How much does muscle factor in to distance

**maraca2020** · July 21, 2009

I've been wondering about distance. I know that the majority of it is contact. But how much will muscle, weight, and height change distance? I'm 5'9" and 120 pounds, very little muscle. I feel that I strike all of my clubs very well and would just like to know. Thanks!

**max power** · July 21, 2009

Not all that much, I think the added weight of muscle can help a little, but the proper turn and clubhead speed is where the distance comes from.

**cirem22** · July 22, 2009

I would have to say that it does matter. you take a small guy with good form/swing and big strong guy with good form/swing I would put my money on the big guy out hitting the small guy.

I think strength in the right area is what matters. The core is where strength is needed to hit the golf ball extra far. All my opinion of course

That being said, I have played with out of shape older men with big pot bellies that can drive it 300 yards. Not in control but the distance is there. Perhaps the extra weight alone can generate force.

**maraca2020** · July 22, 2009

that's what I was wondering. In most sports it is
Fat < Skinny < Fit/Jacked

But golf, if you take someone with the same fundementals, wouldn't it be

Skinny < Fat < Jacked

?

Anyway that's what I am wondering because I want to know how to add more distance but my contact/swing is all very good.

**Shindig** · July 22, 2009

I've been wondering about distance. I know that the majority of it is contact. But how much will muscle, weight, and height change distance? I'm 5'9" and 120 pounds, very little muscle. I feel that I strike all of my clubs very well and would just like to know. Thanks!

Well, I'm about your height and went from 120 to 145 in the past 2-3 years (muscle primarily). I picked up some distance along the way. What's your exercise routine like?

**sam004** · July 22, 2009

I hate this thread :)

I'm sure strenght comes into play, but good form and a proper swing
are the keys.
Played with a guy at a muni about 60 yrs old was bombing 270 yds.

Lorena Ochoa 5'6" 260 yds on avg

http://www.lpga.com/player_results.aspx?id=519

Tom Watson - 5'9" 59 yrs old 280's on either tour

http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/22/56/

**wedge player** · July 22, 2009

i think its kinda important,like me im not skinny by any means but have a pretty decent amount of muscle and i can tap a ball pretty far.its not all muscle but it does play a roll.

**Muttface** · July 22, 2009

It's clubhead speed and sweet spot contact and technique, not necessarily muscle mass. Lorena Ochoa is five foot something and weighs 120 something pounds. According to an article in one of the magazines last year, she can get close to 290 off the tee if she wants to really crank it.

**Taylor Shrake** · July 22, 2009

that's what I was wondering. In most sports it is

I'd have to say thats pretty wrong. Its all about how fast you can swing your club, but still hit it in the sweet spot. That is all player more than anything.

I weigh 135 lbs, I'm 6'4 with arms past my knees, and I drive about 260-280. Skill and proper technique matter more than anything, the gun show comes in the driving contests where people use 600+cc heads.

**c4m** · July 22, 2009

its my understanding that clubhead speed and contact are the main factors.. I guess if muscle helps you get more clubhead speed then yea it helps. But I'm pretty skinny and outdrive alot of my jacked friends.. I am pretty tall though, about 6'3 so that might help a little idk

**McGolf-Doggie** · July 22, 2009

I think muscle is overrated.

I'm 5'10" 200 and very muscular, but I have very little flexibility from doing static strength sports most of my life. That plus injuries that exacerbate stiffness. For 48 I'm strong as a horse, lift, go to the gym etc, but rarely hit it past 260, usually 220-240 is the deal.

Mind you I never try to swing more than 80 percent, cos if I do, I am doomed to slice.

I'd say technique first -- then flexibility and ability to fluidly rotate are key. I see small teenage women with flexibility and technique, but very little muscle, who drive it as far as I do. That's gotta tell you, right there.

**grantc79** · July 22, 2009

Long body really helps more but that is relative.

You can have someone who is very tall but they don't use their "length" well. Then again you can have someone very small like Sergio who uses his length very well.

Realistically (assuming you are swinging not hitting), the longer and further away from your body you can get the club head during your back swing and the closer and narrower you can make your down swing the further you will hit the ball.

Technique is the biggest factor.
Flexibility is a huge factor as well.
Muscles might play into it (back, legs, forearms, and core) if you have the previous two down to a science.

Vince · July 22, 2009

the gun show comes in the driving contests where people use 600+cc heads.

All Long Drive competition overseen by the Long Drivers of America use USGA conforming heads, there’s a slight length of shaft variation (approx 1.5” longer) than allowed by USGA. Strength plays very little in the sport of long drive it’s all clubhead speed.

**maraca2020** · July 22, 2009

thanks everyone. So if muscle doesn't matter that much, how much more does flexibility?

**ddalet** · July 22, 2009

I'd have to say thats pretty wrong. Its all about how fast you can swing your club, but still hit it in the sweet spot. That is all player more than anything.

this is a popular misconception. In reality, attack angle + clubhead speed combined is the key. Lot of ppl swing hard, but the harder you swing the mor pronounced the spin on the ball will be = less roll, higher ball flight. If you can swing fast and flat or flatter... that's where real yards come from.

Muscle doesnt really factor into the golf swing except for the core muscles. Sure it is nice to be ripped like tiger... im sure his supermodel wife loves it... and his hard swings don take such a toll on his body because he is extra fit. However, they probably don't do much for his swing itself in isolation. I read a post above that some fat dudes bomb the ball 300 yard. This is sort of what im talking about. A fat guy with good flexibility and reasonable skill can transfer his weight to the clubhead and bomb it with an easier swing than a muscular thinner guy.

**ddalet** · July 22, 2009

thanks everyone. So if muscle doesn't matter that much, how much more does flexibility?

the more flexible you are, the more torque you can put on the clubhead with least effort.

Twigs199 · July 22, 2009

You can have someone who is very tall but they don't use their "length" well. Then again you can have someone very small like Sergio who uses his length very well.

I hear alot of people say that they fix there stance to feel closer to the ball, wouldn't a shorter person have a bit of an advantage or would it be the tall lengthy person with the better advantage? Longer arms + wider wing span = longer shot?

**flopdarock** · July 22, 2009

about the muscle playing a part in distance...
ive seen really gigantic guys clobber balls with ugly swings...
and ive seen guys just as big hit 100 yrd duck hooks...
i knew a jr hs kid that outdrove 3 adults on every single drivable hole at a local course...
heck ive played with girls half my size that could hit balls farther than i could...

as far as flexibility goes... today i played the back 9 with a couple of seniors... they played the teebox in front of me that is most of the time only 20-25 yrds in front... these guys could barely walk and a backswing is pretty much raising their arms so their clubs get behind them... they were hitting balls pretty well... great ballstrikers...

i think there are alot of factors when it comes to distance with many different combos in those factors... you just have to find the right combo that will work for you

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