Are you WRX'ers exaggerating how far you hit it?

[MaybeImLeftHanded]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330705518' post='4419151']


He might sponsor you with a cup of Tim Hortons but I wouldn't hold you breath past that! LOL!
[/quote]

I'll take what I can get lol

[Raven Logics]

[quote name='bscinstnct' timestamp='1330717077' post='4420599']
[quote name='Raven Logics' timestamp='1330710927' post='4419877']
[quote name='Shankopottamus' timestamp='1330623806' post='4411735']The irony here is that any golfer who can carry 275 and achieve 300 with roll and is still only a 10 hc has real issues with his golfing skills. Case in point, a very good friend of mine drives the ball that far frequently but his handicap is at a 10 to 14 in the past few years. Some days he can't hit a fairway to save his life. He makes poor decisions on the course. He can't manage his way out of a paper sack. And he gets mental on the greens. We've tried to get him to play within himself and be satisfied with more accuracy and less distance but it falls on deaf ears. He'll gamble on recovery shots that cost him 99% of the time. Once every now and then he'll drive for show and putt for dough and play like a 4 handicap. But he'll only have one or two rounds like that a season. Distance isn't worth it if it isn't controllable and consistent.
[/quote]
Whether or not that's an issue depends on one's motivation for the game. Not everyone has the time to build their game or the opportunity to play the entire year (for example. in Calgary the season lasts 5 to 6 months), so they take what they can get.
[/quote]

Everyone exaggerates thier distance by at least 5-15%. Meaning if the average of all the persons drives is, say, 260 yards, they will say they hit 275 or more.
[/quote]

I would agree that most people who are giving their AVERAGE figure don't actually know unless they are measuring EVERY drive with a LASER to the EXACT POINT from where they teed off. People using GPS devices are also giving APPROXIMATE figures. In other cases, some of us are saying what we can hit it when we manage to catch it properly. I measure my drives back to a point of reference on the tee when I have a good one, and they are the figures I'll post in here. I have no idea of what my average is, and to be honest my ego doesn't want to find out.

[NEOhio]

If it makes someone feel better to post their yardages (after reading this, 3/4 of the posts are out hitting 3/4 of pro players) who really cares. Website forums are not a place for honesty. Let the so-called "big hitters" enjoy seeing their "avg. drives" on a public forum. This is not to say some here cannot crush a golfball, but the % of claims of "big hitters" is way out of proportion for amateur players.

[gvogel]

Driving distance is very situational.

For instance, I was playing the other day in 48* weather and soft fairways. I lasered one driver that I thought I had hit pretty well and found that it was only 215 - which happened to be all carry. That same drive in 80*, on hard fairways in Arizona would be 240.

[cristphoto]

I'm 62, 6 foot 2 and played all my life. When younger used to be about a club longer but have always swung for control - not maximum distance. When conditions are right I have hit it over 300 with driver (more rare for me now).

Driver 255 - 270
3 wood 235
5 wood 220
3 iron 205
4 iron 195
5 iron 185
6 iron 175
7 iron 160
8 iron 150
9 iron 140
pw 125
sw 100
lw 85

[SlowRain]

[quote name='Hit em good' timestamp='1330190838' post='4374173']
It sounds like I am the shortest hitter on this forum. I'm seeing posts about trying to hit the green from 270yds, and 230yd 3irons.
Do you guys really hit it that far? What are your real distances?

I hit it as long as the guys in my group (40-50yr olds, 8 - 15 hc's) I am a 6.8 hc, I play AP2's

Am I just a short knocker?

My approximate distances:
Driver 250
4w 220
19* hybrid 200
3i 190
4i 175
5i 165
6i 155
7i 145
8i 135
9i 125
P (47*) 115
52* 100
56* 85
[/quote]

I am 58 (well physically anyway...mentally it varies from one day to the next)...and there are a lot of younger types on here...but for what it's worth...here are mine...maybe a hair longer than you...but not that much.

