Drives

[paininthenuts]

Now I post on a few forums, and regarding this subject, they are all the same, and I refer to drives. I constantly here about peoples 250/300 yard drives, and wonder if they have ever actually measured them. I have now got to the point that I halve the distance  anyone gives me. Earlier I read a thread where someone refers to a badly sliced drive that went 220 yards. I play with a fair few people (some low handicappers), and to be honest, a well hit drive rarely goes 220 yards., let alone a slice. Is it possible that some people have got confused with feet and yards, and are really hitting the ball one third the distance they think they are. 

[Lugowskins]

4 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

Now I post on a few forums, and regarding this subject, they are all the same, and I refer to drives. I constantly here about peoples 250/300 yard drives, and wonder if they have ever actually measured them. I have now got to the point that I halve the distance  anyone gives me. Earlier I read a thread where someone refers to a badly sliced drive that went 220 yards. I play with a fair few people (some low handicappers), and to be honest, a well hit drive rarely goes 220 yards., let alone a slice. Is it possible that some people have got confused with feet and yards, and are really hitting the ball one third the distance they think they are.

Assuming this is in reference to me. I use a gps app called swing by swing that I use for my yardages and usually track all my drives and find my drives generally carry 250 or more my slice went probably 30 yards to the right and actually got a roll out I don't think talking about a 220 yard drive 30 yards off target is much sand bagging for someone who can hit 275 yard drives with a good roll out. And I don't think an athletic 26 year old who hits that "far" is bragging or out of the ordinary.

[paininthenuts]

3 minutes ago, Lugowskins said:

Assuming this is in reference to me. I use a gps app called swing by swing that I use for my yardages and usually track all my drives and find my drives generally carry 250 or more my slice went probably 30 yards to the right and actually got a roll out I don't think talking about a 220 yard drive 30 yards off target is much sand bagging for someone who can hit 275 yard drives with a good roll out. And I don't think an athletic 26 year old who hits that "far" is bragging or out of the ordinary.

In the Uk we have a different gallon to you, so perhaps you also have a different yard 

 

Anyway, it's not just you

[Lugowskins]

7 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

In the Uk we have a different gallon to you, so perhaps you also have a different yard 

 

Anyway, it's not just you

Oh I know just wanted to clarify I don't just base it off yardage markers or anything I find the gps to be actually really accurate and for a free app it beats the hell out of spending 200 dollars on a rangefinder very much recommended to at least look into.

[paininthenuts]

4 minutes ago, Lugowskins said:

Oh I know just wanted to clarify I don't just base it off yardage markers or anything I find the gps to be actually really accurate and for a free app it beats the hell out of spending 200 dollars on a rangefinder very much recommended to at least look into.

To get 275 yards, I need a decent drive, 2 hybrid shots, and a short iron, and that's if I don't top the ball, which I indefinitely will  

[saevel25]

38 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

I have now got to the point that I halve the distance  anyone gives me. 

A bit too much. I would say take 25% off anything over 275 yards unless proven otherwise ;)

*from my game golf app (gps calculated) 

 

38 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

I play with a fair few people (some low handicappers), and to be honest, a well hit drive rarely goes 220 yards.

For a low handicap, I would put as under 5, should be carrying the ball on average 260 yards or more (150 mph ball speed at 103 mph club head speed).

Anyone over a 10 handicap is going to be at 230 yards of carry or under (optimal). That is if they hit it straight. If you throw in a big slice that starts 10 degrees left of target you can take a good 15-20 yards off that drive. 

That is the downfall of a high handicap golfer. They don't make good contact, so the smash factor goes down. They hit a slice so the ball uses energy not solely for going towards the hole. It's just a double whammy on driver distance. 

 

 

[bkuehn1952]

There are certainly exaggerations, especially when discussing "average" drive distances.  I have witnessed some fairly average golfers hit some very long drives but, again, their "average" drive is nothing to get excited about.

