). It's all clubhead speed but obviously, with equal technique, the tall guy should outdrive the shorter guy.

Every now and then, during Spring Training here in Florida, I play with some minor league baseball players. Mostly pitchers. Most are 20 years old, 6'3" and can flat out dent the ball. Sometimes it would be in a fairway (or two) over from the one we're playing though. :) Can be intimidating. When you're usually the longest hitter in your group and get outdriven by 50 yards, you have to black that out or your round is done.

Lol, no she couldn't. :) Funny post though, "this 125lb girl was easily hitting it past me and my drives are 280-300 so she easily pounds it out there 300+"

[colin007]

Lol, no she couldn't. :) Funny post though, "this 125lb girl was easily hitting it past me and my drives are 280-300 so she easily pounds it out there 300+"

yeah, i know.  but you come to expect it here on the innerwebz.

[vangator]

I kid you not about this girl. She's a scratch golfer. Played for NC State. Quite a recruiting battle. Difference between her drives and mine is that she's in the fairway all the time. Best basketball player on her HS team. Best soccer player. on and on. I think most folks over estimate their driving averages. On holes that require a little accuracy off the tee, my average drives are maybe 240-250. On wide open holes where I can bang away it jumps up to maybe 280. 300 yard drives are not the norm for me. When I was in my 20's, I could really swing it., like most of us back in the day. I was a wrestler in HS. 5'8" 105 lbs. Could still rocket the ball.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I played in a scramble with a guy who brought his 20 year old daughter. She is 5'4", 125 ilbs and she was our A player. Scratch golfer. She could regularly pound the ball 300. I am not a short driver. It was humbling to pick up my 280-300 yard drives in favor of hers. Plus, she played the reds. I think her quest for a pro career has been sidelined by a herniated disk.

What's she doin' playing from the red tees ????

[Lihu]

What's she doin' playing from the red tees ????

Possibly the herniated disks? Seems unfair to me too.

[MS256]

Possibly the herniated disks? Seems unfair to me too.

Imagine what she could do without the herniated disks.