My approximate distances:
Driver 260
3w 240-245
17* hybrid 215-220
3i 195
4i 185
5i 175
6i 165
7i 155
8i 145
9i 135
P (46*) 120
54* 100
60* 85

[Swing It!]

I am a X-Remax Long Drive and Pinnacle Finalist.. I only hit a average of 290 to 300 yards. On a good day with down wind my best shot would be 320... With time and age.. I lost 15 to 20 MPH in my swing speed and 50 to 75 yards +.. Since naturally I don't compete any more. I think I would have to wear a kidney belt to try to keep all the organs in my body from laying on the tee bbox if I tried to swing hard again.... I want consistancy and fairways now. If I get a good tee shot for distance naturally I am happy. But I usually will screw up my 2nd shot because the smile on my face got in my way...

[mogc60]

I do laugh at the distances some people claim to hit the golf ball, and not just on this site. I always love when someone tells me they drove a green and I ask if they made the putt and they reply that they weren't actually on the green but pretty close. Distance can be so situational that good drives or iron shots can be all different distances. I am always more impressed with someone who can hit the ball the correct distance for the shot at hand regardless of what club they use to do it. I still remember a few years back at Bay Hill, Sergio attempted to hit a 6 iron over water from 240 out. I laughed for days when the ball was only 30 short of carrying the water and 50 shy of the flag. Probably should of hit the 3 iron or 5 wood Superman. I'm not as long as I used to be due to being 40 pounds FATTER than I once was, but most days I hit the ball on my number and that is way more important than hitting a 200 yard 7 iron.

[Keg0brew]

When comparing your distance to someone else, we must all remember that the physical club has as much to do with it as the swing. The differences in loft and sweet spot size between one club and another can have as much an impact as up to 10 - 15 yards, IMHO.

For example, I hit my MP32 7I about 155y on average. That's with a nice smooth swing, and working the ball the one way or another into the green based on green shape, with a mix of super solid and just off of super solid strikes. When I have tried my brothers AP1, which has 2* less loft, and a much larger sweet spot, I probably average about 165 - 170y with the 7I simply because it has less loft and is easier to hit.

[Toph84]

[quote name='Hit em good' timestamp='1330190838' post='4374173']
It sounds like I am the shortest hitter on this forum. I'm seeing posts about trying to hit the green from 270yds, and 230yd 3irons.
Do you guys really hit it that far? What are your real distances?

I hit it as long as the guys in my group (40-50yr olds, 8 - 15 hc's) I am a 6.8 hc, I play AP2's

Am I just a short knocker?

My approximate distances:
Driver 250
4w 220
19* hybrid 200
3i 190
4i 175
5i 165
6i 155
7i 145
8i 135
9i 125
P (47*) 115
52* 100
56* 85
[/quote]


I'd have to say that its very hard to give exact averages. I do not keep a log of every drive on every tee shot at every course I play every time I play. I used to when I played in college but those days are over as the real world has hit and job always seems to get in the way of golf. That being said when I was younger I was a much better driver of the ball (consistency wise). I can still hit it like I used to off the tee but I don't play even near as much as I used to so I prefer to bench the driver, and pull the 3 wood. Never struggled in the distance department, but smart golf is much more enjoyable than chasing a ball around trying to get up and down. Its also very situational as it has been stated before. When I am at my place in the Southwest my distances are considerably longer because the turf is much more firm and I am getting a lot of roll with my natural draw. At my place out East I am not getting as much roll with much, much softer turf conditions. I am also still fairly young, 26, and 6'1". All that being said here are my typical distances with a gps, don't know all my carry averages so obviously this means roll included.

