20+ handicappers hitting 300 yards (mild rant)

[Lihu]

So I don't hit the ball very far and I was wondering for all you bombers whats a good way to increase club head speed while staying in control? Ive been working on my short game (mostly pitching  the quickie pitching shot). Also working on full swing mechanics but not increasing distance. Any tips would be great.

I'm not a bomber, but I am learning better swing mechanics. This has helped me increase my distance a bit. I would say a good coach will help you a long way. :-))

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

I completely agree with you about working on other things. But I wouldn't be working on adding distance via hitting more drives at the range or working on my driving technique, just equipment changes.

OK, that's fine.  But just remember that just because you get no roll, that doesn't necessarily mean you are "losing" distance.  In fact, I doubt it very much.  By that I mean, if you were to switch to a different club or shaft that gave you more roll, it would likely do it by simply giving you less distance in the air.  Basically, just a lower trajectory.

I would think that being able to hit any club and have it land softly - even a driver - would be a good thing.

Of course, if you're playing links courses, or in Texas, or any other place with firm fairways and wind, then yeah, maybe lower shots that roll are the better option.  But anywhere else, I don't see it as a problem.

Just get out to the range and work on your short irons and wedges!

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

OK, that's fine.  But just remember that just because you get no roll, that doesn't necessarily mean you are "losing" distance.  In fact, I doubt it very much.  By that I mean, if you were to switch to a different club or shaft that gave you more roll, it would likely do it by simply giving you less distance in the air.  Basically, just a lower trajectory.

I would think that being able to hit any club and have it land softly - even a driver - would be a good thing.

Of course, if you're playing links courses, or in Texas, or any other place with firm fairways and wind, then yeah, maybe lower shots that roll are the better option.  But anywhere else, I don't see it as a problem.

Just get out to the range and work on your short irons and wedges!

That actually makes a lot of sense, the only caveat to it is here in Ohio we have times of a lot of rain and other times where it's pretty windy. I actually had the misfortune of having to play a ball from the fairway that was plugged about 1/2 the ball deep because of how soft the ground was. I think if nothing else having a driver with lower trajectory I can pull out for those days would be helpful, otherwise I'll just stick with what I have. . I'm going to work on my 100 and in shots pretty much exclusively until I can get a repeatable result.

Also, I appreciate the constructive advice. When people like me come here it's hard because so many start from a stance of disbelief and ridicule that it's off putting. They want to spend more time trying to debunk or disprove whatever distance someone says they hit their driver when it has no basis on what they are asking a lot of the time. If I'm having trouble with my short game what difference does it make how far I can drive the ball? *Which, ironically, is pretty much what they say to us/me*

[Slice of Life]

Easy, I have a lot of speed, but I can't hit an iron or wedge to save my life.

Example: Par 5 Monday night, bomb a drive that carries 280-285, and ends up about 305 total. Leaving me a 6 iron to the green. I proceed to hit my 6 iron 65 yards.

Welcome to my life...

(However, my drives don't AVERAGE 300 yards, they just get there on the occasional bomb)

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

That actually makes a lot of sense, the only caveat to it is here in Ohio we have times of a lot of rain and other times where it's pretty windy. I actually had the misfortune of having to play a ball from the fairway that was plugged about 1/2 the ball deep because of how soft the ground was. I think if nothing else having a driver with lower trajectory I can pull out for those days would be helpful, otherwise I'll just stick with what I have. . I'm going to work on my 100 and in shots pretty much exclusively until I can get a repeatable result.

Also, I appreciate the constructive advice. When people like me come here it's hard because so many start from a stance of disbelief and ridicule that it's off putting. They want to spend more time trying to debunk or disprove whatever distance someone says they hit their driver when it has no basis on what they are asking a lot of the time. If I'm having trouble with my short game what difference does it make how far I can drive the ball? *Which, ironically, is pretty much what they say to us/me*

Where are you in Ohio? We can go golfing and I'll either back up your 300 yard average claim, or tell everyone you're full of it.

