Does the Ball go Too Far?

[CG031]

No, I don't think so. "Drive for show, putt for dough."

You still have to be precise, and be able to make putts despite the amazing technology with the golf ball.

[erniebanks]

Well, let me think about that.
Twenty or so years ago, if I hit a drive 210 that was very large, 220 was absolutely out of this world!
I was using my Wilson 1200GE driver(considered a pretty good club at the time) to smack Titleist DT90's and I could not even come close to the club pro's 270 yarders. He was awesome!!
Today, 20 years later,( age 45 to 65) if I don't hit it 220 I must have "toed, topped or heeled it" or worse.
I don't know if is the ball, the club, or my incredible physical condition, but it sure goes farther.
However, my scores haven’t improved.
We have come a long way in all phases of the game. It would be unfair to say that the "ball" goes too far and is hurting the game. The game is in it's best shape ever. More players, more interest, more, more,more,etc.

[Big Lex]

Ball does not go too far.

They hit it farther for many reasons, all suggested by iacas in the original posting.

Among the reasons, one which isn't seldom discussed is that the pros _try_ to hit it farther today than in the past. They swing for the fences more, and are probably encouraged to do so because the balls and clubs are such that the ball doesn't curve as much as it once did.

As for the tremendous distances that iron shots are hit, there are 2 factors which play into this. First, better technology in the iron heads means that the ball is easier to get airborne with less loft, so lofts are stronger. Today's 180 yard 8 iron shot is the equivalent to something like a 6 or "6.5" iron of the 1970s. Also, better conditioning of fairways, giving better lies, allows the players to hit it flush more with the irons, also helping distance.

Finally, the notion that only the top players have gotten longer is ridiculous. An average drive for me has improved by probably 20 yards over the last 10 years. I am an 11 hcp player with a swing speed measured at between 96-101 mph with a driver.

[The Rambler]

the further the ball goes the better

[Lahey]

the ball will never go too far because they will always make the courses longer as the clubs go longer

[lamebums]

the ball will never go too far because they will always make the courses longer as the clubs go longer

Yes, but what happens for courses that don't have room to expand? Are the greatest courses out there going to be reduced to mere pitch and putt courses?

[iacas]

Yes, but what happens for courses that don't have room to expand? Are the greatest courses out there going to be reduced to mere pitch and putt courses?

If they haven't been by now they won't be dramatically. The ball goes as far as it's legally allowed and even the long-drive guys don't get substantially more distance than PGA Tour pros.

[T.J.K.]

Does the ball go to far?

I played this weekend and there was a 608 yard par 5 from the blues. I promise you, the ball couldn't go far enough :)

[KingCobra]

The hole was downwind and downhill. You weren't at that tournament to see that drive - I was. Fred Funk carried the ball over 300 yards and it rolled out to 350 to 360. I hit the ball about as far as Fred Funk.

People come to see the big drives. If you take that away, you drrive fans away from the teeboxes, for instance people flocked the the teeboxes to see Daly's long drives and him. Many people come to see the long drive.