Driver: 290-310
3 Wood: 285-295 (off the tee, off the deck 260-270)
18* Rescue: 250-260
3i: 225
4i: 215
5i: 205
6i: 195
(from here down this is provided I put a full swing on it or am hitting off the tee, I rarely put a 100% swing on my short irons so distances are usually about 10yds less due to the fact I prefer to swing 85-90%)
7i: 185
8i: 170
9i: 155
PW: 140
GW: 125
SW: 110
LW: Couldn't tell you as I can honestly say I never put a full swing on it on the course. I've done it at the range to prove a point when a friend of mine was bragging about distance with his 7 iron and I told him anyone can hit a 7 iron farther if they deloft the face a bit and catch it slightly thin. So, I bladed my LW and it rolled out to about 155-160 just to shut him up. Point is there are ways to get extra distance if you want but who cares if you shoot well and also there are not many times you need to put a 100% (110% for those of you who like that term) swing on the ball except off the tee or going for a long par 5 in two. Shoot to score, accuracy, finese, and short game are what counts.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

Here are my distances (Carry, in yards):

Driver - 270
3 wood - 250
2 iron - 225
3 iron - 215
4 iron - 205
5 iron - 195
6 iron - 185
7 iron - 170
8 iron - 160
9 iron - 145
PW - 132
52 deg - 118
SW - 105
LW - 92

[msd3075]

[quote name='Hit em good' timestamp='1330190838' post='4374173']
It sounds like I am the shortest hitter on this forum. I'm seeing posts about trying to hit the green from 270yds, and 230yd 3irons.
Do you guys really hit it that far? What are your real distances?

I hit it as long as the guys in my group (40-50yr olds, 8 - 15 hc's) I am a 6.8 hc, I play AP2's

Am I just a short knocker?

My approximate distances:
Driver 250
4w 220
19* hybrid 200
3i 190
4i 175
5i 165
6i 155
7i 145
8i 135
9i 125
P (47*) 115
52* 100
56* 85
[/quote]


I guess I should start out with my yardage averages. These are based on shooting them with lasers, using my SkyCaddie, and using Google Earth's measurement tool, and they are all taken at sea-level (I live in Houston). I play currently to a 2-3 hdcp:

Driver 300
3w 260
3i 235
4i 220
5i 210
6i 200
7i 185
8i 175
9i 160
PW 145
51* 130
55* 115
59* 95

That being said, I can count on one hand the number of people I've played with that hit it as far as I do. I'm not trying to brag or say I'm better (I'd trade yardage for accuracy in a heartbeat), but to me the numbers people put on this site are just unreal. It's sad because I know there are people out there that hit the ball a long way, but they either don't take a true average or their egos won't let them admit the don't average it as far as they think they should.


I think a large part of the problem is that people don't realize how much course conditions, layouts, and weather conditions play into how far you hit your clubs. People will hit a 320 yard drive on a hole wit ha 100 foot elevation change and hard pan fairways and think they drive it as far as the pros. They don't realize the huge drop gave them 50 yards more carry and the hard fairways gave them 30 extra yards of roll. That same exact shot on a flat, properly maintained course would be a 240 yard drive. But in their mind they are capable of hitting it 320 yards and that's all they think about.

[Shankopottamus]

Driver 300
3w 260
3i 235
4i 220
5i 210
6i 200
7i 185
8i 175
9i 160
PW 145
51* 130
55* 115
59* 95

That being said, I can count on one hand the number of people I've played with that hit it as far as I do. I'm not trying to brag or say I'm better (I'd trade yardage for accuracy in a heartbeat), but to me the numbers people put on this site are just unreal. It's sad because I know there are people out there that hit the ball a long way, but they either don't take a true average or their egos won't let them admit the don't average it as far as they think they should.


I think a large part of the problem is that people don't realize how much course conditions, layouts, and weather conditions play into how far you hit your clubs. People will hit a 320 yard drive on a hole wit ha 100 foot elevation change and hard pan fairways and think they drive it as far as the pros. They don't realize the huge drop gave them 50 yards more carry and the hard fairways gave them 30 extra yards of roll. That same exact shot on a flat, properly maintained course would be a 240 yard drive. But in their mind they are capable of hitting it 320 yards and that's all they think about.
[/quote]

You're tour caliber distance. Wow.

