Driver distance with the right technique

[ronaldkuntoro]

I wonder how far you can hit a driver with the right technique ? I mean he got a PGA Tour swing sequence...

Suppose the golfer is a male with average build 5"10', 180 lbs, with 90 mph swing speed. He use a 10.5 loft and regular flex shaft.

[SouthernILGolfer]

If he's got a PGA tour swing, his swing speed will most likely be in excess of 100 mph. Im a 20+hcp,5'11", 200 lbs and use a driver with the specs you include and have a driver swing speed somewhere in the mid to upper 90's i would guess. If i make a good swing with good contact, i can hit it in the 230-240 range, sometimes 250 or more with a really good one. I think even the shortest player on the pga tour averages probably about 270 off the tee. My best has been in the 280-285 yard range, usually with either help from wind, downhill or elevated tees, etc. My best with no help is probably in the 265-270 yard range.

[ronaldkuntoro]

If he's got a PGA tour swing, his swing speed will most likely be in excess of 100 mph. Im a 20+hcp,5'11", 200 lbs and use a driver with the specs you include and have a driver swing speed somewhere in the mid to upper 90's i would guess. If i make a good swing with good contact, i can hit it in the 230-240 range, sometimes 250 or more with a really good one. I think even the shortest player on the pga tour averages probably about 270 off the tee. My best has been in the 280-285 yard range, usually with either help from wind, downhill or elevated tees, etc. My best with no help is probably in the 265-270 yard range.

I mean his swing mechanic is similiar to PGA Tour player but his swing speed is only in the 90s range.

[Danattherock]

If "he" is a 14 handicapper his technique is not that of a PGA tour player. Your analogy has a big hole in it man. Don't let how far you hit your driver dictate your worthiness as a golfer. It is one of the biggest mistakes we make in my opinion. When I stopped trying to kill the ball and learned more about my golf swing, I began hitting the ball further. When I started focusing on my wedge and putting abilities, my scores dropped significantly. You want to hit the ball further? Of course you do, but it is not the secret to better golf. Took me 20 years to figure this out. Perhaps you will fare better. Get your swing on video, get regular lessons, practice, and improve your technique. In doing so, you will increase club head speed and hit the ball further. But don't let distance alone be the measurement you use to determine success. It is a flawed, yet common, methodology.


-Dan

[eatonswann]

hi dan thanks for the welcome yesterday. the right technique is whatever keeps you in balance throughout your swing. driver distance will then be more or less a function of club head speed after impact. i think taking lessons from a pro is like buying a new car. after you drive off the lot you're on your own with a car that may be whatever. my advice would be to first study hogan's book 5 lessons, take his advice and try to do the things he preaches. later after you know more then maybe see a pro and you will be better able decide whether the pro you pick will be an asset to your game or not.

[ronaldkuntoro]

If "he" is a 14 handicapper his technique is not that of a PGA tour player. Your analogy has a big hole in it man. Don't let how far you hit your driver dictate your worthiness as a golfer. It is one of the biggest mistakes we make in my opinion. When I stopped trying to kill the ball and learned more about my golf swing, I began hitting the ball further. When I started focusing on my wedge and putting abilities, my scores dropped significantly. You want to hit the ball further? Of course you do, but it is not the secret to better golf. Took me 20 years to figure this out. Perhaps you will fare better. Get your swing on video, get regular lessons, practice, and improve your technique. In doing so, you will increase club head speed and hit the ball further. But don't let distance alone be the measurement you use to determine success. It is a flawed, yet common, methodology.

Hi Dan,

My analogy is this... suppose you are not adding any swing speed but you improve your technique, can you hit it farther? I know distance is not everything, you need experience and other skills such as putting and pitching, etc. But sure, it helps if you can hit it farther and straighter.

[Leftygolfer]

Just look at the LPGA for your answer. I'd say you'd average around 225, maybe getting one out there close to 250 on a really firm course. The difference is with a really good repeatable swing you do it every time.

The ball doesn't know how good your swing is. It knows where you hit it on the face, attack angle, face angle, and speed. Horrid players get lucky and hit a drive right off the center of the club with a square club face and hit it as far as any swing with the same club head speed.

[Mordan]

I know distance is not everything, you need experience and other skills such as putting and pitching, etc. But sure, it helps if you can hit it farther and straighter.

To hit the ball further you need to transfer more energy from the clubhead to the ball. There are two ways to do that, have the club travelling faster when it makes contact, or to be more efficient transferring the energy to the ball. If you're not going to swing faster then you can increase your average driving distance by more regularly hitting the ball with the middle of the club face, and by making sure that the club face is square so that you're not wasting energy imparting side spin on the ball.

So in a way the answer is yes, better technique can lead to longer drives (at least on average) but a 20 handicapper who makes perfect contact with a 90mph swing is going to hit it the same distance as a pro who swings at 90mph and also makes perfect contact.

