jp1979

If you take an average roll of 20 yards (some rolls can be up to 100 yards if severly downhill), the average carry for the PGA tour over the past few years was about 260 yards. Surely all these people on this board can't be out-carrying the PGA tour professionals?

Similar to the 100 thread but maybe a score that is more fresh in people's head as to when they broke it first! It took me between 2-3 years of playing only 2 courses in total (twice a month between may and september).

Driver= 230 3-wood= 220 5-hybrid= 190 5 iron= 180 6 iron= 165 7 iron= 150 8 iron= 130 9 iron= 115 PW= 100 SW= ? (never hit a full shot with it!) Measured on soccer pitches and using Google maps!

Actually for me it was just the opposite. I already had quite a good touch around the greens but my problem was length. Particularly off the tee. I was hitting it 180-190 but now I hit it 210-220 and I see a world of difference in my game! I am now taking shorter iron approaches to the green instead of long irons or woods and I was quite good with these short irons already.

Or even come close? I nearly did yesterday at Deerpark, Ireland where it was slightly downhill with a firm breeze behind me. I hit it 285 with about a 45 yard chip to the pin.

Shot a +16 yesterday at Deerpark, Ireland. Sorry, can't remember the total par-age of the course but I could work it out.... I am happy enough with that score considering my handicap of 18

Not really. Most people can par at least 3-4 holes on a round but often take double bogeys just as easy if not easier. This tends to result in a round of at least 90 (and usually more). (I know, I know...I've read your disclaimer!)

The main variable is clubhead speed (assuming good contact) so you have to figure out what affects clubhead speed most? Weight transfer? Strength? Timing?

Does anybody know when anybody switched to graphite shafts (except Nicklaus cos I know he was one of the first)?

U see I don't think that is the case. I don't think graphite shafts were dominant in 1990 nevermind 1983. I'm pretty sure that in 1983 at least 98% of drivers had steel shafts and the remaining 2% were made up of prototype composites (graphite, carbon fibre) and maybe even hickory! It seems to me that golfers switched to graphite on the PGA tour some time in the mid to late nineties but I cannot confirm this cos there's no information anywhere. I know that the senior tour were using them much earlier if this is what you mean? If anybody could tell me when Ernie, Vijay, Phil or Davis-Love switched to graphite, that might be a start.

Can anybody tell me when PGA tour players started using graphite in their shafts (Drivers F/W woods)? I know Tiger only switched over in 2004 but I have no information on any other player at all. If anybody knows when any individual switched then great. If anybody knows any group statistics regarding this, even better. e.g. How long have Ernie and Phil been using graphite drivers?

I thought that the heaviest graphite shafts were about 80g and the lightest steel between 90 and 100g? I'm pretty sure all graphite shafts will be lighter than steel.

Howson steel shafted driver

I'm not sure precisely but I have selected less than 200 yards as my total drive would be about 210 yards