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

[isaacbm]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1330475267' post='4398547']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

i like your 3 wood video....i think you hit the same spot on the wall 3 straight times
[/quote]

Thanks buddy! I must have been ripping them at least 165-170

[MtlJeff]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330475793' post='4398607']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1330475267' post='4398547']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

i like your 3 wood video....i think you hit the same spot on the wall 3 straight times
[/quote]

Thanks buddy! I must have been ripping them at least 165-170
[/quote]

oh at least LOL

There's a similar dome 5 minutes from my place, i was just there 20 minutes ago. You probably heard the loud "thud" sounds because i was hitting drivers. Often when i am in there the weather channel mistakenly reports violent thunderstorms

[Thrillhouse]

[quote name='rowjow' timestamp='1330459011' post='4396793']
Guess how far I hit my driver...
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9ky2T-bl0"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=EN9ky2T-bl0[/url]


[/quote]

DO NOT BET WITH THIS GUY! LOL!

Seriously dude, that is a great swing for a 9 handicap, I have a feeling youll be down to scratch in no time!

[isaacbm]

[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330463309' post='4397301']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

235
[/quote]

Do you actually believe this? I know you posted the Pelz article but come on...

The swing I posted is between 105 and 107. I was on track man earlier in the day. I've been a +handicap golfer for 25 years. Do you really believe that a scratch golfer can't hit it farther than 235?

I'll make you a bet. We meet up somewhere and have a little wager. I'll hit 100 balls. For every shot I hit under 235, I'll give you $1000. for every shot I hit over 235, you give me $100.

10 to 1 odds in your favor.... you in? I'll be in phoenix next week. I'll even buy you lunch...

[Thrillhouse]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330489775' post='4400227']
[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330463309' post='4397301']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

235
[/quote]

Do you actually believe this? I know you posted the Pelz article but come on...

The swing I posted is between 105 and 107. I was on track man earlier in the day. I've been a +handicap golfer for 25 years. Do you really believe that a scratch golfer can't hit it farther than 235?

I'll make you a bet. We meet up somewhere and have a little wager. I'll hit 100 balls. For every shot I hit under 235, I'll give you $1000. for every shot I hit over 235, you give me $100.

10 to 1 odds in your favor.... you in? I'll be in phoenix next week. I'll even buy you lunch...
[/quote]


can I have free lunch too?

[Ping_Ho]

chage this forum name to PGAWRX

I looked at ppl's numbers and They are averaging around 260-270. Dangeroulsly close to PGA level.
On BST it's always project x6.0 or above and x-stiff on drivers.

Here is my HONEST stat

Driver:250
3wood:230
19* hybrid: 210
4iron: 195
5iron:185
6Iron: 175
7Iron: 165
8Iron: 155
9Iron: 140
Pitching: 120
54: 110
56: 100
60: 90


Call me Corey pavin or mike weir but get yourself an 2 dollar app for your phone and measure your drive

[jons1]

I hit the ball as far as I need to hit it

[rockinar]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

210 carry, tops. 230 with a great roll.

[scratchswinger]

I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.

[Tone-NY]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330489775' post='4400227']
[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330463309' post='4397301']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

235
[/quote]

Do you actually believe this? I know you posted the Pelz article but come on...

The swing I posted is between 105 and 107. I was on track man earlier in the day. I've been a +handicap golfer for 25 years. Do you really believe that a scratch golfer can't hit it farther than 235?

I'll make you a bet. We meet up somewhere and have a little wager. I'll hit 100 balls. For every shot I hit under 235, I'll give you $1000. for every shot I hit over 235, you give me $100.

10 to 1 odds in your favor.... you in? I'll be in phoenix next week. I'll even buy you lunch...
[/quote]

LOL you took the bait! While looking at a video of a swing can tell a lot, it would be impossible to say how far that particular swing went. I don't doubt that you can do better than what Pelz said on a consistent basis. When you get a chance I suggest you read the article I quoted from the WSJ. It is a tongue in cheek look at the sport of golf and how we as players look at ourselves.

Free lunch, I'm in, enjoy the weather in Arizona!

[Jarondishner]

Dont feel bad, your longer than I am

driver 240 with roll

3 wood 220

3 hybrid 195

4 hybrid 175

5i 150

6i 140

7i 130

8i 120

9i 110

pw 100

gw 85

sand wedge,,,,cant hit a full shot with it...