Ultimately, someone can talk all they want to about how far their average drive travels.  The game of golf is about the fewest number of strokes, not the most yardage on a shot.

[Pete]

I'm guessing some of it has to do with weather @paininthenuts. We're often playing in low temperatures, wet fairways and therefore don't get the carry or roll that we would in certain parts of the US.

I'm not ruling out the existence of guys who can bomb it 300 in sub zero temperatures but I've just never seen one in real life.

@Lugowskins how can you hit it that far (assuming you don't hit OB every other drive) and be 18ish handicap?

Just read your other reply. Yeah 275 every now and then is totally normal.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Pete

[Lugowskins]

1 minute ago, bkuehn1952 said:

There are certainly exaggerations, especially when discussing "average" drive distances.  I have witnessed some fairly average golfers hit some very long drives but, again, their "average" drive is nothing to get excited about.

Ultimately, someone can talk all they want to about how far their average drive travels.  The game of golf is about the fewest number of strokes, not the most yardage on a shot.

I am in no way saying I hit 275 every time lol believe me I hit my share of 200 yarders as well generally when I over swing my front shoulder opens up and I hit too low on the club face. I have a friend who is a mountain of a man 6' 4" 260 who when he played a lot was down in the low teens because he doesn't have any touch and his short game is awful but I've seen him hit drives over 350 yards and I've seen him hit drives 150 yards. Let me tell you seeing a drive that far in person is pretty daunting.

Just now, Pete said:

I'm guessing some of it has to do with weather @paininthenuts. We're often playing in low temperatures, wet fairways and therefore don't get the carry or roll that we would in certain parts of the US.

I'm not ruling out the existence of guys who can bomb it 300 in sub zero temperatures but I've just never seen one in real life.

@Lugowskins how can you hit it that far (assuming you don't hit OB every other drive) and be 18ish handicap?

See my other post. And I honestly think I am lower than 18 I don't have an official handicap so far this year I've been shooting in the 39-42 range on our front 9 which in fairness is pretty easy I've only been playing a year so didn't really care to get a handicap last year because I was pretty awful but as soon as I get enough rounds in I'll be sure to update it

[paininthenuts]

I don't think the ability to drive has that much to do with a low handicap although it may help a little. I have a much longer drive than someone I play with, however, because he can use a wood off of the fairway, and I can't, he normally catches me up after the second shot. I am not that convinced either that all low handicappers have long drives either. Far more shots are picked up off of the short game, than the drive. 

[DaveP043]

54 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

For a low handicap, I would put as under 5, should be carrying the ball on average 260 yards or more (150 mph ball speed at 103 mph club head speed).

I don't exactly agree with the "should be" part of this, but I'm sure its a valid average.  I play to 5 or so, but my typical carry on a reasonably well-struck drive is 230 to 240, and I'm one of the shorter hitters in my general handicap group where I play.  Not short in the big world of golfers, but shorter than many players with similar handicaps.  The reason I score as well as I do is that I rarely take penalties, play a lot of second shots from fairways or light rough, get on or near a lot of greens and have a decent game through the bag.  

12 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

I don't think the ability to drive has that much to do with a low handicap although it may help a little. I have a much longer drive than someone I play with, however, because he can use a wood off of the fairway, and I can't, he normally catches me up after the second shot. I am not that convinced either that all low handicappers have long drives either. Far more shots are picked up off of the short game, than the drive. 

The tendency for a better player to hit the ball longer is coupled by the tendency for the better player to hit the ball straighter too.  A better overall swing produces both distance and accuracy.  Add them together, and he's hitting shorter second shots from better locations, and that is definitely a recipe for better scoring.  I'll let others discuss the short game, but we've seen statistical evidence showing that short game and putting are relatively smaller difference-makers than the over all full swing game.  Its the better swing, and the resulting distance AND accuracy, that makes the biggest difference.