[sean_miller]

To hit the ball further you need to transfer more energy from the clubhead to the ball. There are two ways to do that, have the club travelling faster when it makes contact, or to be more efficient transferring the energy to the ball. If you're not going to swing faster then you can increase your average driving distance by more regularly hitting the ball with the middle of the club face, and by making sure that the club face is square so that you're not wasting energy imparting side spin on the ball.

Considering that pro is probably going to be holding a 6-iron, I'd say the OP needs to get stonger. I've seen 7 year old kids with a great swing. Occasionally they make a perfect swing and make perfect contact. Guess what. The ball still goes shorter than my 9-iron. Get stronger.

[Mordan]

Considering that pro is probably going to be holding a 6-iron, I'd say the OP needs to get stonger. I've seen 7 year old kids with a great swing. Occasionally they make a perfect swing and make perfect contact. Guess what. The ball still goes shorter than my 9-iron. Get stronger.

I'm not sure when a pro would ever swing a driver at 90mph, but I think that was the hypothetical question that was asked initially.

But I agree, if you can only swing your driver 90mph then there should be scope for working on strength, flexibility AND technique.

[Danattherock]

Hi Dan,

You improve your technique, you improve your swing speed. They are one in the same man. What you need to understand is you don't have a 90 mph swing with the driver because you are weak. You have this swing speed because you have an inefficient golf swing. Look at some of the guys on tour your size. They are not incredibly strong folks despite what some folks here may say. Granted, they are generally in good physical condition, but they don't possess super human strength. They swing the club efficiently and hit the sweet spot. That is where much of their distance comes from. The ultimate irony for most high handicappers is when they try to hit the ball further, they swing the club less efficiently. Their muscles tighten, their wrist lose flexibility, and this adds distance robbing tension in their golf swing. Aside from this, they also fail to hit the sweet spot as often which hurts them further. You improve the efficiency of your golf swing, you will increase swing speed. You increase swing speed, you hit the ball further. Nothing could be simpler man. Let the other guys have the protein shakes. Truth is, most golfers would increase their distance more by working on their timing and tempo. If you are not familiar with lag, get familiar with it. That is something missing from many golf swings and if used correctly can be a great source of distance. -Dan

[iacas]

You improve your technique, you improve your swing speed. They are one in the same man.

To a point. Some people are simply naturally faster than others.

[Danattherock]

True, but I believe all golfers will increase club head speed when more efficient swings are developed. What comes to mind especially is all the newer golfers that use arm strength to swing the club. Never taking advantage of the power in the lower body, hips, pivot itself, etc.. Think the gorilla swinging a golf club. Me in years past. ha ha...


-Dan

[WUTiger]

...Suppose the golfer is a male with average build 5"10', 180 lbs, with 90 mph swing speed. He use a 10.5 loft and regular flex shaft.

Move it down to 85 mph swing speed, and this pretty well fits me. I don't always have good technique, hence the 19+ HDCP.

With decent contact, I can carry the ball 220 yds. Maybe once a round, I rip one about 250 (carry). I can increase distance with more square hits, and more POWER. I didn't work out that much this summer, and I need to get into better shape. This winter I'm in the weight room alternating strength and power routines with some cardio. More later.

[Unkynd]

I think you asked the question wrong, and thus got a bunch of people telling you that you can't swing a club right.

The question you really wanted answered was : How far will a golf ball travel when hit with a 90 MPH 10.5 degree lofted driver in the sweet spot of the driver with a squared club face?

I'm no expert, so I'll defer to someone who knows physics better, but from what I've heard you can expect to carry in the range of 230 to 250 based on those criteria.

[ronaldkuntoro]

I think you asked the question wrong, and thus got a bunch of people telling you that you can't swing a club right.

My question is legit. For example, Lorena Ochoa Driver swing speed is only around 95 Mph (i read it somewhere). But because she got the right technique, she can bomb it to 270 yards. That's my question. Do you hit it farther with efficient swing?

I don't agree efficient Swing creates more swing speed. When I see PGA Tour players, they got better and more effiicient swing than golfers in the Remax Long Drive Contest (definitely!!). But these PGA Tour players only swing around 115 Mph, while the Remax Long Driver swings around 140 Mph. Why? Because Those Remax Long Driver people work out more often in the gym developing their POWER. I think POWER is also a factor in swinging faster.

[sean_miller]

My question is legit. For example, Lorena Ochoa Driver swing speed is only around 95 Mph (i read it somewhere). But because she got the right technique, she can bomb it to 270 yards. That's my question. Do you hit it farther with efficient swing?

Optimize the launch angle (combination of clubface angle and angle of attack), the spin (the ball, the shaft), and the contact (on the sweetspot to maximize COR and reduce energy lost to twisting).

The long drive guys have very efficient swings. They also swing harder because they only need to hit one out of 6 onto the grid. A PGA Tour professional hitting 1 fairway out of 6 would be out of a job.

[Danattherock]

When I see PGA Tour players, they got better and

Nothing could be further from the truth.