is it better to be straight than longer?

[Grumpter]

I think what is most important is consistency. Before a car accident I was a longer than average hitter with a fade to slice. Yes, occasionally I would hit a pull or straight shot but for the most part I knew where my drive was heading.

The last few years I have no idea where my tee shot might go. Anywhere from a push to a pull, hook to a slice or draw to a fade. Recently I have started slowing down my swing and shortening the backswing.  For a brief moment I was getting consistent results and it was encouraging. Now the "no idea which way the ball is going to go" is back and I'm hitting shorter than ever.

If I could I would go back to the long fade, slice in a heartbeat.

[trackster]

Originally Posted by luu5

Maybe you should not compare 100yd and 250yd drives? Rather compare straight 140yd and woods bound 170yd 7i. I am not saying that the length is not important but let's keep it realistic.

Nicklaus thought it was more easier to train accuracy than length.

Maybe Nicklaus should have tried an english lesson or eight .  (Crap now I have to try and have perfect grammar in this post)

On a more serious note though.  It's not better to have only one of these.  People say I would rather take my 230 down the pipe then my 250 I was getting in the rough, but for most courses 230 is more than enough off the tee.  I think a beginner will start to realize that as they straighten there shots out they will also hit a bit farther.   Cause they wont have excess side spin on the ball.

I would say length is easy to train.  Lift weights, stretch,  and make solid ball contact.  Accuracy can be a achieved a million different ways and would thus be harder to develop later on.

I am a kicker for my football team.  Kicking a football is a  lot like golf.  The alignments and all are very similar.  If I can develop solid foot contact first, then I can add leg speed later.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by trackster

I would say length is easy to train.  Lift weights, stretch,  and make solid ball contact.  Accuracy can be a achieved a million different ways and would thus be harder to develop later on.

I don't know if this is true. Moe Norman -- probably the straightest hitter ever -- used to say that the only thing in golf that can't be learned (or taught) is how to hit the ball really far. To be fair, he did have some odd opinions about things.

For the average recreational player, though, straight beats long anytime in my opinion. What's more frustrating, playing first all day from the fairway or reloading all day on the tee?

[jshots]

It is better to be straight AND long.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by jshots

It is better to be straight AND long.

And handsome and rich and hung like a donkey, while we're fantasizing.

[chspeed]

Originally Posted by trackster

Maybe Nicklaus should have tried an english lesson or eight .  (Crap now I have to try and have perfect grammar in this post)

On a more serious note though.  It's not better to have only one of these.  People say I would rather take my 230 down the pipe then my 250 I was getting in the rough, but for most courses 230 is more than enough off the tee.

Leaving aside the "It's not better to have only one of these" sentence, you definitely blew it with the "then".

[FLOG4]

5ironkid- Jack Nicklaus in his "Golf My Way" preachs when learning the game swing as hard as you can....You can learn straight....You can't learn long.  So work on hitting it as long as you can and then adjust to swing within yourself to play straight.  I use to hit it very long. Age and a few lbs and injuries...I'm pretty straight now.  What I wouldn't give to get those yards back. Pick up a copy of Jack's book.  Great instruction.

[trackster]

Originally Posted by FLOG4

5ironkid- Jack Nicklaus in his "Golf My Way" preachs when learning the game swing as hard as you can....You can learn straight....You can't learn long.  So work on hitting it as long as you can and then adjust to swing within yourself to play straight.  I use to hit it very long. Age and a few lbs and injuries...I'm pretty straight now.  What I wouldn't give to get those yards back. Pick up a copy of Jack's book.  Great instruction.

Nothing against you or Jack Nicklaus but that seems messed up.  If that worked than anyone who could hit it straight would just have to swing out of their boots.  Here's an Idea, you can learn both.  I hit the ball straiter and farther then I did when I started.

I made a topic a while back where I said "my longest shots are also the ones that go the straightest and land in the fairway".  I feel like the better to be straighter or longer debate can only deal with a difference in which club to use.  If you hit your three wood straighter than your driver and only 20 yards less then that is probably your better choice.  If I swing hard and come across my 7i and slice it a bunch then I have not gained anything by swinging harder.  My straight shot with my 7 iron has gone farther than any slice shot I've hit with it.  (pulling the ball is a different story because more than likely there is a delofting of the club.)

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by trackster

Nothing against you or Jack Nicklaus but that seems messed up.  If that worked than anyone who could hit it straight would just have to swing out of their boots.  Here's an Idea, you can learn both.  I hit the ball straiter and farther then I did when I started.

I made a topic a while back where I said "my longest shots are also the ones that go the straightest and land in the fairway".  I feel like the better to be straighter or longer debate can only deal with a difference in which club to use.  If you hit your three wood straighter than your driver and only 20 yards less then that is probably your better choice.  If I swing hard and come across my 7i and slice it a bunch then I have not gained anything by swinging harder.  My straight shot with my 7 iron has gone farther than any slice shot I've hit with it.  (pulling the ball is a different story because more than likely there is a delofting of the club.)

