Driving: distance vs. accuracy ratio

[RacineBoxer]

Is there a way to calculate when the added distance is a negative?

Let's say you average 8 of 14 fairways hit per round and average 270 yards. Would it be a smart driver switch if the change yielded 10 yards less per drive but consistently hit 1 more fairway per round? What about 20 yards longer and missing one more fairway per round?

Are their any calculations or ratio's to help a golfer decide what is the best distance/accuracy combination?

I'm curious because I'm a low ball hitter, and while I can typically rip drives pretty damn good distance wise, I can't help but feel some more loft would give me a higher&straighter ball flight.

[idrive400yards]

My theory is "I'd rather be 50-100 yards out and in the rough, than 150-200 yards out in the fairway, better chances with a wedge than a mid to long iron" We don't play tournament golf where the rough is 2-4in thick, so what the hell...Tee it high and let it fly! And if we play tournament golf, oh well..having the length get's into people's minds.

[Young04]

My theory is "I'd rather be 50-100 yards out and in the rough, than 150-200 yards out in the fairway, better chances with a wedge than a mid to long iron" We don't play tournament golf where the rough is 2-4in thick, so what the hell...Tee it high and let it fly! And if we play tournament golf, oh well..having the length get's into people's minds.

 

uhh, i think i'd rather take that too, but 100 yards difference? so if you go after one, you hit it 300 but when you dial back, you hit it 200? for me, if i go for accuracy, i'll hit it 250ish (carry and roll), but when i step on one, i can go 280. i try to be prudent about when i lay back and go after one.

 

to address the OP's point, i don't think it's wise to hit it one distance every time. if the pay off for hitting longer is not that good (120 or 90 yards), then don't hit it so hard. but if you're at an open par 5, and it's the difference between laying up and going for it in two, swing away. if it's a long par four and it means the difference between a 4 iron and a 7 iron, again, swing away.

 

as to your specific question though, i think it depends on how accurate (or inaccurate) you are and how long (or short) of a hitter you are. if you're pretty accurate anyway, stay with what you have. if you have yards to spare (you drive it 280+) then you can think about sacrificing distance for accuracy.

[idrive400yards]

My theory is "I'd rather be 50-100 yards out and in the rough, than 150-200 yards out in the fairway, better chances with a wedge than a mid to long iron" We don't play tournament golf where the rough is 2-4in thick, so what the hell...Tee it high and let it fly! And if we play tournament golf, oh well..having the length get's into people's minds.

 

uhh, i think i'd rather take that too, but 100 yards difference? so if you go after one, you hit it 300 but when you dial back, you hit it 200? for me, if i go for accuracy, i'll hit it 250ish (carry and roll), but when i step on one, i can go 280. i try to be prudent about when i lay back and go after one.

 

to address the OP's point, i don't think it's wise to hit it one distance every time. if the pay off for hitting longer is not that good (120 or 90 yards), then don't hit it so hard. but if you're at an open par 5, and it's the difference between laying up and going for it in two, swing away. if it's a long par four and it means the difference between a 4 iron and a 7 iron, again, swing away.

 

as to your specific question though, i think it depends on how accurate (or inaccurate) you are and how long (or short) of a hitter you are. if you're pretty accurate anyway, stay with what you have. if you have yards to spare (you drive it 280+) then you can think about sacrificing distance for accuracy.

 

 

I never said anything about dialing back, you misunderstood what I said. First, I'm alot longer than 300 when going after it, and second, as I am 100 yards or less into a hole we are playing on, my playing partners are 150 to 200 yards out(depending on the length of the hole) for example: hole 465 yards, my drive is 345-390 yards(yes I do hit it that long, longdrive competitor and have only one speed when swinging the driver) my distance left to hole is 70 to 125 out, so wedge time. whereas my playing partners drive is 245-265 or even 280 he has to hit a mid or long iron to the green. That's where length comes into play. by the way my 7 iron goes 200 yards.

[RacineBoxer]

400 yards, I wish I had your distance but I don't, and I can't see myself playing the same style of golf you do.

 

Lighter, thanks for the comments. I hit the driver pretty much the same way all the time and I'm not sure if I have time to practice the dialed down swing. I try to put a consistent hard (not killing it) swing everytime and hit it straight with a fade. I never work the driver right to left or excessively left to right. If I need to dial it back I hit 3 wood which I can typically take 245-255 no prob.

 

What I'm really debating is 9.5 or 10.5 in my next driver. I've played 9.5 for about 5-6 years but I'm wondering if the 10.5 would give me a smidge more accuracy, but sacrifice a little distance on shots that have a higher than ideal trajectory. I have tested them both on the launch monitor at golf galaxy but I'm not sold on the accuracy.

