Distance...Club Head Speed, or Technique..?

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer 4

So, we always hear club head speed determines distance to some extent, providing you make good contact with the ball.

I was at the range today working on keys 1 and 2 as usual. I also work on 2 things that Mike provided for me when I took a lesson from him. I always try to work on things going at about 50%, but as we all know, sometimes you goof and speed up. Well I had my 9i and made a big effort to combine keys 1,2 and the things Mike told me to work on. I made a decent back swing while counting 1001, 1002 then I began my down swing and absolutely pured my 9i that resulted in a slight draw, that hit the 152 yd marker.. I did a double take to make sure that WAS the 152 yd marker. I tried to duplicate that shot to no avail..

Now for my question, I know my swing speed couldn't have been over 80 mph if that, yet that's the furthest I've ever hit my 9i, also I have the older lofts, i.e. PW is 47*. So what caused the ball to go that far, I figure it must have been the technique, because as I said, I swung really easy, maybe I got luck and everything was in sync..

I would appreciate some knowledgeable comments on this. BTW, hitting that shot was to say the least GREAT!

The question is can you carry a 6iron 200 yards with the same swing?

It takes exceptional technique to be able to do that, not exceptional swing speed.

The sound coming the clubface should sound different too, more like a "click" than a 'thud"

Think "strike" and not 'hit".

On a well hit shot on any iron (which is not as often as I would like), I hear a "thud" or "poof". The "click" is usually from a shot not in the sweet spot.

[Hammer 4]

On a well hit shot on any iron (which is not as often as I would like), I hear a "thud" or "poof". The "click" is usually from a shot not in the sweet spot.

On my forged clubs, a hit on the sweet spot and a good swing sounds to me like a soft click, and then the sound of my club brushing the mat, sort of like click..swoosh..a loud click usually means I thinned it.lol

Someone needs to open up a short game range around here, don't you think Lihu..?

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

On a well hit shot on any iron (which is not as often as I would like), I hear a "thud" or "poof". The "click" is usually from a shot not in the sweet spot.

On my forged clubs, a hit on the sweet spot and a good swing sounds to me like a soft click, and then the sound of my club brushing the mat, sort of like click..swoosh..a loud click usually means I thinned it.lol

Someone needs to open up a short game range around here, don't you think Lihu..?

I'm definitely for that!

Brookside has one, but there are some nut-cases who use it as a full length range.

[iacas]

The question is can you carry a 6iron 200 yards with the same swing?

It takes exceptional technique to be able to do that, not exceptional swing speed.

I think, not to get too far off topic, it takes both.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truegolf

The question is can you carry a 6iron 200 yards with the same swing?

It takes exceptional technique to be able to do that, not exceptional swing speed.

I think, not to get too far off topic, it takes both.

But in what priority of importance and to what degree? ;)

[saevel25]

But in what priority of importance and to what degree? ;)

Clubhead speed is the most important. If you don't have that then no matter what the contact is you wont get the distance. Technique just can't produce club head speed. Look at the pro's there is still a pretty big gap between the longest hitters and shortest hitters.

Don't get me wrong, having the proper technique can squeak out every bit of speed you got, but in the end your ability is your maximum.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

But in what priority of importance and to what degree? ;)

Clubhead speed is the most important. If you don't have that then no matter what the contact is you wont get the distance. Technique just can't produce club head speed. Look at the pro's there is still a pretty big gap between the longest hitters and shortest hitters.

Don't get me wrong, having the proper technique can squeak out every bit of speed you got, but in the end your ability is your maximum.

Pretty much spot on to my thoughts. :)

I'd go as far as to say that the ratio changes as handicap changes too; a higher handicap player will generally have less than perfect contact on the majority of shots so adding speed as a priority wouldn't be ideal (more speed often leads to even more variance on club face contact position). For higher handicap players it kind of feels to me like the main priority is club face contact position to establish a reasonably consistent swing. As the swing improves the priority gravitates toward speed being the primary determinant of decent distance.

[nevets88]

Wouldn't the same question be, fastest 100 meters, technique or raw speed? Or being able to play Rachmaninoff at crazy fast speeds?

[saevel25]

Here's the thing. The best golfers are not the top distance in the world. Long drive champions are. So the 100 meters, which is a specific sport, has its elite. Golf is such an encompassing game that the elite distance hitters are not always the best golfers or can compete on the PGA tour level. So just a slight difference

[MS256]

Here's the thing. The best golfers are not the top distance in the world. Long drive champions are. So the 100 meters, which is a specific sport, has its elite. Golf is such an encompassing game that the elite distance hitters are not always the best golfers or can compete on the PGA tour level. So just a slight difference

Yep. Any number of really good golf swings may not be designed for maximum distance.

[Lihu]

The question is can you carry a 6iron 200 yards with the same swing? It takes exceptional technique to be able to do that, not exceptional swing speed. The sound coming the clubface should sound different too, more like a "click" than a 'thud"  Think "strike" and not 'hit".

200 carry on a 6i is more comparable to a 167 carry on a 9i, which in turn is comparable to a SS of about 125 on a driver.

[mvmac]

I think, not to get too far off topic, it takes both.

Correct, there are players with "exceptional techniques" that will never hit their 6 irons 200 yards.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

I think, not to get too far off topic, it takes both.

Correct, there are players with "exceptional techniques" that will never hit their 6 irons 200 yards.

I would even go so far as to say that the vast majority of golfers can't hit that far using a decent and repeatable swing.

[hopefulhacker]

150yds is a stock 9 iron shot for me. I once hit one great that went 175-180 yards carry with no roll (winter conditions and no wind either). No idea how or why it went that far as I hit it great but have never it that far before. I had to double check on google maps that the marker was 150yds since I completely flew the green, and sure enough it was.

You should have checked if the 9 was an upside down 6! There's nothing "great" about a ball going 20% further than it should IMO.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

150yds is a stock 9 iron shot for me. I once hit one great that went 175-180 yards carry with no roll (winter conditions and no wind either). No idea how or why it went that far as I hit it great but have never it that far before. I had to double check on google maps that the marker was 150yds since I completely flew the green, and sure enough it was.

You should have checked if the 9 was an upside down 6!

There's nothing "great" about a ball going 20% further than it should IMO.

My son and I hit 9i about 135 (normal shot), so I don't really find it unbelievable that someone else can hit it 150.

Agreed that it's not great when it goes 20 percent further, I call that a skull (too thin and far).

[Hammer 4]

Just to say again. I hit the ball pure. I'm 65, have a bad back, i.e. twisted and curved spine, 2 bottom disc's are fused, and to top it off, I have arthritis in my lower back, so...150 with my 9i is pretty good for me. Erik eluded to the fact that I just sync'd it, which I tend to believe, and that's the info I was looking for. I'm lots of you guys have done the same, this was the first time for me. I appreciate all of your posts, if you have more, please jump in, but lets be social and on topic if you please..

[Lihu]

Just to say again. I hit the ball pure. I'm 65, have a bad back, i.e. twisted and curved spine, 2 bottom disc's are fused, and to top it off, I have arthritis in my lower back, so...150 with my 9i is pretty good for me. Erik eluded to the fact that I just sync'd it, which I tend to believe, and that's the info I was looking for. I'm lots of you guys have done the same, this was the first time for me. I appreciate all of your posts, if you have more, please jump in, but lets be social and on topic if you please..

I think you are doing really good. I know I'm doing way better too.

Just keep up with the drills that Mike and Dana gave you, until your next lesson.