[bwhitish]

Im a 20 handicap. My driver swing speed at its best is 88-90 mph. Here are my distances:

Driver 210 avg. Longest 244.
4w 190
3h 180
4i 170
5i 160
6i 150
7i 140
8i 130
9i 120
pw 110
50* 100
56* 85

[GodSpeed]

[quote name='Andrew Casares' timestamp='1330192507' post='4374365']
300 plus consistently. Where it goes is another story. I would trade my power for consistency in a heartbeat. Who cares how far you hit it, compare your 6.3 hc to my 15 hc. who wins??
[/quote]

Add me to this list.

Driver 290-310
3wood 250-270
5wood 220-240
Hybrid4 190-210
5iron 200-210
6iron 175-190
7iron 170-180
8iron 150-160
9iron 130-145
PW anywhere up to 130

I'm normally the longest hitter in any group I'm in? But with a handicap of around 15 at the moment, I'd gladly trade distance for more consistency.

[Rosco1216]

I guess i'll add myself to the list..there will be doubters i'm sure but oh well..
Given these yardages as if I'm trying to hit the longest based on ball flight..rarely do I have try or need to hit my 3 wood of the deck 285 yards.

Driver: 330+
3-wood: 300ish of the tee. 285ish off the deck
20.5 hybrid: 250-260
4i: 235
5i: 220
6i: 205
7i: 190
8i: 175
9i: 160
PW 120-145
53 90-115
58 85 and in..

Of course I can hit 58 longer but I never try to. WAY to much spin.

[brent]

This site is funny when people say they avg 290. That's cool because you must be PGA bound doing that. I've found one person who plays with me who is truely long. I've seen him hit a 245yd (laser measured) 3 iron to 5ft on a hole before. He also played college golf and was a former top amatuer..

[isaacbm]

most people give the average of their good hits. There's no way that a 15 handicap has a true average of the same yardages as a tour pro. Counting only their good hits it's easily possible but not on all their hits averaged together.

Here's a simple math test:

If you hit 4 drives 300,300,300, and 200 low smother hook off a tree what is your average driving distance?
A: 300
B. 325
C. 280
D. 367

almost everyone I know during a math exam would get this right but on this site however, almost everyone would say "A" or "B"

When I say I average 285, that's really accurate. But I've been a plus handicap golfer for 25 years. I hit it over 300 3 or 4 times per round on down wind down hill holes. I also hit it 250-260 4 times per round uphill and into the wind.

On the range with no wind at sea level, I'll hit 5 in a row that carry 265-270.

I am one of the shortest hitters in my circle but I play mostly with ex hockey and baseball players or with other guys that are mini tour pros.

some of the averages on this site are hilarious!

[Rosco1216]

[quote name='brent' timestamp='1333037739' post='4606223']
This site is funny when people say they avg 290. That's cool because you must be PGA bound doing that. I've found one person who plays with me who is truely long. I've seen him hit a 245yd (laser measured) 3 iron to 5ft on a hole before. He also played college golf and was a former top amatuer..
[/quote]

Being able to hit the ball long has no correlation at all with being PGA tour bound my friend. Gary Woodland, Tiger, Dustin Johnson, Rory..They hit the ball long because they are athletes, but thats not why they are PGA pros. 290-300 is nowhere near the mark it was 5-10 years ago. 300 yards is average these days with single digit handicappers or better that are in their 20's-low 30's that are strong and athletic.

[doubleBZee]

I only exaggerate when I hit my 7i 160. It's more like 215 but I didn't want to make you all feel bad.

[isaacbm]

Played in indoor golf league the other day at Schanks Pub in Calgary. My average ball speed with driver was 160. The guy I played against hit 4 drives in 9 holes and the slowest ball speed was 191 mph!! He's a 5 handicap out side but he played pro hockey for years and has unbelievable hand and arm speed. He also looks like he could bench press a buick....

His ball speed with 3 iron was 165!

