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What Would You Shoot if a PGA Tour Pro Drove the Ball for You?


billchao
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I think I would score better than I do now if it was a longer hitter who is also relatively straight (e.g. McIlroy, Scott).  I'm already relatively long off the tee but either of them would have me by a good 20-25 yards and be in the fairway more often, and my strength is probably either scrambling or maybe short irons so I guess it would depend on the course for how much I'd benefit.  If it was a long but relatively open course I'd probably be right around par, whereas I normally shoot mid 70s at my home course

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  • 3 weeks later...

considering my drive is usually what kills my scores...

If i had someone who was driving 270+ yards and putting me in the fairway on 90% of the holes.. I am sure I would cut a bunch of strokes off my game..

considering on most courses your avg hole is 350 to 500 yards, if someone is driving an avg of 270yds,  most of the time you are using your short irons or wedges to get on the green... even on the par 5s, if they are crushing the ball, you are at worst a 3 wood, or long iron away on your second swing..

basically all i would need to worry about is my short game and putting...

It is what it is

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If I was playing Bubba length drives, I'd score 2-3 shots lower.  It definitely would help to be able to wedge into some of the longer par4s and he could potentially help me reach a couple of the par5s.  He probably won't hit driver on at least a couple of our par5s.

If I was playing Mark Omeara drives, I'd score about the same to 1 shot better.

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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I think it would significantly make my scores lower by at least 5 or 6 strokes, first of all we have 2 par 3's that play 225 to 245 yards that I'm usually happy to walk off with 4 that now par could be almost automatic and for sure 2 of the par 5's would be in range for getting on in 2 quite likely, there is one par 4 that if a player can carry 290 they can get on so that would be an almost automatic birdie. My home course is just under 7000 but that is very short by PGA tour standards a tour pro would put me in positions that would be so much more better that scoring would be much easier, also my irons are my strongest part of my game now. The more I think about it the more I believe I would probably shoot right around par and maybe a couple under even.

Rich C.

Driver Titleist 915 D3  9.5*
3 Wood TM RBZ stage 2 tour  14.5*
2 Hybrid Cobra baffler 17*
4Hybrid Adams 23*
Irons Adams CB2's 5-GW
Wedges 54* and 58* Titleist vokey
Putter Scotty Cameron square back 2014
Ball Srixon Zstar optic yellow
bushnell V2 slope edition

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If we played at my home course off my usual white tees . .I would score a lot better.  I'm going to assume I get a really great tour pro whose having a really great day . . .and so his tee shots will carry up to 100 yards further than mine.  That's going to make a BIG difference for me in my approach shots.  In some cases he would be able to drive the par 4's or leave me with just a short chip for GIR.  Even then I wouldn't shoot par or anything .. but I'd definitely have my personal best round - I'll guess high 70's.

On a long course it wouldn't be that big of a difference because I usually do hit a lot of drives in the fairway.  And if it was a "tour" course I would probably shoot worse because of the more difficult greens and hazzards, etc.

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In general, I believe some are underestimating the importance of the short game in this thread.  You still need to hit the GIR....if not, chip/putt to save par.

Also keep in mind that on many holes, the pro's won't hit driver.   In many cases, they will target the same landing areas as we do albeit with a different club.   Even if playing your 6500yd home course, if a hole is designed for a 150yd approach, they will hit much less club from the tee to hit the desired landing area.

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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  • Administrator

In general, I believe some are underestimating the importance of the short game in this thread.  You still need to hit the GIR....if not, chip/putt to save par.

Also keep in mind that on many holes, the pro's won't hit driver.   In many cases, they will target the same landing areas as we do albeit with a different club.   Even if playing your 6500yd home course, if a hole is designed for a 150yd approach, they will hit much less club from the tee to hit the desired landing area.


You should buy a book I know of… white cover, orange and black lettering. Just a picture of a golf pencil on the front. Might even be a link to it in my signature… :-)

a) the short game matters very little

b) golfers score better with a shot from the fairway/rough 80 yards from the green than the fairway 150 yards from the green (never mind the fact that many appreciate the cushion the rough gives them).

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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I wouldn't be too different than where I am now.

Very rarely am I playing courses that are over 7000 yds.... and rightfully so. Plus, here in Central NY I would be hard pressed to find any besides Turning Stone Casino.

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I wouldn't be too different than where I am now.

Very rarely am I playing courses that are over 7000 yds.... and rightfully so. Plus, here in Central NY I would be hard pressed to find any besides Turning Stone Casino.

It doesn't matter if the course is over 7000 yards, you'd still be consistently both closer to the hole and closer to the fairway with a good angle at the green.

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I wouldn't be too different than where I am now.  Very rarely am I playing courses that are over 7000 yds.... and rightfully so. Plus, here in Central NY I would be hard pressed to find any besides Turning Stone Casino.

You don't think that it would be nice to be hitting some little half-wedge (from the fairway) into those pesky 430 yard par-4's? It would sure help my game! ;-) [quote name="Pretzel" url="/t/76311/what-would-you-shoot-if-a-pga-tour-pro-drove-the-ball-for-you/72#post_1050067"]It doesn't matter if the course is over 7000 yards, you'd still be consistently both closer to the hole and closer to the fairway with a good angle at the green. [/quote] Yup!

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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You don't think that it would be nice to be hitting some little wedge (from the fairway) into those pesky 430 yard par-4's?

It would sure help my game!

Yup!


An extra 50 yards on average would probably put me 10 strokes less. If the pro hit my approach shots would take me down another 5 strokes at least. I think I might make scratch if he played the long game. Another 6-8 strokes if the pro also took over my short game and putting.

Maybe the fastest way for me to improve is just to have a pro like K J Choi replace me. I just wish I could afford to pay him to play for me. :dance:

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

TM White Smoke Big Fontana; Pro-V1
TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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On the other end of the spectrum, how would a PGA Tour pro shoot if one of us drove the ball for him?


If I drove the ball for KJ, he would kill me after the first hole. Thus, we would never know. :-$

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

TM White Smoke Big Fontana; Pro-V1
TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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On the other end of the spectrum, how would a PGA Tour pro shoot if one of us drove the ball for him?

He'd find it difficult to play at all while either weeping or laughing uncontrollably...... :-)

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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  • Administrator
On the other end of the spectrum, how would a PGA Tour pro shoot if one of us drove the ball for him?

If you haven't already, buy Lowest Score Wins and read about the flip-flop game: a pro and an 80s golfer play themselves. One team has the pro hit all Full Swing shots, the other all non-Full Swing shots.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Well it depends on how long the course is.Playing 6500 or less as I do since im not a long hitter id say id save probably 4-5 strokes with pro giving me the extra distance off tee.I  should be able to shoot 72-76 most of the time but on a 7000 yard course id shoot more my handicap around 80.

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Note: This thread is 3450 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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