So what's the truth about LPGA Driving Distance?

[tsecor]

chicks rule, boys drool

[SurfDuffer]

I play in an LPGA Pro-Am every year going back for quite a few years. The highest ranked player I've played with was 11th in the world at the time. I've played with Nicole Hage in 2010 when she was near the top on the LPGA for driving distance. I've been in the group behind Lexi Thompson for 18 holes with two groups on every hole so I've seen her up close. I've spent hours watching on the range while they practice. In total I've probably played with about 20 Tour players over the years, a bunch of Symetra tour players and a couple of female Big Break Alum. The range of driver distances I've seen range from as little as 230 to about 275 in actual distance carry and roll. Playing scramble golf, Nicole Hage could swing out of her shoes and hit it perhaps 290 with roll. Lexi can probably step on one and get it to go 300 with roll out if she catches it perfect. I've seen Lexi cut the corner on a dogleg par five and put herself within iron distance from the big boy tees.

 

What these girls lack in power they tend to make up with accuracy and perfectly fitted equipment. I played with Katie Futcher one year and she only flew her driver about the distance that I hit a 3-iron but her trajectory was absolutely perfect every single swing and she would get roll out like the ball was landing with top spin. What's more, she hit the shiny side of the fairway on purpose every hole to maximize her roll. She was never out of position. Her swing at the time was very similar to Annika Sorenstam with less power. She would be hitting a fairway wood where I was hitting a 6-iron but she'd get inside of me every time.

 

That's been my experience. The Shoperite is coming up in a couple weeks and I'll be out there again both days.