Phil Mickelson: longest hitter on tour?

[RichF]

Jack Nicklaus commented on Wednesday that Phil Mickelson was/is the longest hitter he'd ever seen, especially with his irons.
I was watching the golf last night on SKY, and the analysts were stating that Mickelson now regularly averages 300-310+ with the driver. (the current Memorial tournament, guys like Holmes, Johnson, Watson were lagigng way behind him on driver stats).
Apparantly he uses a 6-7° loft and a very light shaft.

Then they started on about Mickelson's iron distance and mentioned he hits a 260-yd 2-iron and...a 170-yd 9-iron! !??

They attributed this increase in distance over the last year or so to Mickelson's increased 'core-strength'.

Anyone else noticed how long Phil is now?

[billysandy]

Jack Nicklaus commented on Wednesday that Phil Mickelson was/is the longest hitter he'd ever seen, especially with his irons.

At the masters, I think Phil used a 6.2* driver. But on the club head, it says 7.5. I have heard several commentators say that it is 6.2*, please correct me if i am wrong. The height he hits it would suggest he has taken steps to lower his launch, so 6.2* sounds pretty believable.

Alvaro Quiros is still longer than him with the driver, but I don't think anyone can compete with Phil's huge iron play. The lag he generates is huge, perhaps turning the loft of a 9 iron into a 7.5 iron (at impact, that is). Phil is seemingly turning to his driver near enough on every hole he can - a testament to his confidence, even after a dropped shot like yesterday.

[Tiger Spuds]

It's three things :

Technology, fitness work, and Phil's attitude.

Those new Callaway drivers are mightly long, then as you say, the light shaft and the right loft for his swing etc.The scary thing is, he's had the loft on his irons weakened because he was hitting them too far.That's a problem I'd love to have.I guess all that 'core workout' stuff really works too.Plus, everyone knows Phil is one of those Alpha male types, just loves to drive it past everyone.So he gives it everything.If he dialed it back 10% he'd still be driving it 290-300 and he'd hit a lot more fairways.It'd be the smart play but it's not gonna happen, not with Phil.

[JWL1957]

Every time I watch Phil with the driver.. I cringe!!!

He is a train wreck, a plane wreck, and a 12 car pile up that hasnt happened yet. He is fun to watch.

[leezer99]

I've heard that his irons are 2* stronger than most.

[RC]

And it is another thing: Butch Harmon. Butch teaches a method that encourages using the power you can access in your body.

[Tiger Spuds]

I've heard that his irons are 2* stronger than most.

Weaker, not stronger.As in, his irons have more loft than most.

He's 6 '3, has a long swing and creates huge lag, you're gonna hit it far with that combination.

[jldavis73]

I think it's humorous that Tiger always talks about how he "can't hit it as far as (he) used to", but Phil is longer than ever.

[senorchipotle]

I think it's humorous that Tiger always talks about how he "can't hit it as far as (he) used to", but Phil is longer than ever.

tiger also doesn't want to have knee surgeries every off season. believe, he could put it out there just as far if he wanted to.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/xm.html?101

Jack can say what he likes

[Shanks A Million]

The reason he hits it so long is that he's somewhat of a freak of nature. His swing would be hard for most people to repeat, it's long, and very wristy and whippy. He cracks the club like a bullwhip. You'll notice that many people who are higher handicaps who flip the club can occasionally hit a monster drive, well, Phil's swing is somewhat similar, but he has the almost inhuman ability to hit the center of the face, and pure the ball. His hand eye coordination shows best in his short game, no other player can hit a flop shot as precisely as he can.

I've heard that his irons are 2* stronger than most.

Not true, they're actually fairly weak. His PW, which he hits around 165 yards, is 48.5°.

Those new Callaway drivers are mightly long, then as you say, the light shaft and the right loft for his swing etc.

No driver is "longer" than another. They are limited to .83 COR, so the only real advances can be made in other areas. Phil's driver shaft is like 59g, and it's 46" long.

At the masters, I think Phil used a 6.2* driver. But on the club head, it says 7.5. I have heard several commentators say that it is 6.2*, please correct me if i am wrong. The height he hits it would suggest he has taken steps to lower his launch, so 6.2* sounds pretty believable.

6.2° is correct. His own website says 7.5°, but I believe it's been bent.

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/xm.html?101

Those stats are not good, because they can include irons and 3 woods. The average drive distance is a better mark, and Phil is second in that category.

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/?317

[nuck81]

Phil should switch to a 24* 4hybrid. I hear they can go over 300 yards....

[Titleist_ProV1x]

Jack Nicklaus commented on Wednesday that Phil Mickelson was/is the longest hitter he'd ever seen, especially with his irons.

Those stats are not good, because they can include irons and 3 woods. The average drive distance is a better mark, and Phil is second in that category.

He said irons too, that's why I used this

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/xm.html?101

[Shanks A Million]

He said irons too, that's why I used this

Driving distance doesn't take into account what they hit. Phil uses irons and fairway woods much more often than some of the others mentioned. If Phil hit his 2 iron off of every tee 260, and someone else hit driver off of every tee, but 270, they'd be considered the longest hitter. That's why you compare them apples to apples, one club. Drivers are merely made to hit the ball as far as possible while still controling it, which is the real measure of how far you can hit it. For that reason, the average measured drive stat is more useful.

[NZGolfer]

Phil should switch to a 24* 4hybrid. I hear they can go over 300 yards....

Hahahahahahahah cos he hits his driver only 150-200 with a slice

[Shanks A Million]

Hahahahahahahah cos he hits his driver only 150-200 with a slice

Yeah, and Butch said, "hey, you don't need a driver if you hit your hybrid 300!" So, you know Phils huge bomb drives? That's a 4h! Seriously.

[JWL1957]

tiger also doesn't want to have knee surgeries every off season. believe, he could put it out there just as far if he wanted to.

Yeah.... I think Tiger has plenty in reserve.

[RichF]

Yeah.... I think Tiger has plenty in reserve.

Yeah, those reserves were called upon when he got into a pi$$ing contest with Angel Cabrera at Quail Hollow - as soon as he cranks it up, his driving is worse than it usually is.