Best ball flight for seniors?

[geesecougar2]

Is there a best ball flight, generally, for people as they age? One that is easier to execute for older bodies? Or dumb question? 

 

I'm in my late 30's, and I am really starting to notice my body not acting the way it used to. I swing slower every year (still in the low teens), I get stiffer in cold weather, I can't do as many consecutive days of golf, when I walk I'm beat by the end. I work out (cardio, weights, stretching, interval training, etc.) and am in shape, but I don't see the long term trend stopping. If I can't hit solid, pretty shots, I'd probably stop playing golf. 

 

I've been a drawer most of my life, but I've gotten to low single digits the last few years by playing a power fade. I'm wondering if I should start thinking about moving back to a draw for the long haul. 

Edited July 26, 2021 by geesecougar2

[JeffreySpicoli]

You're in your late 30s and you consider your physical condition to be "senior" and you have various physical complaints?

 

If so, go see your physician.

[mark m]

Based on my experience things have changed a bit. Back 20 years ago most good players at the am level were playing a draw. Especially the good seniors. But the ball spun and curved more. I would say the preference is still a slight draw but with less curve due to modern clubs and balls. Only a few purposely play a slight fade on most shots. Overall, a pretty straight shot is what is played. (Same on tour based on watching the ball flights on tv.)
 

As I am sure you know, you don’t want the slice or big draw. Especially as you lose distance with age - as this will make it hard to control carries and overall distances on approach shots. Work on solid and straight as you can get. Perhaps with a very slight curve bias either way. 

[sekrah]

Yikes.. I'll be 39 this week and I'm definitely starting to feel more achy than I used to and I'm definitely a good 30-40 pounds overweight, but I still still walk 18 with a bag on my shoulders without being a lump of poo when I get home..  Certainly not time for the yellow tees yet, lol.

 

 

[Nickc]

2 hours ago, geesecougar2 said:

 

I'm in my late 30's, and I am really starting to notice my body not acting the way it used to. I swing slower every year 

Obviously time for senior flex SGI irons ..at your age your best golfing days are long gone.

[geesecougar2]

Lol. Don't get me wrong I am still young but I'm just wondering, is it a "thing" that a power fade takes more athleticism than a tight draw, or anything along those lines? Will my ability to hit a fade with power diminish over time? 

 

Just trying to think long term here!

[miamistomp]

 Just become a CEO and you will still go yard with the young bucks

[Krt22]

2 hours ago, geesecougar2 said:

Lol. Don't get me wrong I am still young but I'm just wondering, is it a "thing" that a power fade takes more athleticism than a tight draw, or anything along those lines? Will my ability to hit a fade with power diminish over time? 

 

Just trying to think long term here!

Which club are we talking about? Assuming you have a semi neutral-ish swing direction, longer clubs will be easier to fade (driver in particular) and shorter clubs will be easier to draw due to AoA and ball position. This might not really be a draw/fade question and more related to your swing. You likely had some flaws that made the draw less consistent (ie bigger two way miss) and the adjustments you made to hit a fade were compensations stacked on top of these flaws. So as you lose some strength and flexibility, they get harder to reproduce.

[JeffreySpicoli]

3 hours ago, geesecougar2 said:

Lol. Don't get me wrong I am still young but I'm just wondering, is it a "thing" that a power fade takes more athleticism than a tight draw, or anything along those lines? Will my ability to hit a fade with power diminish over time? 

 

Just trying to think long term here!

It’s a bit difficult to empathize with someone that lays claim to senior aging when they’ve never had colonoscopies and they have no experience with an aging prostate.

[tthomasgolfer605]

It's never too soon to take up speed knitting. 

[naj959]

Guy still swings "in the low teens". I think he'll be alright for a decade or so before  he needs to worry about what flight is optimal as a senior haha.

[Ghostwedge]

 lll bite.....

Ben Hogan said optimum ball flight height was 90 ft. for all clubs.

 

[DaveGoodrich]

9 hours ago, geesecougar2 said:

I swing slower every year (still in the low teens),

 

9 hours ago, geesecougar2 said:

If I can't hit solid, pretty shots, I'd probably stop playing golf. 