Im 34 and 5.5' and hell my distances are fine unless I try to let my friends distances get to me and I try to keep up with them.,,,,,,, Funny thing is my driver distance is just as good as theirs if not better



I am going to take some lessons this year to see if I can get a little more distance in the irons, it not my swing speed its beacuse im a flipper...... Heck when I do hit down on the ball correctly I over shot greens by about 10yrds......

P.S, I usually score 3-7 stokes better than all the long hitters I play with.....They cant hit the dang green.

[DieHard519]

I'm usually the longest hitter in my group, but sometimes my buddies edge me out with a nice drive. These distances are on a nice warm sunny day.

Driver - 290-310

3wood - 250-270

3 iron - 230

4 iron - 220

5 iron - 210

6 iron - 185-200

7 iron - 170-185

8 iron - 160-170

9 iron - 145-160

PW - 130-145

GW - 115-130

SW - 105-115

LW - 95-105

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330494694' post='4400729']
I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.
[/quote]

I guess you could be right but I don't find 280 to be incredibly long. If you swing in the 105-110 range and can turn the ball over then you're probably going to see 280+ on a regular basis. You also have to remember that most WRX'rs take the game seriously, they're not your average Joe's.

[coolmonk]

We have some longgggggggggggg hitters on here...especially since we're talking about total CARRY yardage only. To the OP, I'd say you're average with 80% of all male golfers. I just started golfing last year but quickly got addicted to the game (and equipment) and weather permitting I play 3-4 times a week. I play single often and get paired up strangers all the time, young and old...and I'd say 50% of the time I'm on par with my playing partners, 40% of the time I'm longer than them, and 10% of the time I'm the short hitter in my group.

My carry yardage (100mph driver SS):
10.5 degree Driver: 230-240
15 degree 3 Wood: 215-220
19 degree 3 Hybrid: 200-210
22 degree 4 Hybrid: 190-195
4 Iron: 180-185
5 Iron: 170-175
6 Iron: 160-165
7 Iron: 150-155
8 Iron: 145-150
9 Iron: 130-135
PW: 115-120
53 Wedge: 90-95
58 Wedge: 70-75

[Konopski2]

Driver: 260
3 Wood: 230
18*: 215
21*: 200
4 iron: 190
5 iron: 180
6 iron: 170
7 iron: 165
8 iron: 150
9 iron: 140
PW: 125
54*: 100
58*: 80

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330526859' post='4401937']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330494694' post='4400729']
I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.
[/quote]

I guess you could be right but I don't find 280 to be incredibly long. If you swing in the 105-110 range and can turn the ball over then you're probably going to see 280+ on a regular basis. You also have to remember that most WRX'rs take the game seriously, they're not your average Joe's.
[/quote]
Ya I could be exaggerating on the 90% so maybe I am part of the 90%. Hehehehe

Maybe more like 75% to be fair. I don't find 280 unbelievable. I am more referring to the guy that gets fit on an indoor simulator at a chain store and then comes on here saying his SS is 120 and he was flying it over 3 bills.

[jcwooddt]

Idk about the rest of the WRXers, but I personally tell the truth. I have my stats listed below:

Club head speed: 200
Average Drive: 520
Average 6 Iron: 345
Average Spin: NONE

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330528269' post='4402105']
[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330526859' post='4401937']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330494694' post='4400729']
I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.
[/quote]

I guess you could be right but I don't find 280 to be incredibly long. If you swing in the 105-110 range and can turn the ball over then you're probably going to see 280+ on a regular basis. You also have to remember that most WRX'rs take the game seriously, they're not your average Joe's.
[/quote]
Ya I could be exaggerating on the 90% so maybe I am part of the 90%. Hehehehe

Maybe more like 75% to be fair. I don't find 280 unbelievable. I am more referring to the guy that gets fit on an indoor simulator at a chain store and then comes on here saying his SS is 120 and he was flying it over 3 bills.
[/quote]

Haha you could be right.. I also was including roll in the 280, not strictly carry.

The second part of your statement is definitely true, however. I've been to Golfsmith in The Woodlands, TX and their LM's are definitely off. They have 4-5 in the front of the store and some are off from the one next to it by a good 5-10 mph. When I was there it had me swinging around 112-117 on one. I went to the next one and I was 103-107 or so. I went to a TM fitting at the TM Performance Lab at Redstone not too long ago and I was between 105-110 on Flightscope I believe. I was carrying it 270 or so outside and getting some roll.. I also wasn't swinging out of my shoes like a lot of guys do when on LM's.

Personally, I think the biggest problem with LM's is that a lot of guys do swing out of their shoes. There's not really a penalty for a bad shot on a LM so they just let it rip when they're on one. That's not reality on the course though.