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

Where are you in Ohio? We can go golfing and I'll either back up your 300 yard average claim, or tell everyone you're full of it.

Down in Lima. Its not exactly close to Cleveland. You can look up Hawthorne Hills, that's my favorite course here.

[cipher]

I smoked one like 288 once, can I be cool?

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

Easy, I have a lot of speed, but I can't hit an iron or wedge to save my life.

Example: Par 5 Monday night, bomb a drive that carries 280-285, and ends up about 305 total. Leaving me a 6 iron to the green. I proceed to hit my 6 iron 65 yards.

Welcome to my life...

(However, my drives don't AVERAGE 300 yards, they just get there on the occasional bomb)

Lol, I don't necessarily average 300, but 280-300 is fairly normal for me as long as I hit the fairway. Even if I don't but harder to tell distance when you are behind trees and 20 yds off the fairway :-p. 310 and 320 yd par 4s I was about 10-20 yd short of the green, 510 and 520 yd par 5s I was 185 from the green. Those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head from my last round. Most of the rest I was around 280ish I think.

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by cipher

I smoked one like 288 once, can I be cool?

In all honesty I'd rather hit 270's consistently straight and hit greens more often.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

Lol, I don't necessarily average 300, but 280-300 is fairly normal for me as long as I hit the fairway. Even if I don't but harder to tell distance when you are behind trees and 20 yds off the fairway :-p. 310 and 320 yd par 4s I was about 10-20 yd short of the green, 510 and 520 yd par 5s I was 185 from the green. Those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head from my last round. Most of the rest I was around 280ish I think.

Just for the record, on a 320 yard par 4, if you're 20 yards short of the green, you probably only drove it 280-290. Still good, but not 300+.

Typically my straight drives are about 275-280, but sometimes I just get that extra juice out of it. Most of my 300+ drives are straight pulls that end up in the rough, so I'll take my 280 yard drives any day...

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by cipher

I smoked one like 288 once, can I be cool?

No, come back after your drive is more bigger.

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

Just for the record, on a 320 yard par 4, if you're 20 yards short of the green, you probably only drove it 280-290. Still good, but not 300+.

Typically my straight drives are about 275-280, but sometimes I just get that extra juice out of it. Most of my 300+ drives are straight pulls that end up in the rough, so I'll take my 280 yard drives any day...

Hmm... Interesting, I always was told yardage was to front of green.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

Hmm... Interesting, I always was told yardage was to front of green.

Not anywhere I've played.

There's a chance I'm wrong, but I don't believe I am...it wouldn't make sense to have yardage markers to the front of the green.

[David in FL]

Hell, even I'll catch a sprinkler head on a down hill, down wind hole and scuz one out there every now and then.....

The better question for everyone, is how far do you carry your driver on average .

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by David in FL

Hell, even I'll catch a sprinkler head on a down hill, down wind hole and scuz one out there every now and then.....

The better question for everyone, is how far do you carry your driver on average.

My average carry it probably about 260 (Discounting duffs and slices...which still happen). With maybe 15 yards of bounce and roll. Except when it rains as much as it has and just plugs in the ground. lol

My drive the other night was probably the only time I can ever remember carrying it over 285...most of the time if I hit a 300+ yarder it's a low bomber that gets a ton of roll.

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

Hmm... Interesting, I always was told yardage was to front of green.

99% of the time they're to the middle of the green.

[Jeremie Boop]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

Not anywhere I've played.

There's a chance I'm wrong, but I don't believe I am...it wouldn't make sense to have yardage markers to the front of the green.

Makes sense, guess I was told wrong to start. Guess that brings my drives back to 280-290 with the occasional that hits 300.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

Makes sense, guess I was told wrong to start. Guess that brings my drives back to 280-290 with the occasional that hits 300.

And I think that's probably more realistic. I mean, my buddy Maxx is by far the longest hitter I've ever played with...and I beat him half the time. He has absolutely no short game. I've seen him drive it 350 yards and end up with a 7 on a par 4.