[mact3333]

[size="4"]This topic is very complicated...its all about technique, catching it flush, swing speed, spin, launch angle but even more importantly where you play.[/size]
[size="4"]
[/size]
[size="4"]Where I live where its cold and wet right now with a 100mph driver swing I can hit it 240...but in Vegas I can hit it 270 with same swing with more roll and greater carry distance.[/size]
[size="4"]
[/size]
[size="4"]Look at Rory, he is 5'9" and 160 lbs and can bomb...his power is in his tremendous hip rotation speed...I think this is where the untapped power source truly is...gotta slide forward and rotate those hips very quickly.[/size]
[size="4"]
[/size]
[size="4"]To me biggest difference to me is did you catch it flush?...altitude and temperature where you play...then technique...then equipment.[/size]
[size="4"]
[/size]
[size="4"]BTW, to the OP...my numbers are very close to yours...I think objectively for casual golfer you are average.[/size]

[msd3075]

[quote name='Shankopottamus' timestamp='1333035094' post='4605969']
[quote name='msd3075' timestamp='1333035094' post='4605969']
Driver 300
3w 260
3i 235
4i 220
5i 210
6i 200
7i 185
8i 175
9i 160
PW 145
51* 130
55* 115
59* 95

That being said, I can count on one hand the number of people I've played with that hit it as far as I do. I'm not trying to brag or say I'm better (I'd trade yardage for accuracy in a heartbeat), but to me the numbers people put on this site are just unreal. It's sad because I know there are people out there that hit the ball a long way, but they either don't take a true average or their egos won't let them admit the don't average it as far as they think they should.


I think a large part of the problem is that people don't realize how much course conditions, layouts, and weather conditions play into how far you hit your clubs. People will hit a 320 yard drive on a hole wit ha 100 foot elevation change and hard pan fairways and think they drive it as far as the pros. They don't realize the huge drop gave them 50 yards more carry and the hard fairways gave them 30 extra yards of roll. That same exact shot on a flat, properly maintained course would be a 240 yard drive. But in their mind they are capable of hitting it 320 yards and that's all they think about.
[/quote]

You're tour caliber distance. Wow.
[/quote]



At least when it comes to distance maybe. The difference is that they are much, much, much more consistent than I could ever dream of being. And they can do it on national TV with millions of dollars on the line. Put a camera on me and I'll probably find a way to hit the cameraman....

[ZimBag]

i am living proof you dont need to be big to hit it far. im 5'5 107 and drive the ball 250-265. i get this from my long arms and big hip turn. im like rory in some cases except hes pro am im not even close lol.

[Raven Logics]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1333038359' post='4606295']
most people give the average of their good hits. There's no way that a 15 handicap has a true average of the same yardages as a tour pro. [/quote]

Imagine this scenario - a beginner can hit his 7i 150 yards when he hits it right, but 50% of the time he shanks it to 50 yards. His average 7i goes 100 yards. When you ask what his 7i distance is, will he tell you 100 yards? No, his 7i his is 150 yard club and it is not what he pulls out from 100 yards out. When you look at Tour stats they are not giving you a comparable figure, but instead an average of all shots from all players - including chips and recovery shots I'd guess. The post is flawed if it is looking at average figures because most amateur golfers only know their expected range from each club. With some exceptions that's what you'll see here - the range or estimated average of good hits, not a a true average across all hits. You'll get the odd liar, but I would like to imagine that most people can hit what they post on this forum some of the time. I am 5'6 and have been hitting 300 yard drives for at least 3 years now. I have no idea of my average, but I am not exagerating when I say I can hit hit over 300 yards with roll. With today's technology I am surprised that more of you can't do that. I'm not even a good golfer!

[mact3333]

[quote name='ZimBag' timestamp='1333039865' post='4606491']
i am living proof you dont need to be big to hit it far. im 5'5 107 and drive the ball 250-265. i get this from my long arms and big hip turn. im like rory in some cases except hes pro am im not even close lol.
[/quote]



Avg golfer has 350 degrees of hip rotation per second....avg tour pro 550....McIlroy is 720!...that is where power is generated.!

IMHO, if people concentrated on this aspect of their swing, they will gain alot of power...you need to be limber and strengthen the muscles that allow fast hip rotation.