[KCCO]

I think a lot of irons lofts r juiced, so it would be hard to tell this year from 10 years ago....I don't hit long, little more into the repetiveness of my distances.....just my opinion....

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1330476272' post='4398665']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330475793' post='4398607']
[quote name='MtlJeff' timestamp='1330475267' post='4398547']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

i like your 3 wood video....i think you hit the same spot on the wall 3 straight times
[/quote]

Thanks buddy! I must have been ripping them at least 165-170
[/quote]

oh at least LOL

There's a similar dome 5 minutes from my place, i was just there 20 minutes ago. You probably heard the loud "thud" sounds because i was hitting drivers. Often when i am in there the weather channel mistakenly reports violent thunderstorms
[/quote]

So, you're why Canada...

[SilverBullets]

[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330529899' post='4402321']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330528269' post='4402105']
[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330526859' post='4401937']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330494694' post='4400729']
I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.
[/quote]

I guess you could be right but I don't find 280 to be incredibly long. If you swing in the 105-110 range and can turn the ball over then you're probably going to see 280+ on a regular basis. You also have to remember that most WRX'rs take the game seriously, they're not your average Joe's.
[/quote]
Ya I could be exaggerating on the 90% so maybe I am part of the 90%. Hehehehe

Maybe more like 75% to be fair. I don't find 280 unbelievable. I am more referring to the guy that gets fit on an indoor simulator at a chain store and then comes on here saying his SS is 120 and he was flying it over 3 bills.
[/quote]

Haha you could be right.. I also was including roll in the 280, not strictly carry.

The second part of your statement is definitely true, however. I've been to Golfsmith in The Woodlands, TX and their LM's are definitely off. They have 4-5 in the front of the store and some are off from the one next to it by a good 5-10 mph. When I was there it had me swinging around 112-117 on one. I went to the next one and I was 103-107 or so. I went to a TM fitting at the TM Performance Lab at Redstone not too long ago and I was between 105-110 on Flightscope I believe. I was carrying it 270 or so outside and getting some roll.. I also wasn't swinging out of my shoes like a lot of guys do when on LM's.

Personally, I think the biggest problem with LM's is that a lot of guys do swing out of their shoes. There's not really a penalty for a bad shot on a LM so they just let it rip when they're on one. That's not reality on the course though.
[/quote]

yeah the LM's are stores are pretty terrible sometimes. I was hitting the 910F and the RBZ 3 woods the other day at Golf Galaxy. It said I was in a range of 265-275 on the 50 or so balls I hit with the 3 woods, off the deck. Now, I have never hit a 3 wood that I know of 270 off a tee let alone off the deck. That being said, they are good for measuring angle and ball speed.

As for the distances I posted earlier and everyone talking how people exaggerate. I posted 275 with a driver. The distances I posted were if I was standing in the middle of a fairway which club I pull for a full swing at each of those distances.

Its funny when people say they are exaggerating when they post their yardages of 270 or above. I think there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. Many ametuers can smoke the ball. I have a buddy who has maybe the worst short game I have ever seen. He consistently out drives me. He's a hockey player with a strong core, compact swing and unreal hand speed. That being said he barely breaks 90 because he cant hit irons, wedges or a putter to save his life. He would be on here posting that he hits it 300 yards though, which honestly, would be fairly accurate.

[joeykukz]

Same as the last post. bubby i play with can crush it off the tee. always 275-300. cant hit the green to save his life, and putts like a blind person. hes just athletic as can be and is a bomber. wont ever break 85.

[Froo Shon Tay]

[quote name='SilverBullets' timestamp='1330534048' post='4402885']
[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330529899' post='4402321']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330528269' post='4402105']
[quote name='baseballfrk8998' timestamp='1330526859' post='4401937']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1330494694' post='4400729']
I would bet that 90% of WRX exaggerates about distance or really doesnt know how far they hit it.
[/quote]

I guess you could be right but I don't find 280 to be incredibly long. If you swing in the 105-110 range and can turn the ball over then you're probably going to see 280+ on a regular basis. You also have to remember that most WRX'rs take the game seriously, they're not your average Joe's.
[/quote]
Ya I could be exaggerating on the 90% so maybe I am part of the 90%. Hehehehe

Maybe more like 75% to be fair. I don't find 280 unbelievable. I am more referring to the guy that gets fit on an indoor simulator at a chain store and then comes on here saying his SS is 120 and he was flying it over 3 bills.
[/quote]

Haha you could be right.. I also was including roll in the 280, not strictly carry.

