Distance study in this month of Golf Digest

[alomar123]

Found this article about a distance study Taylormade did with over 13,000 men with different handicaps.

They found that the avg clubhead speed of a scratch golfer was 104 mph with an average distance of 252. But, what was interesting was the optimal distance for a swing of that speed should be 265, meaning the sweet spot even for scratch golfers is not being hit that much.

Also, some other stats in this study are:

HANDICAP SPEED DIS OPTIMAL

scratch-5 : 104 - 252 - 265
6-15 : 96 - 234 - 246
16-25 : 90 - 218 - 226
25+ : 84 - 202 - 212


As you can see you need a really fast swing and hit the ball in the sweet spot to hit a ball far, but what I expected was the difference in optimal with a scratch and a 25+ handicap wasn't that much of a difference.

[Gordon McTavish]

Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

[alomar123]

Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

LOL, Taylormade is pretty counter-productive. I think they realize not many hit the sweet spot, and since you only lose 10 yards lets make it up with length.

Also, I think, as it doesnt say, the optimal is also different because they are not swinging at an optimal angle of attack.

[rogerw]

Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

lol, how did you guess?

[James_Black]

i thought the SS´s would be higher.

I had 88mph with my 20* hybrid (the only club i´ve had fit for me), so i´d be at around 100mph with my driver. I´m no scratch golfer though!

[ronaldkuntoro]

I don't think your swing speed is getting slower when your handicap is getting higher..... I played with buddies who can hit 270 yards but they are 20+ handicap. Funny statistics though...

[enis750]

I don't think your swing speed is getting slower when your handicap is getting higher..... I played with buddies who

can hit and average are two very different stats

i GUARANTEE they don't average 270 and probably hit 1/10 of the "270's" actually in the fwy too just sayin....distance is often over rated and under achieved

[SpringBokVol]

I swing anywhere from 96mph to 100mph with an average smash factor of 1.41 with the driver. My average carry is around 260.

[clubchamp]

I hit my driver around 260ish and unless I'm playing in a tourney with a lot of low cappers I rarely see anyone hit it consistently past me. Now I am sure there is a lot of people that can hit it past me but people hit one long drive which becomes their average distance. I find it sad too because too many people worry about how far they hit it instead of chipping and putting which would make them much better golfers.

[snofrog]

I cannot reach the grapes , therefore the grapes must be sour

[sean_miller]

I swing anywhere from 96mph to 100mph with an average smash factor of 1.41 with the driver. My average carry is around 260.

High five Colorado dude - us Albertans have the same altitude advantage. Now if I can just reduce my distance on 3 foot putts to approximately 3 feet : (

[design]

Let me guess, TaylorMade then claimed that we all need to be using 46.5" drivers to compensate for the lack of optimal distance as a result of not hitting the sweet-spot?

He's not kidding folks. I went to a demo day two weeks ago and the newer TaylorMades were all atleast 2" longer than my r7 Superquad.

[Shanks A Million]

The numbers here are nothing unexpected. I find most of them to be spot on. The real difference, is how far each group thinks they hit it. Clubhead speed is a function of technique, not strength. PGA tour driving distance is 286 with a 112 mph clubhead speed. That study pretty much confirms that to be fairly accurate.

Of course, you have the fantasy lala land people out there still who believe they can hit it farther, and come up with an astounding array of rationales, from "PGA tour players don't go at it full speed" (but yet their clubhead speed is higher... Wonder how the ball knows not to fly as far?) to "I measure my drives!" (with a GPS, every single one, and average them out? Wow, that's impressive.)

[Gordon McTavish]

It's a shame there are no studies regarding accuracy. The obsession with distance does get tiresome at times, and it would be refreshing to see discussions about how close to the target people are hitting the ball.

[alo1984]

Distance is overrated. I am not long by an stretch - 230-250 depending on the conditions. The way I have gotten my handicap down is by learning to hit different shots, but especially by practicing my short game like crazy. It didn't take me long to realize I was not going to be overwhelming any golf courses with my distance or impressing anyone with my long bombs. The way I will beat you is by out playing you from the fairway and on the greens. I'm not too worried if you hit it 50 yards past me...

[sean_miller]

It's a shame there are no studies regarding accuracy. The obsession with distance does get tiresome at times, and it would be refreshing to see discussions about how

Ironically, that's where people should really be calling bulls+++. Apparently 20 handicappers can hit their ball < 10 feet (on average!!!) from 100 yards. HAHAHA!!!

[Gordon McTavish]

Ironically, that's where people should really be calling bulls+++. Apparently 20 handicappers can hit their ball < 10 feet (on average!!!) from 100 yards. HAHAHA!!!

And then three putt from there to keep the handicap at 20+

[Shanks A Million]

And then three putt from there to keep the handicap at 20+

Uh...