Leona Maguire Distance Increase?

[gvogel]

I just heard that she has gained a significant amount of distance this year.  How did she do it?

[Argonne69]

Like many of the players, I have to assume it's a combination of improved fitness, equipment changes, a swing tweak, and a little help from the firm course conditions they've been playing on. She's currently averaging 260 yds. Last year she was only averaging 243 yds. 

 

It's also possible she is simply swinging harder. Her accuracy has dropped from 81.3% last year to 76.8% this year. 

 

I'd say the firm playing conditions are the biggest factor. We've seen a number of big increases by players this season. Brooke has gained 11 yds this season. Hannah has picked up 15 yds.

 

[Stooch]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Like many of the players, I have to assume it's a combination of improved fitness, equipment changes, a swing tweak, and a little help from the firm course conditions they've been playing on. She's currently averaging 260 yds. Last year she was only averaging 243 yds. 

 

It's also possible she is simply swinging harder. Her accuracy has dropped from 81.3% last year to 76.8% this year. 

 

I'd say the firm playing conditions are the biggest factor. We've seen a number of big increases by players this season. Brooke has gained 11 yds this season. Hannah has picked up 15 yds.

 

Also, something not really considered with only 2 measuring holes per round as a player you can literally for whatever have a really good or bad year hitting fairways on the measuring holes lol  Sure it should even out but I don't think it's like flipping a coin,  Take Brooke, I think she was 15 for 26 in fairways this week but hit all 4 measuring holes to end at 299 but in the 2nd round at the US Open she average 238 missing both.

 

But your are right conditions do seem firmer everywhere, don't recall the last time we saw an event where the balls stop dead on the fairways (maybe Thailand?) and perhaps the extra distance with players is carry distance and rollout and not a bunch of events with soggy fairways that basically measure the carry distance.

[KBong]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

I'd say the firm playing conditions are the biggest factor. 

 

This....

[Argonne69]

Strange thing is that a number of players have basically stayed the same as last year. If firm conditions are creating larger gains, you'd expect to see it across the board. 

 

[dbleag]

Cheerios or spinach?

[Rapidcat]

A change in her driver coupled with lots of gym work.

 

She's sure muscled up since her amateur days.

Edited August 5, 2021 by Rapidcat

[TiScape]

On 6/19/2021 at 8:23 AM, gvogel said:

I just heard that she has gained a significant amount of distance this year.  How did she do it?

CNS/speed training could very well be part of it. 

[Rapidcat]

47 minutes ago, TiScape said:

CNS/speed training could very well be part of it. 

She says it is from a new Ping driver and an extensive gym regimen incl 4 days a week during non tourny weeks, 3 days during tourny weeks. Lots of Bulgarian squats.

 

She also doesn't hold back on her driver and fairways, driver SS seems now around low to mid 140's.

 

If anyone is interested, here is a swing analysis of her. @Argonne69 you may be interested re her swing balance and @KBong you'll love it because the analyser is your favourite Canadian golfer Mike Weir's ex-coach 🤣 

 

[grm24]

10 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

She says it is from a new Ping driver and an extensive gym regimen incl 4 days a week during non tourny weeks, 3 days during tourny weeks. Lots of Bulgarian squats.

 

She also doesn't hold back on her driver and fairways, driver SS seems now around low to mid 140's.

No. SS = swing speed. Her driver swing speed in MPH is in no way faster than BDC, Cam Champ, DJ, etc. on the PGA Tour. Did you mean to quote her ball speed? If so even that would be off.

 

Huge difference between swing speed and ball speed. Highest recorded swing speed on the PGA Tour this season is by BDC at 138.39/mph. 132+/mph average on recorded tee shots.

Edited August 13, 2021 by grm24

[Rapidcat]

4 minutes ago, grm24 said:

No. SS = swing speed. Her driver swing speed in MPH is in no way faster than BDC, Cam Champ, DJ, etc. on the PGA Tour. Did you mean to quote her ball speed? If so even that would be off.

 

Huge difference between swing speed and ball speed. Highest recorded swing speed on the PGA Tour this season is by BDC at 138.39/mph. 132+/mph average on recorded tee shots.

You are correct, my bad, I meant ball speed, I do know the difference despite my posting error. One of her drives in Scottish open R1 yesterday was 144mph according to the coverage graphics.

[TiScape]

36 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

She says it is from a new Ping driver and an extensive gym regimen incl 4 days a week during non tourny weeks, 3 days during tourny weeks. Lots of Bulgarian squats.

 

She also doesn't hold back on her driver and fairways, driver SS  seems now around mid 140’s.

 

If anyone is interested, here is a swing analysis of her. @Argonne69 you may be interested re her swing balance and @KBong you'll love it because the analyser is your favourite Canadian golfer Mike Weir's ex-coach 🤣 

 

No possible way is her SS even close to mid 140s. Rory Mcilroy’s SS is around 123.

 

*saw you caught your error. It’s mid 140s ball speed. 

Edited August 13, 2021 by TiScape

[Rapidcat]

Golly, remind me never to make an error in this place. I promise I'll concentrate more when typing my reply.

 

I'll just go and put my dunce's cap on and sit in the naughty corner.

[Argonne69]

Ball speed of 145 doesn't sound right, either. That's a swing swing in the mid 90's.

 

 

[Rapidcat]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Ball speed of 145 doesn't sound right, either. That's a swing swing in the mid 90's.

 

 

https://golf.com/instruction/driving/this-is-how-far-pga-and-lpga-tour-players-hit-it-with-every-club/

 

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

https://golf.com/instruction/driving/this-is-how-far-pga-and-lpga-tour-players-hit-it-with-every-club/

 

 

That chart is way out of date. It first appeared as early as 2012, and has been circulating as "new" since then. An LPGA pro does not hit a pitching wedge 107 yards. 

 

http://getyourgolffix.blogspot.com/2012/07/pga-lpga-tour-averages.html?m=1

 

Edited August 13, 2021 by Argonne69

[KBong]

In a few Golftown sims.....when I was generating my better strikes and swings on my top end.... I was able to get up to a 145 ball speed and with 1.48 smash factor (I think the sims were programmed with a fixed smash factor)...it would result in a near 98 mph SS.

 

I would obtain carries around 235 yards with these good strikes...with totals that generally ranged from 252-262.

 

Leona in 2021 has a 258 driving average....87th...so she's around the mean of all LPGA pros.

 

I don't know much about Leona.....she has a good GIR at 23rd...and she's a good putter with 4th and 18th in putts per GIR and putting average, respectively.

[KBong]

11 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

That chart is way out of date. It first appeared as early as 2012, and has been circulating as "new" since then. An LPGA pro does not hit a pitching wedge 107 yards. 

 

http://getyourgolffix.blogspot.com/2012/07/pga-lpga-tour-averages.html?m=1

 

Ya...when I 1st looked at the numbers they looked low...so 2012 makes sense.

 

Those are Mo Martin type numbers and not the average of the LPGA tour nowadays.

[KBong]

9 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

She says it is from a new Ping driver and an extensive gym regimen incl 4 days a week during non tourny weeks, 3 days during tourny weeks. Lots of Bulgarian squats.

 

She also doesn't hold back on her driver and fairways, driver SS seems now around low to mid 140's.

 

If anyone is interested, here is a swing analysis of her. @Argonne69 you may be interested re her swing balance and @KBong you'll love it because the analyser is your favourite Canadian golfer Mike Weir's ex-coach 🤣 

 

I can't stand Weir....it's sad how many Canadians like him just because he's a Canuck.

I'm also neutral on Brooke.

Golf is basically an individual sport...so I like to root for pros based on individuality vs. nationality.

[Rapidcat]

20 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

That chart is way out of date. It first appeared as early as 2012, and has been circulating as "new" since then. An LPGA pro does not hit a pitching wedge 107 yards. 

 

http://getyourgolffix.blogspot.com/2012/07/pga-lpga-tour-averages.html?m=1

 

 

I love this subject, notwithstanding that my error of stating SS as BS in my initial post seems to have relegated my further contributions to BS. Oh well, my bad.

 

Fair enough, the article I quoted was from 2019, looks like it referenced older data. I'm disappointed that a 2019 article from golf.com would reference out of date data if it wasn't relevant...maybe it is still relevant?  Lets see, maybe there are two issues:

 

1. The accuracy of the data/calcs

2. Is it representative of LPGA (and LET?) Tour players today.

 

Firstly, your comment:

Ball speed of 145 doesn't sound right, either. That's a swing swing in the mid 90's.

 

Well, a ball speed of 145mph is above a mid 90's SS.

 

Swing speed of 94 mph gets you a ball speed of 140 mph that coupled with an elite smash factor of 1.48 as referenced below gets you:

 

 

Swing speed, ball speed, carry distance is simply a calc, the data is still relevant from whenever. What the LPGA or whatever averages were in 2012 are irrelevant to that calc, it is tour and time agnostic, it is just a calc based on data. Sure, their distances can increase but the calc to get those distances doesn't change, it just means their ss and bs has increased due to whatever factors - fitness, swing mechanics or whatever.

 

As you can see, this is just carry distance, if we add 15% run that gets a total distance of 250.7 yards. If you don't like 15%, if we go with 10% that drops the total distance to 239.8 yards. No doubt this is low for 2021 but is it really? More to come on that, and I will be seeking input from those that go to events and see the reality after I do some further calcs.

 

So Leona will be a little above that at somewhere mid 140's mph BS which will get her up to mid/high 250 yards total distance at 15% run, seems about right.

 

Now, my 2nd item, how representative is the Tour driver distance stats to what an LPGA Tour player really achieves?

 

I'll do a separate post in the future on this as it is extensive....with covid shortening the season it isn't difficult to realise that the statistical variance has widened as the data referenced is less in volume.