The second part of your statement is definitely true, however. I've been to Golfsmith in The Woodlands, TX and their LM's are definitely off. They have 4-5 in the front of the store and some are off from the one next to it by a good 5-10 mph. When I was there it had me swinging around 112-117 on one. I went to the next one and I was 103-107 or so. I went to a TM fitting at the TM Performance Lab at Redstone not too long ago and I was between 105-110 on Flightscope I believe. I was carrying it 270 or so outside and getting some roll.. I also wasn't swinging out of my shoes like a lot of guys do when on LM's.

Personally, I think the biggest problem with LM's is that a lot of guys do swing out of their shoes. There's not really a penalty for a bad shot on a LM so they just let it rip when they're on one. That's not reality on the course though.
[/quote]

yeah the LM's are stores are pretty terrible sometimes. I was hitting the 910F and the RBZ 3 woods the other day at Golf Galaxy. It said I was in a range of 265-275 on the 50 or so balls I hit with the 3 woods, off the deck. Now, I have never hit a 3 wood that I know of 270 off a tee let alone off the deck. That being said, they are good for measuring angle and ball speed.

As for the distances I posted earlier and everyone talking how people exaggerate. I posted 275 with a driver. The distances I posted were if I was standing in the middle of a fairway which club I pull for a full swing at each of those distances.

Its funny when people say they are exaggerating when they post their yardages of 270 or above. I think there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. Many ametuers can smoke the ball. I have a buddy who has maybe the worst short game I have ever seen. He consistently out drives me. He's a hockey player with a strong core, compact swing and unreal hand speed. That being said he barely breaks 90 because he cant hit irons, wedges or a putter to save his life. He would be on here posting that he hits it 300 yards though, which honestly, would be fairly accurate.
[/quote]

Thank you. I've read a a lot of these post, and people seem so bitter that guys are "lying" or "exaggerating" their numbers. I think many fail to realize that there are some strong and athletic guys who play golf. Guys that have insane club head speed, insane hand eye coordination, insane hip turns. Which is obviously going to make the ball fly. Ex- baseball/hockey players come to mind. When you transition from a sport like this to golf, your club head speed doesn't just disappear. But once again, hitting the ball a mile with no consistency is not going to lower your score.

[armydiver]

Paired up with a fellow WRX'er yesterday (I asked him if he was on the site after seeing his custom putter and scratch wedges) He banged his last drive 290+ yds into a pretty stout wind. Leads me to believe that a lot of people on the site could be honest about their distances.

[isaacbm]

[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330515287' post='4401219']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330489775' post='4400227']
[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330463309' post='4397301']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

235
[/quote]

Do you actually believe this? I know you posted the Pelz article but come on...

The swing I posted is between 105 and 107. I was on track man earlier in the day. I've been a +handicap golfer for 25 years. Do you really believe that a scratch golfer can't hit it farther than 235?

I'll make you a bet. We meet up somewhere and have a little wager. I'll hit 100 balls. For every shot I hit under 235, I'll give you $1000. for every shot I hit over 235, you give me $100.

10 to 1 odds in your favor.... you in? I'll be in phoenix next week. I'll even buy you lunch...
[/quote]

LOL you took the bait! While looking at a video of a swing can tell a lot, it would be impossible to say how far that particular swing went. I don't doubt that you can do better than what Pelz said on a consistent basis. When you get a chance I suggest you read the article I quoted from the WSJ. It is a tongue in cheek look at the sport of golf and how we as players look at ourselves.

Free lunch, I'm in, enjoy the weather in Arizona!
[/quote]

Ok you got me! LOL!

Though after over 30 years of playing this game, I can tell pretty quickly how long a player hits it or how good he plays pretty quickly. Usually within watching him swing for about 30 seconds. There are always exceptions but they usually come up in short game. A guy that looks like a 20 could be a 10 if he's amazing at chipping and putting for example. Or a guy that swings like a scratch could be a 6 if he 3 putts more than 5 times a round.

One thing I've never seen is a 10 handicap that hits the sweet spot on driver every single time with a swing speed over 100. I've never seen a 10 handicap have a true average of over 260 because he usually hits it X at least 1 in 4 times and that can really drop the average...

I did read the whole article and like I said, I worked for Pelz for a short stint and we had to become pretty familiar with all his stats. I still have no idea where the "235 average drive distance for scratch golfers" comes from. Maybe it was a typo or something. It's pretty much impossible to play a 7200 yard golf course consistently shooting near the rating while hitting the ball that short. