getting too much distance ?

Jonathan Zach · April 6, 2015

Hi, I played 9 holes over the weekend, par 3 only holes. For the shortest hole, 100 yards, I used a pitching wedge which I usually hit 100 yards or less. This shot went over the green and landed about 5 or 10 yards to the right. Same thing happened with my 9 iron, shot over the green on a 109 yards hole. So, am I getting more distance as I progress in the game or am I hitting too hard on it? the shots, btw, we're high and straight. Thanks!

**Shindig** · April 6, 2015

One of the biggest problems I've had with improving -- and transferring this to the course -- is convincing myself that I'm actually holding the right club in my hands. It's very possible you're getting a better swing, and thus get more distance. It's also possible these were fluke shots, or the wind was stronger than you thought, or you had a flyer lie (unlikely in this case). Just yesterday, when I was playing, I came to a par-3 where I reached for my 5-iron instinctively, but ultimately convinced myself that the 6-iron would be the club that would safely take me to the middle of the green. I'm glad I clubbed down, because I hit the back of the green! Then, a few holes later, I had a long approach to a green and reached for a 3-wood, only to convince myself to hit 5-wood, which I hit... to the back fringe. Don't let one day's swings, or the best swing with each club, dictate your distance estimates. Instead, as you play more, if you notice that you're hitting the clubs farther than your estimate without "reaching" for that extra distance, then modify your planned distances accordingly.

**Patch** · April 6, 2015

My guess is you are swinging better, and making better ball contact as your game progresses. One question. Those longer shots, were they off a raised tee box? Were you hitting down hill?

**dkolo** · April 6, 2015

Hi, I played 9 holes over the weekend, par 3 only holes. For the shortest hole, 100 yards, I used a pitching wedge which I usually hit 100 yards or less. This shot went over the green and landed about 5 or 10 yards to the right. Same thing happened with my 9 iron, shot over the green on a 109 yards hole. So, am I getting more distance as I progress in the game or am I hitting too hard on it?
the shots, btw, we're high and straight.
Thanks!

My pitching wedge is my 127 yard club, but on the range, I can get it to over 150 pretty easily by swinging harder or delofting it slightly. If you're confident that PW = 100 normally, then you may have just put a different kind of swing on it.

But, yeah, you might just be hitting it better. 100 for a PW is pretty low for an adult male. When I started, PW was my 80 yard club because I just didn't know I was striking it like crap. Could be that you're getting better contact on the course from a cushiony grass lie than you do on the range if you maybe hit it fatter there.

So yeah, lots of things to consider, but I'd say that you may just be getting better contact to cause the extra distance.

**saevel25** · April 6, 2015

Hi, I played 9 holes over the weekend, par 3 only holes. For the shortest hole, 100 yards, I used a pitching wedge which I usually hit 100 yards or less. This shot went over the green and landed about 5 or 10 yards to the right. Same thing happened with my 9 iron, shot over the green on a 109 yards hole. So, am I getting more distance as I progress in the game or am I hitting too hard on it?
the shots, btw, we're high and straight.
Thanks!

Question, did you measure the hole or did you just assume the distance on the score card? Tee boxes can move easily 20 yards between the front of the tee box and the back.

Also, if you did improve your swing you could gain yardage. A more in balanced, powerful swing will generate more distance with less effort.

**EverythingGolf** · April 6, 2015

It could be what saevel25 said, a better swing or the tee box. I would get a GPS or laser range finder, they will give you a more accurate number.

Jonathan Zach · April 6, 2015

Thanks for the replies. I hit one of them from an uphill and the other downhill. So I don't think that was a factor in getting more distance. The wind was blowing hard that day, however. One more thing is, like someone said, maybe I'm not getting the correct read on the distance since I'm relying on the score card.

Jonathan Zach · April 6, 2015

Funny thing is that when I actually needed more distance, such as with my hybrid, on a 193 yards hole, the ball launched into the air nice and high but landed maybe 60 or 70 yards. So I didn't get much distance with it when I needed it most.

**newtogolf** · April 6, 2015

If you hit the ball well then it's possible you are just getting longer as a better result of an improved swing and contact. You could also be hitting the ball a bit thin which would result in lower ball flight but longer distance.

**dkolo** · April 6, 2015

Funny thing is that when I actually needed more distance, such as with my hybrid, on a 193 yards hole, the ball launched into the air nice and high but landed maybe 60 or 70 yards. So I didn't get much distance with it when I needed it most.

No question. Tees move daily. I've played holes where the tees were playing 50 yards different from the score card based on placement.

How do you hit it on the range? Do you get consistent distances or do you have big variations from swing to swing? Might be worth noting it for your own information so you can plan around it better.

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getting too much distance ?

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