 

Lastly, just so you know - I love watching women's golf, I'm not on a mission to belittle it based on distance. Love watching it even more than most of the men's.

 

I have an 18 yo daughter and want her to conquer the world with no barriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rapidcat]

1 hour ago, KBong said:

I can't stand Weir....it's sad how many Canadians like him just because he's a Canuck.

I'm also neutral on Brooke.

Golf is basically an individual sport...so I like to root for pros based on individuality vs. nationality.

Actually, I don't dislike Brooke, just that mind-numbing continual referencing of her and her sister.

 

Canadians and Aussies usually get on fine, too...half your snow resort staff seems to be Aussies. Going to Whistler I was dismayed to have an Aussie dog sled driver from Brisbane (she was lovely, though).

[KBong]

34 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

Now, my 2nd item, how representative is the Tour driver distance stats to what an LPGA Tour player really achieves?

 

I don't put much credence into the driving stats.

It's doesn't necessarily illustrate the 'true' power of a pro when the really want to unleash one.

 

Besides....many long hitters don't have the overall all game to consistently contend or win.

[KBong]

33 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

Canadians and Aussies usually get on fine, too...half your snow resort staff seems to be Aussies. Going to Whistler I was dismayed to have an Aussie dog sled driver from Brisbane (she was lovely, though).

yup...lots of seasonal Aussie workers in Whistler.

 

FYI...skiing is so expensive nowadays...if you walk up to the ski ticket window at Whistler....it's nearly $200 with tax for a day's lift ticket...WTH.

[KBong]

FWIW

If there was an LD contest on the LPGA....I think Ariya would win....Fassi 2nd.

Ya only need one in the grid to win.

 

But we'll never know....no LPGA pro would want to participate and hit in full throttle in fear of an injury.

[Rapidcat]

5 minutes ago, KBong said:

yup...lots of seasonal Aussie workers in Whistler.

 

FYI...skiing is so expensive nowadays...if you walk up to the ski ticket window at Whistler....it's nearly $200 with tax for a day's lift ticket...WTH.

Yep, luckily when I went it was on the tab of my then corporate employer. Beside the skiing, the apres ski was just wow.

 

It ruined me for anything in Australia though, your skiiing is 10 times better than any of our stuff. Luckily NZ is close.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2021 by Rapidcat

[Rapidcat]

6 minutes ago, KBong said:

FWIW

If there was an LD contest on the LPGA....I think Ariya would win....Fassi 2nd.

Ya only need one in the grid to win.

 

But we'll never know....no LPGA pro would want to participate and hit in full throttle in fear of an injury.

You are a stirrer...Ariya? #73 on the LPGA long driving stats?

 

Oh, I get it, maybe because she doesn't game a driver but supposedly bombs it in practice?

 

Or because the stats are BS? 

[KBong]

Just now, Rapidcat said:

Yep, luckily when I went it was on the tab of my then corporate employer. Beside the skiing, the apres ski was just wow.

 

It ruined me for anything in Australia though, your skiiing is 10 times better than of our stuff. Luckily NZ is close.

 

Yup...I've been on many corporate/biz meetings/shindigs for skiing and golf too...and yes...the apres skiing is great and convenient in the village.

 

I'm also fortunate my good friend from HS has a great house up there....and have stayed with him many many times when not shilling on company biz.

 

The snow at Whistler isn't the greatest....."Whistler cement"....the better champagne snow is in the BC interior.

 

I have 3 local ski hills all within 10-15 mins from me.

 

One can ski, golf and play tennis on the same day from Dec-Mar here.

[Rapidcat]

1 minute ago, KBong said:

Yup...I've been on many corporate/biz meetings/shindigs for skiing and golf too...and yes...the apres skiing is great and convenient in the village.

 

I'm also fortunate my good friend from HS has a great house up there....and have stayed with him many many times when not shilling on company biz.

 

The snow at Whistler isn't the greatest....."Whistler cement"....the better champagne snow is in the BC interior.

 

I have 3 local ski hills all within 10-15 mins from me.

 

One can ski, golf and play tennis on the same day from Dec-Mar here.

I now hate you

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

You are a stirrer...Ariya? #73 on the LPGA long driving stats?

 

Oh, I get it, maybe because she doesn't game a driver but supposedly bombs it in practice?

 

Or because the stats are BS? 

 

Ariya is a bomber. She hits her driving iron 260+. I've seen her hit 3 wood nearly 300.

 

[Argonne69]

I think 15% rollout is overly generous. Sure, there are a few firm courses where they may get 30 yards of roll, but I've seen plenty of drives that get no more than 10 yds. I'd say 10% is a good average, so with the median driving distance of 255 we're looking at just under 235 carry.

 

We had a discussion a week or so ago about the limitations of using only 2 holes for driving average, and it seems that it's fairly accurate given that the typical player hits nearly 70% of their fairway. The actual average over 14 holes may be 5 yds off. I've stood on numerous measuring holes at the tournaments I've attended and the yardages are correct based on my SkyCaddie.

 

Edited August 13, 2021 by Argonne69