Driver distance vs. Handicap

[James_Black]

So, lets reiterate. Many of you can't hit the ball consistently enough to be a single digit handicap, yet you can somehow hit the exact center of your 46" drivers at 115 mph every time, yet can't somehow control the direction? Sounds reasonable...

who said they'd do it every time?

on a good hit some people can bomb a few drives. they'll probably slice a few into the trees as well during the round but long drives aren't out of the question

[luckyluke699]

So, lets reiterate. Many of you can't hit the ball consistently enough to be a single digit handicap, yet you can somehow hit the exact center of your 46" drivers at 115 mph every time, yet can't somehow control the direction? Sounds reasonable...

I never said that I could or do, I just said "what stops me", or anyone else for that matter?

I could easily imagine a 12 handicap who can hit the ball 280 average with some over 300 yards, who then isn't very good at hitting GIRs on his second shot or putting etc. Just the same way I can imagine an older guy who is a shorter hitter off the tee, but hits his approach shots much better and also ends up at 12 handicap.

[ghalfaire]

As always these threads of drive distance Vs handicap are interesting. But the bottom line is that you have to have all parts of your game working well to be a single digit handicap player. All single digit golfers are not equal however, so some develop better than average short game skills to make up for less than average driver distance. One of the major golf rags, Golf or Golf Digest, did a study several months ago that concluded that the closer to the hole you are, the more important that stroke is to your final score. They presented lots of data to support that conclusion. If I can find it I'll post it. That isn't to dispute that if you can hit it 300 yards and keep in the fairway or light rough it isn't an advantage, it is. But if you don't have a good short game, you likely will not be a single digit handicap player regardless of your superior driving skills.

[CyclistOK]

I drive the ball between 280-300 most of the time, and I am terrible at hitting the green in regulation. I actually do better when I play the 7500 yard tees than when I play the 6500 yard tees at my usual course, probably because of my driver distance. A usual par 4 for me is a drive, approach off the green, chip and 1 putt.

[tristanhilton85]

On a drive that goes somewhat straight for me, I'm looking at 240ish... I'm right about a 20 hcp right now... I've had drives go further than this when I catch it absolutely perfect but this definitely isn't the norm.

[newtogolf]

good post. anytime this distance debate comes about, everybody flocks to the safe saying "i'd rather have accuracy than distance".

I'm not neglecting the importance of distance, but as you said, accuracy is equally or more important. I played in a scramble this past week with two guys I'd never met, both said they were 10 handicappers. The one guy hit his driver 300+ yards, but not always accurate, the other was about 270 but accurate. We used the shorter guys drives on 10 of the holes because the short guy was almost always on or near the fairway, while the long distance hitters went further, they typically landed in some sort of trouble so we could only use 5 of his. As for short games, they were close, shorter distance hitter was a little better with wedges and getting closer to the pin. It was fun to play with two guys that good, and watch how they approached their shots.

[Jaywun]

I've been golfing for over 20 years. Never single digit handicap. But I've played many many rounds with some very good golfers. And they all do it differently. Bottom line is, if you can hit 300 and 50 % of fairways (missed on the proper side). This game will be alot easier for you. I think you would have a hard time finding someone who drives 300 and carries 5 iron 200 that is not at least low single digits. If I were to teach my kids all over again, and this goes for adult beginners too. I would stress distance and build there swing around power. Even though they are all low to mid single digits, my kids would be much better golfers had I done that. Remember, the majority of beginners that say they hit 300 actually only hit a few 300 out of a bucket on the driving range. Guys that actually average 300 on a course,( like my younger son), from my experience, always go with irons or fwy woods off the tee when they have to. And a 3 iron 250 will always be straighter than a driver 250.

[CassinoNorth]

Driving about 280 consistently with a crap driver about a 15 handicap.


Only problem is when it's off...its wayyyyy off.

[theoldgolfer]

I have a 20 handicap because my short game is awful but on avarage I can hit the ball off the tee 240 to 270 with my driver. But my friend is of 15 and hit as far as I do.

[DaveP043]

Like many have said, distance vs. accuracy is always an interesting combination.  I'm playing to a 5 handicap just now, and I generally hit my driver around 230 to 240 yards on the fly. Right now, that means I'm driving the ball around 230 to 240 yards, fairways have been pretty soft.  One reason that I'm a 5 handicap, being what seems to be a pretty short hitter, is that I hit a lot of fairways.  The rest of my game is at least decent.  The single biggest reason many long hitters are also higher-handicappers is control.  If its your second drive that's out there 300 yards(i.e. third shot, after the penalty for OB or lost ball) , you've really only advanced it about 100 yards for each stroke on the card.  Add a few of those 100-yard net drives into your statistics, and see what it does for your average.

[pumaAttack]

I can hit the driver about 280, 300 when I actually get a hold of one, but I am up in Denver with the higher altitude air.  I know that adds a lot of distance so its not really a fair comparison.

[DrvFrShow]

Like many have said, distance vs. accuracy is always an interesting combination.  I'm playing to a 5 handicap just now, and I generally hit my driver around 230 to 240 yards on the fly.   Right now, that means I'm driving the ball around 230 to 240 yards, fairways have been pretty soft.  One reason that I'm a 5 handicap, being what seems to be a pretty short hitter, is that I hit a lot of fairways.  The rest of my game is at least decent.  The single biggest reason many long hitters are also higher-handicappers is control.  If its your second drive that's out there 300 yards(i.e. third shot, after the penalty for OB or lost ball) , you've really only advanced it about 100 yards for each stroke on the card.  Add a few of those 100-yard net drives into your statistics, and see what it does for your average.

Which is why I've adopted a new philosophy. If the OB is on the right I hit a 5 iron off the tee. If the OB is on the left I'll let it rip with the driver. My miss with it is a block. Better to be in the fairway 180 yds - 185 yds down than blocking that driver 220 OB on the fly. It always goes further on the fly with a block. Of course maybe I should just play for the block but then I could end up in the water on the left. Drat!

[GolfLug]

Which is why I've adopted a new philosophy. If the OB is on the right I hit a 5 iron off the tee. If the OB is on the left I'll let it rip with the driver. My miss with it is a block. Better to be in the fairway 180 yds - 185 yds down than blocking that driver 220 OB on the fly. It always goes further on the fly with a block. Of course maybe I should just play for the block but then I could end up in the water on the left. Drat!

Hahaha.. Don't we loves it? Invoking some super-philosophy, golf, especially tee balls, as in life, is like a box of.....

[DaveP043]

Which is why I've adopted a new philosophy. If the OB is on the right I hit a 5 iron off the tee. If the OB is on the left I'll let it rip with the driver. My miss with it is a block. Better to be in the fairway 180 yds - 185 yds down than blocking that driver 220 OB on the fly. It always goes further on the fly with a block. Of course maybe I should just play for the block but then I could end up in the water on the left. Drat!

Nobody said the game was easy!!