[maskedman]

Hmm....to my way of thinking, one's chances of a good lie from the fairway are pretty good, while the chance's of a good lie from the rough are...unpredictable. I'll take a shorter, more accurate drive if it leaves me in the short stuff. I know I'll have better control over my approach shot, even if it turns out to be a lay up. :drinks:

[Merlin_T]

400 yards, I wish I had your distance but I don't, and I can't see myself playing the same style of golf you do.

 

Lighter, thanks for the comments. I hit the driver pretty much the same way all the time and I'm not sure if I have time to practice the dialed down swing. I try to put a consistent hard (not killing it) swing everytime and hit it straight with a fade. I never work the driver right to left or excessively left to right. If I need to dial it back I hit 3 wood which I can typically take 245-255 no prob.

 

What I'm really debating is 9.5 or 10.5 in my next driver. I've played 9.5 for about 5-6 years but I'm wondering if the 10.5 would give me a smidge more accuracy, but sacrifice a little distance on shots that have a higher than ideal trajectory. I have tested them both on the launch monitor at golf galaxy but I'm not sold on the accuracy.

 

Maybe it'll help you in your decision:

 

http://golf.advance.net/instruction/index....200311loft.html

[idrive400yards]

7 iron 200 yards? that's weak

9 iron 220 for me...avg drive 420 yards..want to have a ld contest?

 

 

Sure, why not. Come on down to my LD event on Sept 8th and have a chance to measure your distance against the longest hitters in the world.

[idrive400yards]

400 yards, I wish I had your distance but I don't, and I can't see myself playing the same style of golf you do.

 

Lighter, thanks for the comments. I hit the driver pretty much the same way all the time and I'm not sure if I have time to practice the dialed down swing. I try to put a consistent hard (not killing it) swing everytime and hit it straight with a fade. I never work the driver right to left or excessively left to right. If I need to dial it back I hit 3 wood which I can typically take 245-255 no prob.

 

What I'm really debating is 9.5 or 10.5 in my next driver. I've played 9.5 for about 5-6 years but I'm wondering if the 10.5 would give me a smidge more accuracy, but sacrifice a little distance on shots that have a higher than ideal trajectory. I have tested them both on the launch monitor at golf galaxy but I'm not sold on the accuracy.

 

 

Forget about the launch monitors at golf galaxy, go see a PCS class "A" clubfitter, he will give you the information you need to decide which way to go in terms of loft on the driver, shaft flex of the shaft, torque ratings, grip size, shaft length, etc. This will give you the ideal trajectory and distance that "we" all crave.

 

Mike

[Young04]

My theory is "I'd rather be 50-100 yards out and in the rough, than 150-200 yards out in the fairway, better chances with a wedge than a mid to long iron" We don't play tournament golf where the rough is 2-4in thick, so what the hell...Tee it high and let it fly! And if we play tournament golf, oh well..having the length get's into people's minds.

 

uhh, i think i'd rather take that too, but 100 yards difference? so if you go after one, you hit it 300 but when you dial back, you hit it 200? for me, if i go for accuracy, i'll hit it 250ish (carry and roll), but when i step on one, i can go 280. i try to be prudent about when i lay back and go after one.

 

to address the OP's point, i don't think it's wise to hit it one distance every time. if the pay off for hitting longer is not that good (120 or 90 yards), then don't hit it so hard. but if you're at an open par 5, and it's the difference between laying up and going for it in two, swing away. if it's a long par four and it means the difference between a 4 iron and a 7 iron, again, swing away.

 

as to your specific question though, i think it depends on how accurate (or inaccurate) you are and how long (or short) of a hitter you are. if you're pretty accurate anyway, stay with what you have. if you have yards to spare (you drive it 280+) then you can think about sacrificing distance for accuracy.

 

 

I never said anything about dialing back, you misunderstood what I said. First, I'm alot longer than 300 when going after it, and second, as I am 100 yards or less into a hole we are playing on, my playing partners are 150 to 200 yards out(depending on the length of the hole) for example: hole 465 yards, my drive is 345-390 yards(yes I do hit it that long, longdrive competitor and have only one speed when swinging the driver) my distance left to hole is 70 to 125 out, so wedge time. whereas my playing partners drive is 245-265 or even 280 he has to hit a mid or long iron to the green. That's where length comes into play. by the way my 7 iron goes 200 yards.

 

i didn't misread your post on its face, because you said you'd rather be further up the hole, to the OP's question of what an INDIVIDUAL should do about his own driving distance v. accuracy. he didn't ask whether he should make that choice in relation to his playing partners. your statement that you'd rather be 50-100 yards out in the rough, than 150-200 in the fairway is stating the obvious. of course i'd take your drive over your friend's. that simply doesn't address the OP's question about what he should do about his OWN, INDIVIDUAL driver. it is nice that you can outdrive your friend, though.

 

by reading your signature, i readily learned that you drive the ball way past the 300 mark, i meant "you" in the general sense.