Driver distance help

[14ledo81]

Currently I am swinging a Nike SQ Dymo straight fit 10.5 with a stock regular shaft. My total distance (carry + roll) is 225 + or - 10 yards. My average swing speed is 95 mph. Ball flight seems a bit high most of the time, I don't think I get much roll. Question is, Can I expect much for distance gains if I were to get properly fitted? Or is this all I can expect with that speed? Btw, my 8 iron distance is about 145, if his helps for comparison. Thanks

[Jack]

Your swing speed is very similar to mine, so I'll tell you a little about my fitting.

I too suffered from a high ball flight which was robbing me of distance (note that high does not always mean less distance!). In my case the ball tended to balloon off of the clubface. This was a result of hitting down quite a lot on the ball, generating more backspin causing the ball to fly off higher than wanted. I was fitted for a stiff shaft to match my swing speed and reduce some of the spin. You can also get drivers with a low spin face and there are a multitude of shaft options.

How does this help? It probably doesn't. If I have learnt one thing, it is the value of getting properly fit for your clubs. By doing so (and making a couple of swing adjustments over the past 3 months) I have been able to add good distance to my drives. So please go and see a pro and get fit.

For your reference my swing speed is 98mph. I currently get around 240 yards carry out of my driver. I'm still working on the swing!

[Stretch]

According to a couple of club fitting manuals I have on my desk here, a 95mph swing speed and an optimal launch angle of 12 - 13 degrees would give you a maximum carry distance of around 223 yards. You might be able to get a little more roll out if you could lower your descent angle, but that's really fine tuning. Basically, you already hit it about as far as you can expect to under normal playing conditions and probably the best thing you can do is work on making solid contact more consistently -- which will hopefully yield more pured 235 yard drives and fewer 215 yard toe/heelers.

[rasky44]

I was fit for the same driver you have and have a similar swing speed.  The numbers you are getting are about exactly the same as mine.  I hit the occasional 250 yard drive, but only about as often as I hit the 210 yard drive.  220-230 is pretty consistent for me and I hit my 8 about the same distance as your's as well.