If you don't agree with Nicklaus on this point, that's you're choice, but in my books, he was right on the money.

I've played with a few long hitters who learned to hit fairways and greens, but I've never played with someone who did things the other way around with any success.

[trackster]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

If you don't agree with Nicklaus on this point, that's you're choice, but in my books, he was right on the money.

I've played with a few long hitters who learned to hit fairways and greens, but I've never played with someone who did things the other way around with any success.

Then I guess there is not hope for a golfer with accuracy?  The thing is no one hits the ball straight when they start.  I suppose this works with your argument that the accuracy was learned.  But I'm saying that if I have developed a good swing plain and am an accurate golfer I can become stronger.  And as a beginner hits straighter I bet they also start to hit longer.

The biggest thing is you can take an accurate golfer and have him hitting harder and just as accurate, but usually a longer hitter who learns to hit fairways will usually take a small cut in distance.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by trackster

Then I guess there is not hope for a golfer with accuracy?  The thing is no one hits the ball straight when they start.  I suppose this works with your argument that the accuracy was learned.  But I'm saying that if I have developed a good swing plain and am an accurate golfer I can become stronger.  And as a beginner hits straighter I bet they also start to hit longer.

The biggest thing is you can take an accurate golfer and have him hitting harder and just as accurate, but usually a longer hitter who learns to hit fairways will usually take a small cut in distance.

I think you're confusing a short knocker hitting harder with a long hitter. A truly long hitter  - someone who's learned to hit long from the beginning - doesn't need to hit hard.

[RPMPIRE]

I think if you learn to strike the ball cleanly and consistent, distance will follow.

[trackster]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I think you're confusing a short knocker hitting harder with a long hitter. A truly long hitter  - someone who's learned to hit long from the beginning - doesn't need to hit hard.

Considering the original Nicklaus discussion was about swinging as hard as you can I don't think I am.

[5ironkid]

well i just figured out tha i wasnt striking the ball correctly with irons today. i did not realize you are supposed to leave a divot in front of the ball. hopefully my distance will get better with this correction. thanks for all the input guys! on the topic of hitting as hard as you can, when i try this i dont get any distance what so ever i top it or sky it or with an iron i make a huge divot and the ball goes high and lands close.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by trackster

Considering the original Nicklaus discussion was about swinging as hard as you can I don't think I am.

"Nicklaus thought it was more easier to train accuracy than length."

That was the bit you quoted about Nicklaus. He wrote a lot of things but never swayed from his belief that teaching distance after control is putting the cart before the horse. If you see it otherwise, it's your opinion, but most people's experience is consistent with Jack's.

[FLOG4]

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE

I think if you learn to strike the ball cleanly and consistent, distance will follow.

You and Trackster would make a great alternate shot 2ball from the Ladies Tee.  Read up on the PGA Tee it Forward Program. You gals will rock.  11 and 12 handicappers contradicting Jack Nicklaus advise....Ya gotta love a forum like this.  You wanna offer advise by Tiger or Hogan or Leadbetter or someone with knowledge, please do. To randomly say I thinks it be betar ta do it mys way cuz I'ms a 11 handicap ands I hits it straight and you too could be a great golfer likes me....Make me PUKE.

[ggolokin]

u mad bro? hahah

all people have different opinions, that what a forum is for.

having said that, i'd rather be 300 yards and 10 yards into the bush, rather than 100 yards straight (as one of the posters above said)

to each their own.

Originally Posted by FLOG4

You and Trackster would make a great alternate shot 2ball from the Ladies Tee.  Read up on the PGA Tee it Forward Program. You gals will rock.  11 and 12 handicappers contradicting Jack Nicklaus advise....Ya gotta love a forum like this.  You wanna offer advise by Tiger or Hogan or Leadbetter or someone with knowledge, please do. To randomly say I thinks it be betar ta do it mys way cuz I'ms a 11 handicap ands I hits it straight and you too could be a great golfer likes me....Make me PUKE.

[FLOG4]

Originally Posted by 5ironkid

well i just figured out tha i wasnt striking the ball correctly with irons today. i did not realize you are supposed to leave a divot in front of the ball. hopefully my distance will get better with this correction. thanks for all the input guys! on the topic of hitting as hard as you can, when i try this i dont get any distance what so ever i top it or sky it or with an iron i make a huge divot and the ball goes high and lands close.

Moe Norman, maybe the best ball striker who ever lived did not take divots. Courses tended to be firmer back then too, so it was more difficult to take divots.  From all indications, you are starting. Don't listen to rambling posters who enjoy their little blurts...Take a lesson, buy a book. The idea is if you swing hard in your practice you will develope an ability to swing within yourself and garner good distance on the course.