[Avalanche]

Given that so many people have distance range finders it seems like most people would know about how far their drives go. I mean, how often do you go out when no one in the group has some sort of device to measure distance?  

I'll bet those same high handicap duffers who claim 270 yard drives also brag about their 9 inch schlongs.  Just sayin.. 

  

[saevel25]

9 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I don't exactly agree with the "should be" part of this, but I'm sure its a valid average.  I play to 5 or so, but my typical carry on a reasonably well-struck drive is 230 to 240, and I'm one of the shorter hitters in my general handicap group where I play.

Yea should be is a bit strong. Maybe just say, on average those who are in the 5 or less handicap rage carry it 260 or more. 

 

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, Volkey said:

Given that so many people have distance range finders it seems like most people would know about how far their drives go. I mean, how often do you go out when no one in the group has some sort of device to measure distance?  

But how often do they turn around and shoot back to the tee?  After reading so many posts about slow play, most people are unaware of anything behind them, especially the players they're holding up.

1 minute ago, saevel25 said:

Yea should be is a bit strong. Maybe just say, on average those who are in the 5 or less handicap rage carry it 260 or more. 

And in my experience, THAT is entirely accurate.

[Avalanche]

Just now, DaveP043 said:

But how often do they turn around and shoot back to the tee?  After reading so many posts about slow play, most people are unaware of anything behind them, especially the players they're holding up.

Yeah, good point for those who play on crowded courses.  I didn't think of that since I mostly play by myself on a course that gets very little use.  I generally have plenty of time to scope distances, play two or three balls in, take an extra shot here and there, etc.  

[Patch]

I play a lot of golf, and I mean a lot of golf. Since January, I have probably logged 30-35 full, 18 hole rounds. There has also been a few 9 hole rounds in there also. My rounds have come from various golf courses. Maybe 8+/- locations. Even at the range, seldom see drives over 250 yards. 

I can say I have seen very few drives from others in the 250+ yard range. Of course I sometimes get grouped up with an occasional 280-300 yard player, but not very often. This also includes the roll after the carry. Several times I have been the long knocker off the tee with my 230 yard drives. 

Of course age has a lot to do wth it. The longer drives I see, are from the younger players, maybe up into their late 30s. I play golf with all age groups. 

I took the time to go on a golf outing with some west coast folks from another golf forum. Before we met up, I took the time to look at their posted golf stats. Only about 10% of those who attended, (25) played like they posted. No big deal. Maybe the other 90% had a bad 3 rounds. Who knows....

[Lugowskins]

Just now, DaveP043 said:

But how often do they turn around and shoot back to the tee?  After reading so many posts about slow play, most people are unaware of anything behind them, especially the players they're holding up.

The GPS app I use you simply select track shot which locks on the position you teed off from then once you get to your ball you hit finish shot and it locks on to that position and gives you a yardage between the two points very simple and doesn't slow up play at all.

[paininthenuts]

11 minutes ago, Patch said:

I play a lot of golf, and I mean a lot of golf. Since January, I have probably logged 30-35 full, 18 hole rounds. There has also been a few 9 hole rounds in there also. My rounds have come from various golf courses. Maybe 8+/- locations. Even at the range, seldom see drives over 250 yards. 

I can say I have seen very few drives from others in the 250+ yard range. Of course I sometimes get grouped up with an occasional 280-300 yard player, but not very often. This also includes the roll after the carry. Several times I have been the long knocker off the tee with my 230 yard drives. 

Of course age has a lot to do wth it. The longer drives I see, are from the younger players, maybe up into their late 30s. I play golf with all age groups. 

I took the time to go on a golf outing with some west coast folks from another golf forum. Before we met up, I took the time to look at their posted golf stats. Only about 10% of those who attended, (25) played like they posted. No big deal. Maybe the other 90% had a bad 3 rounds. Who knows....

I am a really bad golfer, and I feel confident that if we ever met up for a round, I could prove it as well