How rollout skews driving distance on tour .

Watching the Players as I type this . The wet conditions have the average driving distance today at 262 yards down 45 yards from rest of the tournament! Basically all carry , no rollout. All the debate about guys hitting it too far ...yet these numbers seem far from what would be considered super long .

Those guys carry 3 wood off the deck that far at ease. Today's numbers don't do a service to the potential discussion.

Does that 262 number include all shots off the tee (maybe excluding par 3s)? That might be counting a lot of 3 woods or irons off the tee which will skew the average lower.

Also it’s like 50 degrees and blustery today which will lower numbers as well.

The average on tour last year was 295 yards total . Majority of guys are not carrying it much more than 270 in reality . There are a lot of tournaments in the summer where you see 40 yards + of rollout .

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

Back in the day, tour courses wanted to look good on tv, so they watered their grass, and fairways were cut with gang mowers set to 1/2 inch. Vast difference. Although, only the last three holes were seen, so maybe the other fifteen were burned out.

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

I noticed same thing in Riviera.

given wind and moisture in the air, pros played in same weather condition as normal guys here in So. Cal.

Yards they played that week seemed more relatable.

I saw Phil hit a 2 iron 294 nearly on a par 4 green this week. And it didn’t roll much. They hit it far.

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

Not that he needs it, but I can validate the rollout observation. I, too, was a member at a TPC course hosting a Tour event. Fast, firm fairways was the set up.

I have been saying this for ages. Total distance is meaningless. These guys tend to play in conditions where it is 80 plus degrees with firm fairways. When you put them at 60 degrees and soft fairways then their distances come way down. Yes, there are still some bombers, but 300 yard carry at sea level in the cold is very rare.

I would note however that correspondingly us ams would also see the same drop off!

I noticed same thing in Riviera.

given wind and moisture in the air, pros played in same weather condition as normal guys here in So. Cal.

Yards they played that week seemed more relatable.

Cameron Champ averaged 273.5 there missing the cut. That's 43 yards shorter than his season average!

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

 

Not that he needs it, but I can validate the rollout observation. I, too, was a member at a TPC course hosting a Tour event. Fast, firm fairways was the set up.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/watch-european-ryder-cup-star-thomas-pieters-drive-a-407-yard-hole-at-the-dunhill-links

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

 

Not that he needs it, but I can validate the rollout observation. I, too, was a member at a TPC course hosting a Tour event. Fast, firm fairways was the set up.

In 2016 Thomas Pieters drove the 407 yard 7th hole at Carnoustie during the Dunhill event in the fall. Carried it around 300 and the firm fairway did the rest. Video of tee shot linked in the article below. While it's a links course a 100 yard roll out is just crazy.

 

https://www.golfdige...e-dunhill-links

I've hit over a 660 yard par 5 in two 3 woods, and had driver, 3 wood wedge into a 420 yard par 4 in the same round

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

I dont think that factors in the human element. Swing speed will be way down once you layer up and arnt loose and warm. If they had a robot swing at 100 mph in both temps i can see it not being that different. Assuming the starting temp of ball was the same.

Rose and Maruyama were both carrying 3 woods 290--in one instance from a bunker--at the Farmers. Conditions definitely make a difference. Warm & dry vs cool and raining will bear out varying results.

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

Very true if a robot is hitting the ball. However, taking into account the bundling of layers and stiff muscles in cold weather creates a greater disparity.

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

I dont think that factors in the human element. Swing speed will be way down once you layer up and arnt loose and warm. If they had a robot swing at 100 mph in both temps i can see it not being that different. Assuming the starting temp of ball was the same.

This article seems to suggest that 40 and 70 degrees will equate to 6 yards distance loss:

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/cold-facts-about-golf-balls

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

I saw Phil hit a 2 iron 294 nearly on a par 4 green this week. And it didnt roll much. They hit it far.

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

I dont think that factors in the human element. Swing speed will be way down once you layer up and arnt loose and warm. If they had a robot swing at 100 mph in both temps i can see it not being that different. Assuming the starting temp of ball was the same.

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

go check out dean Snell on YouTube. I'll take his expertise and word ALL DAY . The BALL is not 40 degrees when you hit it . Yes if you hit a 40 degree ball , at 40 degree temps , big loss .

 

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

I played TPC Boston a few years ago ...I was shocked how fast the fairways were .

How's the ball not 40 degrees if its 40 degrees outside? I believe warming your ball would be illegal? So basically if I tuck the ball under my sack and walk between tee boxes I won't see a noticeable difference in yardage off the tee, but then I would on a second shot as the ball would cool down?

Sawgrass is a tough driving course. Many players were using irons, hybrids, and fairway woods off the tee. Had they been using driver, the number would go up 20 yards. 

Wish they just gAve carry only 

jmkenn0 said:

J2putts wrote:

jmkenn0 wrote:

J2putts wrote:

Golfnutgalen wrote:

Average carry distance on tour is about 280, total distance 295. The distances today have more to do with the cold and wind than the roll out. I mean Tiger Woods hit his final drive of the day 269 total and yes, that was with a driver!

I understand that...but you cant argue that pga guys generally play courses with faster fairways , equaling more rollout than we would see on most courses the average joe plays . Yes it's cool...but the temperature effect on distance is proven to be vastly overestimated. It's basically a yard lost for every 10 degrees in temp variation .

 

 

 

So there is only a 5 yard difference between 90 degrees and 40 degrees? Source please?

wfrogge1 wrote:

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

How's the ball not 40 degrees if its 40 degrees outside? I believe warming your ball would be illegal? So basically if I tuck the ball under my sack and walk between tee boxes I won't see a noticeable difference in yardage off the tee, but then I would on a second shot as the ball would cool down?Just having the ball in your hand, pocket, etc is going to keep the ball warmer. Not body temp by any means, but it's not going to be the ambient temp. It's also not like these guys are storing their balls in the trunk of their car since they have lockers at the venues that they are playing. I have to assume that locker room isn't 40 degrees either. The caddies also carry the extra balls in their pouch, so they have some ambient body heat that will keep them from getting all the way down to the outside temp. 

Broessner71 said:

Wish they just gAve carry only 

It would certainly be interesting to see the carry numbers, but I would have to guess the Tour enjoys being able to say that these guys are driving it 300 plus because of the roll that they are getting. I'm now wondering if there is somewhere that you can find just the carry numbers... off to the Google machine I go. 

grm24 said:

DLBTide7 wrote:

wfrogge1 wrote:

 

If you have never played on a PGA tournament course a week or so before competition you have no idea. The ball literally lands on a trampoline and roll out is crazy. Source, was member of a TPC course that hosts a PGA event.

 

 

 

Not that he needs it, but I can validate the rollout observation. I, too, was a member at a TPC course hosting a Tour event. Fast, firm fairways was the set up.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/watch-european-ryder-cup-star-thomas-pieters-drive-a-407-yard-hole-at-the-dunhill-linksThat was hard down wind as well. Was not just the firm fairway.

Very interesting to think about, even if it’s only partially true... makes me not for SO bad (short).