8 Iron Distance vs. Driver Distance

[woodzie264]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

I recently replaced my irons, and the new 8-iron goes about 10 yards further than the previous one (150 now).  Based on the new distance, my driver carries around 60% further than my 8-iron, total distance maybe 65 to 70% further.

I've never considered that ratio before, but I sit in that same vicinity or 63% 

[CarlSpackler]

4 hours ago, JuliWooli said:

Seriously, I know some golfers who do it and I am ashamed to say I did it once. I have never felt so embarrassed, Luckily it was only witnessed by my dad. He couldn't believe it but said nothing. The look on his face was enough.

I just yell "RATFART!"

[Rippy_72]

140m 8i is about 155 yards.  220m driver is about 245 yards.

Both are decent for an older gentleman.

I do not force my short irons.  I am the age of your dad.  I hit 8 iron about 155 but can push it to 160.  My driver carry is 282 on the button.  270 on a miss.

Something is wrong.  Sorry, no help for you

[JuliWooli]

1 hour ago, Rippy_72 said:

140m 8i is about 155 yards.  220m driver is about 245 yards.

Both are decent for an older gentleman.

I do not force my short irons.  I am the age of your dad.  I hit 8 iron about 155 but can push it to 160.  My driver carry is 282 on the button.  270 on a miss.

Something is wrong.  Sorry, no help for you

I think he slows his tempo a little with the driver. It looks a bit like that. Although he also swings flatter with his driver. He's not a big guy, 5'8" in his platforms. It always confuses me how much longer he is with his irons although he doesn't pack an iron longer than 7. He carries a 5 hybrid and a 5 wood for his longer shots. I think he plays with 10 or 11 clubs. He always carries his bag and says he can't get any more in. It is a rather small bag. I carry too but I have a bigger bag and 12 clubs. So if you have 2 spare, put them in an envelope and send them to the usual address.

Now you know everything there is to know about us. I'll stop there.

63ish you say, your avatar looks younger. Not that it matters!

[JuliWooli]

My iron set is: 6-9, PW, AW and SW. According to the 85% figure (8i relative to driver) that has been thrown about, my distances seem in line with the norm. I am guessing that with most golfers perhaps 9i would be the club that would be half the length of a driver on average.

 

[billchao]

My driver distance is only ~65% farther than my 8i, but I’m a terrible driver of the ball.

[JuliWooli]

1 minute ago, billchao said:

My driver distance is only ~65% farther than my 8i, but I’m a terrible driver of the ball.

Thanks for that. I think there are players who have swings that are more suited to compressing a ball on the fairway and then the sweepers who excel from the tee. My dad's the former and I belong to the latter. I tend to sweep the ball off the grass and my dad hits down hard, always ball then divot.

[boogielicious]

13 hours ago, billchao said:

My driver distance is only ~65% farther than my 8i, but I’m a terrible driver of the ball.

What’s that make me? Feeble? Pathetic? 😜 I’m 40 yards behind you on a good drive!

[JuliWooli]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

What’s that make me? Feeble? Pathetic? 😜 I’m 40 yards behind you on a good drive!

But you are 6’6”, a big cuddly giant

Edited February 25, 2021 by JuliWooli

[billchao]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

What’s that make me? Feeble? Pathetic? 😜 I’m 40 yards behind you on a good drive!

Old 😜

If I could hit my driver better, I’d be like 20 yards longer...

39 minutes ago, JuliWooli said:

But you are 6’6”, a big cuddly giant

That’s an odd statement.

[SEMI_Duffer]

I'm a new golfer, so my swing is still developing, but, before my driver swing went south at the end of last season, I could consistently drive ±225 yards.  I was hitting my 8i ±130 yards.  So I was hitting my driver about 73% further than my 8i.

I'm 70 years old, 6 ft., 4 in. (193 cm) tall, and in relatively good physical condition.

I expect to add ±10 yards to my irons this season and get my drive up to ±250 yards.

[iacas]

14 minutes ago, billchao said:

That’s an odd statement.

Seriously. And wrong, too.