He's 220 out. He's hitting an 8-iron...

OK...We were discussing this after our round yesterday. It's perplexing how this happens. At least once each weekend you'll see it on tv. Could be Rory, Tiger, whatever... A player will be 220, maybe 230 out and they're hitting a short iron in. What confuses me is that I can't imagine my 8 iron would ever accomplish this shot. The faster it's swung, the higher it goes - basically. Are the pros really delofting their swings or their clubs? Or both? Sorry if this has been whipped like a rotting horse here before, too...

Lots of shaft lean, lots of speed, flushed contact, absurd talent, probably downwind or downhill.

Could also be the yardage to the middle of the green vs the actual pin location which might be on the front of the green. Also an "8 iron" is somewhat meaningless without knowing the actual loft of the club.

Flier lies and downhill can easily do it. Just trying to protect from going over green. Try to fly it 210 with roll out.

Ave. Wrxer. Don't see the big deal.

I can hit my 8 iron 280.

If I hit it twice.

Certainly not a stock 8. Elite talent+flyer lie+downwind+elevated=220 8i. Also worth considering is where the ball lands on a fast Tour greens. Could be carrying 200 and ball rolls 20 yards on the green to the hole

I don't think this is a regular occurrence. 6 iron sure

I've almost never seen 8 iron called from 220-230

Rory was 196 out on that last par 5 and hit 7 iron.

> @Qqq123xx said:

> Ave. Wrxer. Don't see the big deal.

:wink:

Depends on the lie, the target, wind, downhill/uphill, etc. And these guys are elite talents.

As a golf fan, nothing has amazed me more than watching touring pros hit balls on the range during practice sessions and warmups. The sound, the trajectory, the distance...its just amazing.

> @jdl said:

> Rory was 196 out on that last par 5 and hit 7 iron.

That’s more in line with what I would expect given his speed and talent. I lost my mind hitting 7-iron 170 yards, I would play the mini-tours and lose everything I own if I ever hit 196 with a 7-iron.

He choked down in order to not fly the green. Would have done the same.

> @Qqq123xx said:

> Ave. Wrxer. Don't see the big deal.

It’s a 3/4 sandwedge out of a green side bunker at the most. Easy-peasy.

He's hopped up on nutrasweet.

In the crazier circumstances like that it is often a combo of things. First, they are often wrong about clubs in the broadcast, either accidentally or intentionally. I think it was a par 3 at The Valspar last year where they said Tiger hit a 5-iron only to later say 7-iron in a replay. Second, as was mentioned, distances are not always given to the flag, so the landing area they are going for could be dozens of yards shorter. And third, conditions. Any broadcast camera lens not set around 50mm is going to distort the background; elongating it if under 50mm and shortening it if over 50mm, so we often get a wonky perception of both distance and elevation on TV. The wind is obviously a factor as well which we often don't know the direction or strength of. Add all that up and you can easily explain some of the odd numbers.

It's whatever conditions call for. Lexi hit PW downwind from the rough 195 out yesterday on 18. Ball only flew maybe 150-155 and rest was release and roll. Heck of a shot really.

I know a kid who plays D1 college golf. He has tour length. His stock 7iron is 195. It is not a stretch at all to think that, downhill and/or downwind and/or to firm/fast greens he could hit 8i from 230 out. Some guys are crazy long these days.

Yes, agree Lexi played a perfect 2nd shot .. when they said "she is going with PW" i was thinking SERIOUSLY?? obviously she knows her #&*@ and i was glad to see her win

Or got the wrong signal from the caddie.

> @RobertBaron said:

> Certainly not a stock 8. Elite talent+flyer lie+downwind+elevated=220 8i. Also worth considering is where the ball lands on a fast Tour greens. Could be carrying 200 and ball rolls 20 yards on the green to the hole

This.

Would also add, they want to make the pros on TV look highly skilled, so they will only show you when a pro hits 8 iron "220", but not the flip side when they switch wind direction and it's 8 iron "130"

"He's got about 195 yards left, and he's got a, looks like he's got about an 8-iron."

; )

> @GolfChannel said:

> > @jdl said:

> > Rory was 196 out on that last par 5 and hit 7 iron.

>

> That’s more in line with what I would expect given his speed and talent. I lost my mind hitting 7-iron 170 yards, **I would play the mini-tours and lose everything I own if I ever hit 196 with a 7-iron.**

>

length doesn't mean everything. know how i know? i hit my 7i 195 and i play off a plus...but not nearly good enough to play on mini-tours. lol

distance is like flour in a cake recipe for mini tour guys. it's a necessity but, it takes a lot more for it to taste good.

> @TaddNOhio said:

> Yes, agree Lexi played a perfect 2nd shot .. when they said "she is going with PW" i was thinking SERIOUSLY?? obviously she knows her #&*@ and i was glad to see her win

> @"the bishop" said:

> It's whatever conditions call for. Lexi hit PW downwind from the rough 195 out yesterday on 18. Ball only flew maybe 150-155 and rest was release and roll. Heck of a shot really.

According to Lexi post-round she said she was playing for 20-yds of helping wind and wanted to land it 30-yds short. So I think the decision was to hit it 140 with a big swing (due to the rough) and hope that it ended up 190 (which it did).

The amazing thing to me is trusting that the conditions are going to add some 50-yds when your eyes don't see it. To have the guts (especially on the 72nd hole of a tournament you're in contention to win!!) to hit a ball 50-yds short of your intended spot takes incredible guts.

I mean, I've played at elevation where every club was going 20% further. It increased my 6-iron from 180-yds to roughly 215-yds. When you're getting that on every single shot during the week that's one thing but when you have to try and estimate what's going to happen on one particular shot because the wind's blowing...well, to me that's really impressive and given the circumstances!? Wow.

I sometimes use my 8-iron when I'm 240 yards out , but it's called a layup.

In regards to the original topic, I think the wind is a bigger factor than most people realize. The PGA Tour's bigger hitters are hitting the ball farther but they're also hitting the ball a mile in the air, too. The increased hang-time leads to the wind being a bigger factor on their shots. So it's not uncommon for them to play for 20-yds or more of helping wind.

I hit my 30* lofted 8-iron 220 all the time.

Played with a guy the other weekend, former HS 6A golfer, had scholarship for golf, sadly had to decline due to taking care of parents who are both ill.

Not a huge kid, 19 years old, about 6'3" maybe 185, long arms.

Hadn't played in a few months, never saw our course, asked how far a particular Par 3 was, laser says 191, he hit 8 iron pin high about 15 feet right of flag....silly long.

I hit my sand wedge dang near 220, but it's usually when I'm in the green-side bunker.

> @ExTrumpet said:

> I hit my sand wedge dang near 220, but it's usually when I'm in the green-side bunker.

Yeah...me too.