Done chasing distance

I’ve tried and tried to get more distance with me clubs and have had little success. My scores this year have suffered my GIR are way down. I think it’s time to just realize I’m not going on the tour and I’m not going to hit an 8 iron 190 yards. Today I just said screw it clubbed up and my GIR instantly went up and my shots got a ton straighter. I’m just going to focus on short game and putting for once.

> @Jrhemming said:

> I’ve tried and tried to get more distance with me clubs and have had little success. My scores this year have suffered my GIR are way down. I think it’s time to just realize I’m not going on the tour and I’m not going to hit an 8 iron 190 yards. Today I just said screw it clubbed up and my GIR instantly went up and my shots got a ton straighter. I’m just going to focus on short game and putting for once.

I think it is ok to try things off the course to get more distance (work-out, improved technique, etc.), but once you show up to play, I think your approach today is the right one- play and swing within yourself!

Your putter doesn't know or care what club put the ball on the dance floor.

Bulls**t, ull be back. You'll always come back

I couldn't agree more! It seems like I'm always chasing more distance, as everyone with a lower handicap than mine hits the ball further than I do. My best rounds, however, have been the result of swinging "within myself", not focused on distance.

I agree 10000%. When I hit 90% iron shots into greens I am much more likely to place where I want. However, i'm well out of shape for a 37 year old so I know the only way to gain any distance back is in the gym through long term gains in flexibility and strength. I'm not going to chase distance. Just chase some fitness goals through this winter and see what happens.

I play with shorter hitters almost every time I play, and many of them have no problem shooting par or better. Know your distances, hit it straight and work on your chipping and putting.

That being said we're playing on courses 6000-6500. They would struggle on longer courses with serious forced carries. And that brings up the other important factor - play the right tees for your game.

Interesting how they give you more than one club to play with.

Play around the green matters most

How far you hit clubs can also be affected by your perception of what you think your limits are. I’m not a long hitter I’ll typically play a 7 iron between 140 to 150 into the green. However now and then I’ll play 9 holes, intentionally missing greens short by 10 yards by taking less club so I can work on short game shots. Within a couple holes that short miss starts hitting the front of the green. So I’ll take even less club, couple holes later those start creeping onto the front as well. This is without roll the ball is no more than a few feet from the landing mark. I think my brain just wants to focus on the front area of the green and as long as the club isn’t way off it finds a way to get it there. I notice the same phenomenon from say 200 yards out. No I can’t get a 7 iron to the front but a 5, 6 and 7 iron all end up in a 10 yard spread. All hit much further than I would have if the actual green was the target. I’ve pondered this for years , maybe somebody has an explanation?

Instead of spending time chasing distance, why not spend time finding distance?

> @oikos1 said:

> Instead of spending time chasing distance, why not spend time finding distance?

Yoda?

Going for distance will wear your body out sooner than not. I cheat and add woods and hybrids, problem solved.

Ttying to max out a club is always a recipe for disaster. The funny thing is I don't feel like I try to swing hard but last time out with one of my brother's buddies, the guy joked to me, "swing harder" after one of my shots. Apparently, it looks and sounds like I'm trying to kill it but it feels like I'm just trying to put a strong swing on it.

Even if you could swing an 8 iron 180 yards, don't.

Look at all the injury on the professional tour. Have some fun. Because the golf related injury could be life changing !

You don't need brute strength and you don't need to torque up your body to hit the ball far. You need mobility and quickness. Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele aren't that big but they hit it big.

Who hits 8 iron 190?

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> Who hits 8 iron 190?

DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

> @MadGolfer76 said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > Who hits 8 iron 190?

> DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

For me, down hill, down wind, at 5000 feet, after it hits a sprinkler and a dog picks it up and runs another 10 yards.

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> > @MadGolfer76 said:

> > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > Who hits 8 iron 190?

> > DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

>

> For me, down hill, down wind, at 5000 feet, after it hits a sprinkler and a dog picks it up and runs another 10 yards.

>

>

First, to the OP, from another sport, I learned the intent of maximizing speed in practice can contribute to better mechanics and better performance in competition.

Monte, what are your "stock" club distances these days?

I would love to add more distance to my driver but my irons?? Why? Sometimes I think guys here much be playing 9,000 yard courses

> @MadGolfer76 said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > Who hits 8 iron 190?

> DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

Big hitter, The Lama .... (according to an inside source)

> @games said:

> > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > @MadGolfer76 said:

> > > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > > Who hits 8 iron 190?

> > > DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

> >

> > For me, down hill, down wind, at 5000 feet, after it hits a sprinkler and a dog picks it up and runs another 10 yards.

> >

> >

>

> First, to the OP, from another sport, I learned the intent of maximizing speed in practice can contribute to better mechanics and better performance in competition.

>

> Monte, what are your "stock" club distances these days?

8 is 165

DIstance is something to work on like anything iMO. Obviously there's diminishing returns, i mean if you play a 6600yd course there is no need to try to drive the ball 295 if you already drive 280. But its not a coincidence that when i increased my SS by 10mph that i got back down to scratch again (from about 3). If you can play a 410yd par 4 and have 130yds in as oppose to 170yds, i think you will make more birdies. Same as reaching more par 5's.

I think it's a really _hard_ thing to chase. Improving your technique is very challenging obviously, as it doing enough exercises to increase it naturally.

An additional point.

If you improve your swing, you will hit it farther.

If you try and work on hitting it farther, your swing won’t necessarily get better and you’ll often hit it shorter.

> @Jrhemming said:

> I’ve tried and tried to get more distance with me clubs and have had little success. My scores this year have suffered my GIR are way down. I think it’s time to just realize I’m not going on the tour and I’m not going to hit an 8 iron 190 yards. Today I just said screw it clubbed up and my GIR instantly went up and my shots got a ton straighter. I’m just going to focus on short game and putting for once.

Distance comes from both speed and quality strikes... I’ve found I hit the ball farther when I strike it clean. Swinging harder costs me distance.

Figure out how to make clean contact. It’s not hard to add total distance, it’s very hard to add consistent distance.

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> Who hits 8 iron 190?

You would with the callaway epic forged irons.

OP, please hand in your WRX badge, hall pass and lanyard. There is no place for you here any more.

Good for you OP. Swing your swing and seek a help from your local PGA teacher.

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> > @games said:

> > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > > @MadGolfer76 said:

> > > > > @MonteScheinblum said:

> > > > > Who hits 8 iron 190?

> > > > DriverWedge...you...the Lama...

> > >

> > > For me, down hill, down wind, at 5000 feet, after it hits a sprinkler and a dog picks it up and runs another 10 yards.

> > >

> > >

> >

> > First, to the OP, from another sport, I learned the intent of maximizing speed in practice can contribute to better mechanics and better performance in competition.

> >

> > Monte, what are your "stock" club distances these days?

>

> 8 is 165

>

>

You can borrow my 8i then give you a flier lie. I think you could get close with roll.