[domer]

[quote name='mantan' timestamp='1330205820' post='4375601']
[quote name='Biskit72' timestamp='1330203272' post='4375359']
I understand that we have very good golfers on this site but i think people confuse the one they nut to their average. Remember if your using your average you have to include the one you cold topped off the tee that only went 30 to 50 yards as well. I'm playing at a 7 and i hit it around 250 but that doesnt include the mishits off the tee from time to time. I get a kick out of playing with guys who tell me they average 3 bills and I outdrive them all day and then you get the old well i was off today. Also I would like to add if your playing a 440 dogleg and you cut the corner and only have a 100 yards in you did not hit your tee shot 340 fyi.
[/quote]

The term average is actually a bit miseleading in golf.

Do you consider the mean average...or is mode more important? For example, take a 12 handicap on a 175 yard hole and ask them to take 10 shots at it. Suppose they hit 6 shots between 170-180, They have 3 mishits that average 150 yards (toed, thin, etc) and they totally botch one that goes 100.

Their 'mean' actual 5-iron average would be 160 yards. Does that mean they should pull out their 5 iron on a 160 yard par 3 hole? Of course not. They would fly the green more often than not.

That's where typical Golf Digest and other articles talking about the 'average' distance of amateurs is flawed. Most golfers are too inconsistent for the 'average' to mean anything. It essentially means what do you hit on the best shot you can typically hope for.

I think a common golf forum occurrence is for people to take their 'best' distances, especially with the driver, and list them as their 'average'. Irons are a bit more realistic...it comes down to what would you play on an X yard par 3 and expect to be pin high.

I never put too much stock in these topics. The distance a person hits their golf club means absolutely nothing to my score card. I like my iron distances and am not looking for '5 or 10' more yards from them. Same with the driver. I hit it plenty long enough for the tees I play and my skill level. Accuracy and forgiveness are MUCH more important than a mythical extra 10 yards.
[/quote]

Awesome post. Mode is definitely what we're looking for here. And luckily, that's what most golfers give you if you ask for their 'averages'. :-)

[longbal30]

My last trackman session:

Driver  CLOSED: 2.6  OUT-IN: 2.0  SQUARE  1.2  carry 296. Total 316.7   swingspeed 119.9   ball speed, 177.4  direction, L 15.3

Driver specs
Callaway razr fit 9.5*
44.75"
50 gram backweighted (Sergio style)

Working on the Tiger Woods swing left theory, my miss is always a hook, so trying to swing out in a little to make the miss a cut. Funny, I picked up 2 mph club speed swinging out in bs in out. My typical swing speed before was 117, 4* in out and 287 carry.


But......driver is the only thing I hit that hard. My iron distances are all about control, I could care less how far they go, I just want them to go straight.

3 iron 226
4 iron 214
5 iron 200
6 iron 185
7 iron 171
8 iron 160
9 iron 146
Pw 135
Gw 118
Lw 100

[Rosco1216]

I went by the golf shop on my lunch break just now and took some swings on the monitor with an rbz 18.5* hybrid only standard stiff shaft, took a picture.

[596]

Gotta chime in here....

I love it when people say "I'd trade distance for accuracy any day". Really? Liar! If you'd trade distance or accuracy any day, then you would have done that yesterday. It IS within everyones ability to hit the ball shorter and more accurately. Don't swing out of your shoes, slow your tempo a tad, shorten the back swing, use more loft, ditch the 8* driver, etc...these are all easy fixes to distance monsters.

I'd love to know more about peoples index's that are hitting 210 yard 6 irons. I play with a 16 year old high school golf team member. He can hit 300 yard drives all day long, he can hit the green from 210 with a 6 iron, but he scores in the mid 80's on a good day. I'm 50-60 yards behind him off every tee, I'm hitting a 5 wood from 210 and I score mid 70's average. (3.9 index). Yes, 2-3 of his monster drives result in penalty strokes each round, But the other 5 were fine : ) DOH!!!

Please feel free to out drive me, please feel free to impress me with your 190 yard 8 iron......"oh, you took a bogey?"....."nice drive though!"