Hitting the long ball

[Stargaze]

For those of you that can hit 280 - 330 yard drives, what do you think contributes most to your ability?  Is it the swing technique?  Is it the raw power you inject into your swing?

The reason I ask is because I was at the range the other day.  As I was walking along the range I saw this guy drive a couple balls.  It was so wild because it was like his swing was so "soft" yet the ball just took off like it was a rocket nice and straight.  His swing also seemed a little unothrodox, it was like during his back swing he allowed his head to move back to his right shoulder and then give this nice sweeping drive.

I want to learn how to have a nice solid drive but not have to "crush" the ball to do it.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Thread has the potential for some epic BS.

[bigwave916]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

Thread has the potential for some epic BS.

Amen! My first reaction to "For those of you that can hit 280 - 330 yard drives" was that it will be answered by a lot of broomstick cowboys who have convinced themselves they hit it that far because one day downwind and downhill on a concrete hard fairway they hit one over 300.

[Infamous 273]

tension free swing is paramount imho.  also a loose grip, and accelerating through impact works for me.  i'm not claiming to hit the ball anywhere near the 330 end of the spectrum - i'd imagine i'm somewhere > 280, < 300 with a typical, well struck hit with my driver.

using a cut down shaft, and a 240cc driver head helped tremendously for me as well.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

Thread has the potential for some epic BS.

In all honesty, this is about the most honest answer that you would receive from a thread like this unfortunately - without Erik and co. intervening and offering suggestions/tips if you're able to provide a video of your swing.

Me, personally, I feel like I can't even tell you "what I do" to achieve a "longer than average drive". I am using quotes because I feel weird talking about how far I hit the ball. It's kind of like telling another fisherman at the dock that you caught a 20lb. bass but lost it because it jumped out of your livewell lol.

Anyway, my swing speed is right around 104. For me, I don't feel like I am trying to crush the ball though. This is the speed that I am comfortable with.

If you feel like you're trying to crush it, or have knowledgeable/good golfers commenting on your swing saying things such as... "Man, you're coming out of your shoes...", or "Yeah... swing harder that will help", that's a sure sign that you're over doing it.

That's really the only advice I can give you without going into the realm of stroking myself or sounding as credible as a politician.

I do golf with 2 guys that are half my size in weight and slightly shorter than I am who make the drive seem effortless and end up on the fringe, or on greens 300+ out (of course the condition of the fairways, contour of the land, wind, etc. play a role in this). They also have a swing speed of 110+ though but they're just naturally able to achieve massive club head speed on their down swing due to having nearly flawless mechanics for their style of game.

[Stargaze]

Yeah I didn't word my opening post well.  I should have just left it at 280+ yards, 330 is rediculous.  I'm happy with a 260 yard drive and not having to he-man it there...just solid technique that allows my club to do the work.  I also wanted to add that this guy had a taylor made r11s or something like it, so he was working with nice gear.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Stargaze

Yeah I didn't word my opening post well.  I should have just left it at 280+ yards, 330 is rediculous.  I'm happy with a 260 yard drive and not having to he-man it there...just solid technique that allows my club to do the work.  I also wanted to add that this guy had a taylor made r11s or something like it, so he was working with nice gear.

In the immortal words of Jack Hamm, "POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Stargaze]

Originally Posted by Infamous 273

tension free swing is paramount imho.  also a loose grip, and accelerating through impact works for me.  i'm not claiming to hit the ball anywhere near the 330 end of the spectrum - i'd imagine i'm somewhere > 280, < 300 with a typical, well struck hit with my driver.

using a cut down shaft, and a 240cc driver head helped tremendously for me as well.

So these large [huge even] driver heads are great for being forgiving but they take away some distance correct?

[Infamous 273]

Originally Posted by Stargaze

So these large [huge even] driver heads are great for being forgiving but they take away some distance correct?

i can only speak to the results i've had in the past with the 460, and 46+" shafts.  more forgiving, i guess; more difficult to control, and less consistent for me, yes.  i can go at the ball a lot faster with a shorter/stiffer shaft.  i can't tell if the 460 takes away distance bc i was never consistent enough with it.  i'm definitely longer and straighter with my current driver - mainly bc i hit it a lot more pure with a ton more consistency.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Stargaze

So these large [huge even] driver heads are great for being forgiving but they take away some distance correct?

No they are probably still longer.  The coefficient of restitution on a 400+cc clubhead is likely higher than the COR on a 240cc head.  If Phil Mickelson hit the Great Big Bertha (250cc head) and the latest and greatest Callaway (400cc+) he'd likely hit the newer club 20+ yards longer.

[Stargaze]

Originally Posted by Spyder

In all honesty, this is about the most honest answer that you would receive from a thread like this unfortunately - without Erik and co. intervening and offering suggestions/tips if you're able to provide a video of your swing.

Me, personally, I feel like I can't even tell you "what I do" to achieve a "longer than average drive". I am using quotes because I feel weird talking about how far I hit the ball. It's kind of like telling another fisherman at the dock that you caught a 20lb. bass but lost it because it jumped out of your livewell lol.

Anyway, my swing speed is right around 104. For me, I don't feel like I am trying to crush the ball though. This is the speed that I am comfortable with.