 

You can hit solid, pretty shots with significantly less speed than "the low teens." I think you are good for a while...

[BrianMcG]

Here's a 61yr old with a bad back. He does ok. 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

Late 30s, allegedly in shape, gets tired walking?  LOL, kind of an insult to people who really are seniors - and the question can't be all that serious.  Best ball flight for anyone is the one they can manage and repeat, but OP already knows that.  Now I need to call Lamont and tell him I didn't have him design me a "senior" putter - darn, and where can I get those senior FootJoys?

Edited July 27, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[Ghost of Snead]

14 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 Just become a CEO and you will still go yard with the young bucks

 

Teach yourself and blow your own horn often. Also make sure you only watch professional golf tournaments with other CEOs. 

[SNIPERBBB]

Ball flight might need to change for conditions. It doesn't change because of age. Age causes changes in flight.

[RichieHunt]

Curvature doesn't really matter.  I would suggest trying to fit a curvature that more closely resembles what your swing is doing.  For example, one of the juniors at my club is a top-100 junior golfer in the world.  He insists on playing a draw although his swing is more built for a fade (slightly open stance, very upright golf swing, lead arm jutted out a bit in the downswing).  Kind of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole and I think if he just gave a cut shot a chance he'd be more consistent.  So I think trying to play a curvature that isn't really in line with your mechanics is a bad idea at any age.

 

The big key as you get older is to try and get the most out of what you can feasibly do from a physical standpoint.  Most seniors stop using their mechanics when they get older.  When they may have 70* of shoulder turn in them...they only use 30*.  Or they purposely shorten their swing for 'consistency' and 'accuracy' and there is no proof that shortening your swing makes you more accurate or more consistent, but is likely to make shorter in distance.

 

I will say that being in my 40's I thought I was going to have give up competitive golf for good because of my back, shoulder and elbow ailments.  A chiropractor helped quite a bit.  Then I went to a place with a chiropractor and doing physical therapy, usually a 1-hour session, 3x a week.  That tremendously helped me.  The physical therapy exercises are quite simple that one can do from home (you may have to pay for roughly $50 of equipment).  But it's greatly helped my range of motion and to do it pain free.   May be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

RH

[ChipNRun]

On 7/26/2021 at 1:47 PM, geesecougar2 said:

I've been a drawer most of my life, but I've gotten to low single digits the last few years by playing a power fade. I'm wondering if I should start thinking about moving back to a draw for the long haul.

 

Let's start with two macro-life considerations. First, you don't have the raw energy you had in your 20s. That's just the way it goes. One solution is to practice more wisely. You can do swing drills to check your balance without the shock of hitting 75 balls a day. With your golf + fitness workouts, make sure you don't overdo it. Make sure the resistance workouts don't outrun the flexibility/cardio workouts. Also, as mentioned per chiropractor, consider getting a deep-body massage every couple of weeks. My brother the soccer referee started doing this, and it has extended his refereeing career.

 

Second, go with a swing that works. Some suggest that drawing the ball delivers the best overall distance. I'm 70 and having hip trouble (right side), and I went from draw to (mostly) fade on full shots. The reason: my hip doesn't hurt as bad after a round of fades, vs. a round of draws. Plus, it's easier to align. (I'm right-eye dominant with astigmatism in the right eye, so I have to makes sure I'm very deliberate on my alignment.) That said, fade worked well except for drives. One day after a few feeble tee shots, I said heck, let's draw, and the draw clicked in immediately.

 

Now, lets talk the fade vs. draw: Anyone who understands the golf swing should be able to hit a fade or draw with most any club, especially longer ones. And for draw vs. fade, learn to go both ways on tee shots. On tee shots: You get to stand on (hopefully) level ground, set the ball on a wooden or plastic tee at desired height, on closely cropped grass. You should be able to hit a modest draw or fade from these conditions. On sloping fairway or in first cut of rough, probably go with stock shot. But on tee shots, allow yourself to be a little creative.

 

@geesecougar2, a question for you: What would the draw deliver overall that the fade won't?

[liquorandpoker]

High and long!