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Distance study in this month of Golf Digest

alomar123

By alomar123,
in Golf Talk

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alomar123 Dedicated Member

alomar123

Found this article about a distance study Taylormade did with over 13,000 men with different handicaps.

They found that the avg clubhead speed of a scratch golfer was 104 mph with an average distance of 252. But, what was interesting was the optimal distance for a swing of that speed should be 265, meaning the sweet spot even for scratch golfers is not being hit that much.

Also, some other stats in this study are:

HANDICAP SPEED DIS OPTIMAL

scratch-5 : 104 - 252 - 265
6-15 : 96 - 234 - 246
16-25 : 90 - 218 - 226
25+ : 84 - 202 - 212


As you can see you need a really fast swing and hit the ball in the sweet spot to hit a ball far, but what I expected was the difference in optimal with a scratch and a 25+ handicap wasn't that much of a difference.

OHIO

In my Revolver Bag
R9 460, RIP
R9 TP 3 Wood, Diamana 'ilima 70*Idea Pro Black 20*Titleist AP1 712 4-AW Spin Milled Black Nickel 56.08 & 60.10

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alomar123 Dedicated Member

alomar123

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Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

LOL, Taylormade is pretty counter-productive. I think they realize not many hit the sweet spot, and since you only lose 10 yards lets make it up with length.

Also, I think, as it doesnt say, the optimal is also different because they are not swinging at an optimal angle of attack.

OHIO

In my Revolver Bag
R9 460, RIP
R9 TP 3 Wood, Diamana 'ilima 70*Idea Pro Black 20*Titleist AP1 712 4-AW Spin Milled Black Nickel 56.08 & 60.10

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James_Black Great Member

James_Black

i thought the SS´s would be higher.

I had 88mph with my 20* hybrid (the only club i´ve had fit for me), so i´d be at around 100mph with my driver. I´m no scratch golfer though!

My Clubs
Driver - LV4 10* R flex
Wood - sam snead persimmon 2 wood (for windy days)
Hybrid burner tour launch 20* stiff flex.
Irons - Tour Mode 3i,4i stiffIrons - FP's 5-PW R-flexWedge - spin milled 54.14Wedge - spin milled 60.07Putter - Victoria Lowest round 2010: 79 (par 70)Latest rounds at...

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ronaldkuntoro Dedicated Member

ronaldkuntoro

I don't think your swing speed is getting slower when your handicap is getting higher..... I played with buddies who can hit 270 yards but they are 20+ handicap. Funny statistics though...
Whats in my Golf Bag:
Driver: Nike Sumo 5000
5 Wood: Mizuno MP-001
Iron: Mizuno MX-950 5-PW
Wedge: Cobra FP 60 degrePutter: Odyssey 2-BallBall: Yellow balls
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enis750 Great Member

enis750

I don't think your swing speed is getting slower when your handicap is getting higher..... I played with buddies who

can hit and average are two very different stats

i GUARANTEE they don't average 270 and probably hit 1/10 of the "270's" actually in the fwy too just sayin....distance is often over rated and under achieved
"My swing is homemade - but I have perfect flaws!" - Me
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SpringBokVol Well Established Member

SpringBokVol

I swing anywhere from 96mph to 100mph with an average smash factor of 1.41 with the driver. My average carry is around 260.

In my bag:
Driver: R5 TP Diamana 83s Shaft
Fairway: Burner 15 degree Fujikura REAX
Hybrid: Custom 19 degree
Irons: DCI 990 S300 4-PW

Wedges: NF 52.04*, Spin Milled 56.10* and 60.08*

Putter: Red X3

Ball: ProV1

Shoe: Tour 360 LTD

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clubchamp Great Member

clubchamp

I hit my driver around 260ish and unless I'm playing in a tourney with a lot of low cappers I rarely see anyone hit it consistently past me. Now I am sure there is a lot of people that can hit it past me but people hit one long drive which becomes their average distance. I find it sad too because too many people worry about how far they hit it instead of chipping and putting which would make them much better golfers.
Driver: i15, 3 wood: G10, Hybrid: Nickent 4dx, Irons: Ping s57, Wedges: Mizuno MPT 52, 56, 60, Putter: XG #9 
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sean_miller Incredible Member

sean_miller

I swing anywhere from 96mph to 100mph with an average smash factor of 1.41 with the driver. My average carry is around 260.

High five Colorado dude - us Albertans have the same altitude advantage. Now if I can just reduce my distance on 3 foot putts to approximately 3 feet : (

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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design Member

design

Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

He's not kidding folks. I went to a demo day two weeks ago and the newer TaylorMades were all atleast 2" longer than my r7 Superquad.

Driver: r7 Superquad 9.5°
5W: Speed LD
Hybrid: Rescue TP 19°
Irons: MP-57 3i-PW
Wedges: SM Oil Can 52° and 58°Putter: Rossa Daytona
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Shanks A Million Great Member

Shanks A Million

The numbers here are nothing unexpected. I find most of them to be spot on. The real difference, is how far each group thinks they hit it. Clubhead speed is a function of technique, not strength. PGA tour driving distance is 286 with a 112 mph clubhead speed. That study pretty much confirms that to be fairly accurate.

Of course, you have the fantasy lala land people out there still who believe they can hit it farther, and come up with an astounding array of rationales, from "PGA tour players don't go at it full speed" (but yet their clubhead speed is higher... Wonder how the ball knows not to fly as far?) to "I measure my drives!" (with a GPS, every single one, and average them out? Wow, that's impressive.)
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Gordon McTavish Well Established Member

Gordon McTavish

It's a shame there are no studies regarding accuracy. The obsession with distance does get tiresome at times, and it would be refreshing to see discussions about how close to the target people are hitting the ball.
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alo1984 Well Established Member

alo1984

Distance is overrated. I am not long by an stretch - 230-250 depending on the conditions. The way I have gotten my handicap down is by learning to hit different shots, but especially by practicing my short game like crazy. It didn't take me long to realize I was not going to be overwhelming any golf courses with my distance or impressing anyone with my long bombs. The way I will beat you is by out playing you from the fairway and on the greens. I'm not too worried if you hit it 50 yards past me...

What's in my bag:
Driver: taylormade.gifBurner 09 Stiff 9.5*
Fairway Woods: adams.gifRPM Low Profile 3 & 5
Irons: mizuno.gifMP 57 - 3-PW Project X 5.5
Wedges: wilson.gifREG. 588 54* &cleveland.gif 60*Putter: ping.gifAnserBall: titleist.gifProV1x Home Course: Forest Ridge Golf Club

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sean_miller Incredible Member

sean_miller

It's a shame there are no studies regarding accuracy. The obsession with distance does get tiresome at times, and it would be refreshing to see discussions about how

Ironically, that's where people should really be calling bulls+++. Apparently 20 handicappers can hit their ball < 10 feet (on average!!!) from 100 yards. HAHAHA!!!

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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Gordon McTavish Well Established Member

Gordon McTavish

Ironically, that's where people should really be calling bulls+++. Apparently 20 handicappers can hit their ball < 10 feet (on average!!!) from 100 yards. HAHAHA!!!

And then three putt from there to keep the handicap at 20+

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