Skeptical of reported distances

[RichF]

It's hard to judge how far I carry the ball, but average driver distance is anywhere from 280-310 given wind, wet grass, rough etc.. My 4i distance is anywhere from 210-230 given the same conditions. Seems far, but I have no qualms with recording my swing and trying to gauge distance on the range. Since my video camera is just a normal photo camera quality may not be great, but at least I'm willing to try and back my claims. Now I realize these aren't some of the longest numbers I'm sure some of you guys have heard, but I've always wanted to post my swing anyways to see if someone can point out where I'm going wrong with my driver.

Your

average driver distance is 280-310!?

[Chas]

I hit a 3W 285 yds couple years ago. Dogleg right par 4, hard fairway sloping down almost all the way to the green. Pure draw just rolled and rolled, beyond fairway bunkers on the left. Distanced verified by GPS and playing partner (for the record). Fluffed the short pitch and bogied the hole.

I don't care if you believe it or not, to be candid. Of course it proves nothing except that I really needed to work on my short game, which I still do .....

[Surefire]

Just when the averaging 300 yards thread seemed to be dying...

[Chas]

Driving distance threads never die ........ they don't even really fade away*







*posted on Veteran's Day.

[RocketSauce]

i think most people say they "average" 300 yards because they just dont know how far 300 yards really is. all of us have probably hit a 300 yard drive at some point in our playing careers, but to AVERAGE that distance is crazy. sure, some do, but MOST dont. im pretty sure i probably average 240 off the tee. i have hit 300+ yard drives before, in fact, i hit one drive that was close to 360 yards once. i hit it as pure as a ball can be hit, i had a 15mph wind to my back, and the fairway was rock hard and the ball rolled about 100 yards right up the the edge of the green (without all that roll it would've been in the 260-270 range). but that was ONE drive. the rest of the time they are in the 240 range. but again, SOME people do average 290ish off the tee. I even played with a guy recently who hit every bit of 290 on every tee shot. the thing is, these guys are rare and few and far between. however, on the internet, they seem to be everywhere

[Brakkus]

Looking at peoples comments here and looking at the range of handicaps it proves one thing to me and BTW it's very comforting and in no way insulting to any golfer here.

DISTANCE aint the most important thing.Most of us if were honest need work from 100 yards in.It's those darn Pro's like Paul Casey hitting his 4 iron repeatedly over 250 yards at The BMW over the weekend.
They just taunt us with their power.

[RocketSauce]

very true...although length helps, its definitely not the most important thing in golf

[RichF]

Just when the averaging 300 yards thread seemed to be dying...

...not only that, but also wanting to know if anyone can point out where they're going

wrong with their driver! Astounding.

[Chas]

Well in my case I seem to fight the tendency to go back on the inside of the correct swing plane, resulting in a push or a hook. I think it started when I read about "flattening" the swing with driver, whatever that means exactly. My advice is to treat the driver differently from the other clubs in most respects, except for the ball position and slight spine tilt of course. I try to slow down my backswing a bit tho' and make sure I'm on plane at the top - easier said than done. Smooooooth ....

[Eeryck]

I have been hitting the ball pretty well lately with the driver, on Sunday I was out for a round with a couple of co-workers and the co-workers dad, I was outdriving each of them. I flushed one and sent it sailing past the curve in the fairway and it rolled pretty far into the rough. I was a bit dismayed.

The co-workers dad asks "How far do you think the curve in the fairway is?" I tell him that it is 250y to the center. He says "You know you are averaging 280 with that club." He has a GPS on his bag. I did not know what to say to him.

My best drives carry and roll is 270y, maybe 10%, my good drives carry and roll are 250y, maybe 60%, my mishit drives are 225y maybe 25%, the other 5% I put in the woods either left or right.

Walking down the fairway, I decided to let him know that my "average" drive could not be farther than 250y and that is the distance I play to when making decisions about the club. The fact that I caught one flush just put me over the fairway.

It just pointed out to me more so that even with a GPS people really don't understand what distance they hit their driver. Perhaps he wanted to believe I was much further than I was so he could maintain his belief of his own driving distance.

-E

[Chas]

My advice is

My bad. Bold text added here since the "Edit" feature has timed out. Must be typing too fast - just like my backswing with the driver ...

[right handed phil mickelson]

Ah I'm guessing that this thread is aimed towards me? This response is not at all meant to be cocky so if I come off that way, please feel free to kick my ass.

I put my average driving distance at 290. Why? Becuase I walk out my distances on the course and I'm never less than 270, and usually never more than 320. So, I figure about 290. I get where you are coming from with people claiming that they can hit it 290-300 when they hit it 260 at the most, and I hate that. It makes people who actually can hit that far look like liars. But, all of my stats add up to hit 300 yards right? 5'11'' tall, 165lbs, 105-115 mph swing speed? All I'm saying is I'm right there with you on hating people who hit 20-40 yards less than they claim. As for me, I am true on my yardages and I hope you believe me. Thank you.

~RHPM

[mad max]

I'm never less than 270

That is amazing it must be a great feeling to hit every drive solidly and never hit one that finds the trees.

[right handed phil mickelson]

That is amazing it must be a great feeling to hit every drive solidly and never hit one that finds the trees.

There are no trees on our course near the tee boxes where you would hit a driver. If I do hit it into the trees, they are out on the fairway and that is where my ball would land: I don't get a lot of roll. So it would still be around 270.

[RocketSauce]

That is amazing it must be a great feeling to hit every drive solidly and never hit one that finds the trees.

where did he say that???

[wedge player]

where did he say that???

me thinks mad max is sayin cause hit hit that far it must be solid everytime and about the trees who knows where he got that at

[wedge player]

Ah I'm guessing that this thread is aimed towards me? This response is not at all meant to be cocky so if I come off that way, please feel free to kick my ass.

hey RHPM its funny that you think this thread is about your distances whereas i have same driver distance and noone ever said anything to me

[RocketSauce]

hey RHPM its funny that you think this thread is about your distances whereas i have same driver distance and noone ever said anything to me

Wedge Player, that might be because you had a video of your swing posted. i watched it and it looks like you are a big hitter for sure.