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Usual 7 iron distances


Valleygolfer
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Today I hit my 7 iron which is consistently 160 yards, a whopping 172 yards as per my gps. The was absolutely no wind, it was up hill and a rather high shot.

I had a distance of 150 ish and I thought a nice easy swing would get it to the green since it was uphill. This makes me nervous because it wasn't a miss hit of any sort.

"My ball is on top of a rock in the hazard, do I get some sort of relief?"

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You probably just caught it really flush. I remember a shot a few years ago when I took an 8 iron to my normal 160 distance. I caught it EXTRA pure and, no joke, hit it an easy 190 over the green, bounced it onto the street and into the houses across the street. I wasn't even mad because I've never done that before and have yet to repeat it. It was probably a fluke for you so unless that starts happening more often I wouldn't start second-guessing your yardages.
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You probably just caught it really flush. I remember a shot a few years ago when I took an 8 iron to my normal 160 distance. I caught it EXTRA pure and, no joke, hit it an easy 190 over the green, bounced it onto the street and into the houses across the street. I wasn't even mad because I've never done that before and have yet to repeat it. It was probably a fluke for you so unless that starts happening more often I wouldn't start second-guessing your yardages.

I hope that is the case. If it would have went any further today it would have hit a house.

"My ball is on top of a rock in the hazard, do I get some sort of relief?"

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When I almost don't feel the contact due to a very pure hit, I know to expect 10 - 20 yards too long. As with a 4-iron approach shot last Sunday (just started playing this club again rather than a hybrid). Nice little pin-seeking draw, my career 4 iron actually. Left myself a nasty little chip from the fescue behind the green .....

Driver: Cobra 460SZ 9.0, med.
3 Wood: Taylor stiff
3-hybrid: Nike 18 deg stiff
4-hybrid:
Taylor RBZ 22 deg regular
Irons:5-9, Mizuno MP30, steel
Wedges: PW, 52, 56, 60 Mizuno MP30
Putter: Odyssey 2-ball

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I feel like every club has between a 10-15 yard variance depending on how you well you hit it (the gap gets bigger with the longer clubs). It's foolish to just pin one yardage number on each club. It's better to think of the usual distance range that each club has. Still, we all have had those shots that air-mail the green because we hit it much farther than expected for whatever reason. Maybe you had a flier lie.

"I'm not going left or right of those trees, okay. I'm going over those trees...with a little draw." ~ Tin Cup

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True, but you have to estimate a certain distance for each club before picking one do you not? I take your point though - it's a distribution.

I can hit a 7i 160-165 yds when I get the whole thing right (not trying to heave it mind you, natural swing) but <10% of the time maybe. Median shot is 145-150. Fat, anything can happen. I play for the median of course, but maybe I should be more ambitious, play for 160 and take my licks until I'm trapping the ball properly.

Then again maybe not. I'm also trying to break 80 before I'm 60.

Driver: Cobra 460SZ 9.0, med.
3 Wood: Taylor stiff
3-hybrid: Nike 18 deg stiff
4-hybrid:
Taylor RBZ 22 deg regular
Irons:5-9, Mizuno MP30, steel
Wedges: PW, 52, 56, 60 Mizuno MP30
Putter: Odyssey 2-ball

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True, but you have to estimate a certain distance for each club before picking one do you not? I take your point though - it's a distribution.

Definitely, I agree. Every club has its distance range and the best players narrow that range down through repetition and feel. My 7-iron is 165-175, but I can break down a shot from various yardages in that gap and figure out how I need to "dial it up" to hit it pin high. 165, I need to take a little off; 175, I need to hit it flush, etc. The pros do this much better than I do of course.

"I'm not going left or right of those trees, okay. I'm going over those trees...with a little draw." ~ Tin Cup

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Its good to know the range for each club..and then you can play safely to the "best miss" that way..at least thats what works for me.

Lets say I have 165 to the pin...thats an 8 iron to the number on a great shot. If being short leaves me the better option, then I choose 8 and swing away. If going long is ok and a better option, better putting spot I go 7(170) and swing away. If I hit a "decent shot" I'm gonna be relatively ok, a great shot won't leave me in too much trouble and putting a good swing on it will probably leave me right around the pin.

I think its always best to play for your usual distance on any club and not start guessing "well if I hit this absolutely pure then it will go XX yards" or so on..

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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Its good to know the range for each club..and then you can play safely to the "best miss" that way..at least thats what works for me.

Good point. I actually do consider my usual/normal distance with each club...which is the center of that range, and often play off that. I guess the whole distance range is just another consideration to factor in when picking a club. Also, as you said, it's important to take the whole shot into account, not just the yardage (pin position, bail out spots, uphill/downhill, ridges in green, etc). One club doesn't always work for the same yardage.

"I'm not going left or right of those trees, okay. I'm going over those trees...with a little draw." ~ Tin Cup

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160-165 versus 172.

What's the problem here? Why is there a house on the back apron?

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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As some others have said club selection is more than just a number, there are other factors involved. Lie, pin position, even temperature. Higher handicappers probably don't need to worry about those things as just making solid contact is the goal.

Danny    In my :ping: Hoofer Tour golf bag on my :clicgear: 8.0 Cart

Driver:   :pxg: 0311 Gen 5  X-Stiff.                        Irons:  :callaway: 4-PW APEX TCB Irons 
3 Wood: :callaway: Mavrik SZ Rogue X-Stiff                            Nippon Pro Modus 130 X-Stiff
3 Hybrid: :callaway: Mavrik Pro KBS Tour Proto X   Wedges: :vokey:  50°, 54°, 60° 
Putter: :odyssey:  2-Ball Ten Arm Lock        Ball: :titleist: ProV 1

 

 

 

 

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I do not discount the ranges, I just generally have 160-165 with my 7 on level lies. I was just surprised when I air mailed the green with that kind of yardage, which I would estimate at close to 180 if I wasn't going up hill.

Sean this hole is right by the subdivision's mailbox, it is a unusual part of the course because you have to drive on the road a ways before getting to it. It is a par three pinched in between some houses.

"My ball is on top of a rock in the hazard, do I get some sort of relief?"

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My distances are starting to increase.
My 7i is now 140-145m (155-160 yards)
6i is around 150m (165 yards)
5i is around 160m (175 yards)

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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I dream of hitting my 7 iron 170.

Actually, I dream of hitting my 6 iron 170!

Don

In the bag:

Driver: PING 410 Plus 9 degrees, Alta CB55 S  Fairway: Callaway Rogue 3W PX Even Flow Blue 6.0; Hybrid: Titleist 818H1 21* PX Even Flow Blue 6.0;  Irons: Titleist 718 AP1 5-W2(53*) Shafts- TT AMT Red S300 ; Wedges Vokey SM8 56-10D Putter: Scotty Cameron 2016 Newport 2.5  Ball: Titleist AVX or 2021 ProV1

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155 is my target distance for my 7 iron but I've hit it over 160 on a couple occasions. Twice it happened on a par 3 160 yards at my home course. Pin was playing 154 on GPS both times so I used a 3/4 swing and must have just let the golf gods take me away because both times my shot flew the green on the fly. I play my 7 iron on 150-160 shots, not factoring any outside forces.

Callaway Org14 Sport w/ Clicgear Cart:

Callaway X 460 9* - Callaway X 15* - TaylorMade 19*/21* Hybrid - Callaway Diablo Forged 4-PW - Titleist 50/56/60 - Rife Cayman Brac - Bridgestone xFIXx/B330-RX - TRUE Linkswear Supporter!

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Note: This thread is 4897 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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