Tours Pros and Distance Control at Different Courses

[Golfingdad]

All of the talk during the Accenture Match Play event about the ball flying further when "at altitude" got me wondering.  How do tour pros - who we all know are super precise - figure out and track that information?  Do they just re-figure all of their clubs on location at the beginning of each week?  Or perhaps they get really technical and do mathematical calculations and create a little cheat sheet for themselves?  Or is it all just feel with them?

And along those same lines ... How do Americans manage their distances in Europe and Asia when everything seems to be listed in metric?  I would guess a simple conversion cheat sheet for this one because it is simple math, but I still had to ask.

[TourSpoon]

Good topic because when the Tour goes from Arizona to South Florida it can translate into an 8 iron going 190 to 160 in a week's time. I commented last year that at The Doral, the guys were hitting their irons mere mortal distances seeing that Miami is at sea level and the air can get heavy. They must have a quick calculation that happens to adjust. When I went to Arizona, I added 10% and it was close, and after 2 rounds I got a feel for it. All of the foreign set-ups seem to be in meters and yards. I am sure the caddy books come in both measurements.

[mdl]

Presumably it's pretty well known what the relationship is between distance and elevation, temperature, and humidity.  I'd also bet that while the theoretical relationship is well known that the pros dial in exactly how far different shots with different clubs will go that particular week in practice rounds or at the range.

[k-troop]

They know from experience and fine-tuning during the practice rounds, but it is pretty amazing that they can dial it in so quickly.  You'd think that playing at an altitude their comfortable with should be much easier.

Yet another reason why Tiger should be the favorite for the next few weeks (cue Brocks).

As for the yards/meters, when Tiger was playing the Spanish dude, his caddy was giving him distances in meters, so his yardage book must have had both.

[k-troop]

And I had been wondering how Rory was averaging 330+ off the tee and hitting 7-irons 210 into the breeze.  I hadn't thought about the elevation and thin desert air.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by k-troop

And I had been wondering how Rory was averaging 330+ off the tee and hitting 7-irons 210 into the breeze.  I hadn't thought about the elevation and thin desert air.

It does make me feel slightly less inadequate.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

All of the talk during the Accenture Match Play event about the ball flying further when "at altitude" got me wondering.  How do tour pros - who we all know are super precise - figure out and track that information?  Do they just re-figure all of their clubs on location at the beginning of each week?  Or perhaps they get really technical and do mathematical calculations and create a little cheat sheet for themselves?  Or is it all just feel with them?

And along those same lines ... How do Americans manage their distances in Europe and Asia when everything seems to be listed in metric?  I would guess a simple conversion cheat sheet for this one because it is simple math, but I still had to ask.

I don't think its as scientific as you'd think. You play in the high desert, the ball is gonna fly and roll. You play at sealevel, not so much. Its just common knowledge more than anything. Also, practice rounds help get dialed in to specifics. You play a course enough and you'll get familiar with what clubs to use on the Par 3s, and where your driver or 3wood is going to roll out to on par4s and par5s.

I've played in a few tournaments in Asia. Add 10% to your meter number and you've got your number in yards. 150m is 165y. I SUCK at math, but 10% is a super easy calculation to make. I would always write my numbers down on my yardage guide though, just to double check. Again, math and me just don't mix...

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by k-troop

As for the yards/meters, when Tiger was playing the Spanish dude, his caddy was giving him distances in meters, so his yardage book must have had both.

I did also notice that the placards at each hole showed yards and meters at the match play, as I imagine they were being accomodating to the worldwide crowd.

And in thinking about it more, so many of these top players travel the globe so much, they probably just have both sets of numbers (English, Metric) memorized like a second language.