If you feel like you're trying to crush it, or have knowledgeable/good golfers commenting on your swing saying things such as... "Man, you're coming out of your shoes...", or "Yeah... swing harder that will help", that's a sure sign that you're over doing it.

That's really the only advice I can give you without going into the realm of stroking myself or sounding as credible as a politician.

I do golf with 2 guys that are half my size in weight and slightly shorter than I am who make the drive seem effortless and end up on the fringe, or on greens 300+ out (of course the condition of the fairways, contour of the land, wind, etc. play a role in this). They also have a swing speed of 110+ though but they're just naturally able to achieve massive club head speed on their down swing due to having nearly flawless mechanics for their style of game.

Thanks for the input.  When I am able to manage a 250 yard drive I am "coming out of my shoes".  So I'm going to work [have a lesson this Saturday] on having a fluid, sound, proper swing and just be happy with whatever I'm able to manage.

What I've learned this year is that a 280 yard drive means f*** all when you can't putt.  So my focus the next couple of months is going to be with my sandwedge and my putter.  This is where I'm going to be able to lower my handicap.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by Stargaze

Thanks for the input.  When I am able to manage a 250 yard drive I am "coming out of my shoes".  So I'm going to work [have a lesson this Saturday] on having a fluid, sound, proper swing and just be happy with whatever I'm able to manage.

What I've learned this year is that a 280 yard drive means f*** all when you can't putt.  So my focus the next couple of months is going to be with my sandwedge and my putter.  This is where I'm going to be able to lower my handicap.

That is exactly right and you're already ahead of a vast majority of golfers out there by realizing that. I am also in the same boat as my putting is why my HC has not been below a 10 in years.

I'm averaging a 272 yard drive but I don't even want to go into the average number of putts, or consistency from within 10 feet.

[inthehole]

I'm happier with a 230 yd drive on the fairway than a 270 yd drive more often than not in the woods. Scoring well is all about control & keeping the ball in play - however, this does not apply for the elite players where distance is required.

[Tuflehundon]

Originally Posted by Stargaze

Thanks for the input.  When I am able to manage a 250 yard drive I am "coming out of my shoes".  So I'm going to work [have a lesson this Saturday] on having a fluid, sound, proper swing and just be happy with whatever I'm able to manage.

What I've learned this year is that a 280 yard drive means f*** all when you can't putt.  So my focus the next couple of months is going to be with my sandwedge and my putter.  This is where I'm going to be able to lower my handicap.

I never understood why so many people are so concerned with hitting it far. I can hit it 300 if I really try, but there is no accuracy when I do it. Shots go all over the place. If I just do a normal swing and don't try to kill it, I average closer to 260ish.

One thing to, I just had a lesson and my coach had me change a few things. One big thing was to change my tempo. Seems to me like I am swinging slower, but the ball is going just as far, with better groupings.

I'll take a shot at 250 on the fairway over a shot at 320 in trouble any day. (not saying I hit it 320, just exaggerating to get the point across)

[Stargaze]

Originally Posted by Tuflehundon

I never understood why so many people are so concerned with hitting it far. I can hit it 300 if I really try, but there is no accuracy when I do it. Shots go all over the place. If I just do a normal swing and don't try to kill it, I average closer to 260ish.

One thing to, I just had a lesson and my coach had me change a few things. One big thing was to change my tempo. Seems to me like I am swinging slower, but the ball is going just as far, with better groupings.

I'll take a shot at 250 on the fairway over a shot at 320 in trouble any day. (not saying I hit it 320, just exaggerating to get the point across)

Well to be honest I wasn't so worried about hitting super far it was more how fascinated I was at watching this guy hit it far and it seemed like he was doing a nice casual swing.  If I see the guy again I'm going to see if he minds showing me his swing.  I don't know if that's creepy or not but it was such a fluid swing and the result was fantastic.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Tuflehundon

I never understood why so many people are so concerned with hitting it far. I can hit it 300 if I really try, but there is no accuracy when I do it. Shots go all over the place. If I just do a normal swing and don't try to kill it, I average closer to 260ish.

One thing to, I just had a lesson and my coach had me change a few things. One big thing was to change my tempo. Seems to me like I am swinging slower, but the ball is going just as far, with better groupings.

I'll take a shot at 250 on the fairway over a shot at 320 in trouble any day. (not saying I hit it 320, just exaggerating to get the point across)

When a lot of people swing hard, they swing faster at the top of their swing, but have the same or slower clubhead speed through the impact zone as they would with a smooth swing.  Results in less accuracy and slower ball speed.

[dak4n6]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

When a lot of people swing hard, they swing faster at the top of their swing, but have the same or slower clubhead speed through the impact zone as they would with a smooth swing.  Results in less accuracy and slower ball speed.

Yes.

I prefer to use width and lag and good tempo. I find that when I crush one, I end up holding my pose with great balance, which shows I swung with good tempo and stayed in my shoes.

[Lost-Ball]

the harder you swing at it the less likely you are to be able to find it. i think keys to consistence "long" drives are

1. hitting the ball in the center of the club face

2. using your upper AND lower body. not just swing your arms fast

3. good balance and timing

4. LAG and trajectory

look at old Freddy Couples. hes still crushing the ball at his age and finding fairways and it looks like hes just taking a smooth practice swing.