Driving Distance Confusion

[L_Master]

Okay my confusion is this. I have been picked up on several launch monitors and all say about the same things: 107-110 mph clubhead speed 150-165 mph ball speed and spin usually around 2700-2800 with a launch of between 10-13 degrees.

 

My confusion is this - my numbers resemble those of a lower swing speed tour player, so my distance should be around 270 ish however I live at 7,000 ft. altitude (CO) so based on what I have heard that is around a 10% difference meaning that I should be hitting the ball about 300 yards. I, however, typically average around 285 and am curious as to why. This is consistent across various courses I play. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

The 10% difference begins to be very accurate as I close in on the short irons...i.e my 7-iron goes about 180 at altitude.

[xan_user]

Less air, less lift too.

 

?

[extremeld]

you swing a little harder because there are numbers popping up!

 

i am sure i hit the ball harder on launch monitors as i give it the beans!

 

k

[OrangeBlood]

This thread has "Ego" written all over it....

[L_Master]

extremeld, thanks for the feedback, it might be something simple like that however I certainly don't feel or believe I am swinging harder....then again in golf feel and reality don't often match...

 

King Bogey - I'm disappointed to find that I can't ask a question out of curiosity without having people make absurd assumptions about myself. All of the above information in my first post is information that I felt pertinent to the topic. The launch conditions are given to explain how I'm swinging, specifically that my numbers do resemble a shorter hitter on tour and that they tend to average around 270 yards. The tour pro swing speed/distance comparison was given simply to explain why it seems to me that I should be hitting the ball a certain distance.

[mat562]

My experience of playing at altitude is that the 10% rule of thumb only holds true if you hit the ball a long way through the air and get your distance through carry.

 

If you hit a flat trajectory, you won't see as much benefit.

[OrangeBlood]

extremeld, thanks for the feedback, it might be something simple like that however I certainly don't feel or believe I am swinging harder....then again in golf feel and reality don't often match...

 

King Bogey - I'm disappointed to find that I can't ask a question out of curiosity without having people make absurd assumptions about myself. All of the above information in my first post is information that I felt pertinent to the topic. The launch conditions are given to explain how I'm swinging, specifically that my numbers do resemble a shorter hitter on tour and that they tend to average around 270 yards. The tour pro swing speed/distance comparison was given simply to explain why it seems to me that I should be hitting the ball a certain distance.

 

Your right, I shouldn't have said that..my apologies

[extremeld]

i would also consider the fact that pga tour courses probably run faster than the course you play on.

 

when you were measuring your ball speed etc were you on a matt? i would imagine this would give you a much more stable platform and maybe up your numbers relative to the course as well.

[longbutter]

Looking at your numbers you smash factor has a pretty big gap from 1.4 up to 1.5. I would assume that when you are the course and thinking about hitting the fairway you end up on the low side of the smash thus not getting optimal numbers. I had this problem a while ago on the LM I was a beast and on the course I was way off. I have since worked on my angle of attack and have really started seeing the results on the course. If you can get your smash consistently in the high 1.49-1.5 you should start to see the distance increase.

[virtuoso]

All the above are great points, to which I would add: what type of ball are you playing?

[Muteki]

I have roughly the same stats as you with the exception of a degree higher launch angle and average around 295. Do you get most of your distance on carry or roll? I find my irons seem to fly a lot farther in altitude as well. What pat of CO are you from? At 7,000 ft, I'm guessing you are in the mountains somewhere. I'm currently in Louisville, just outside of Boulder.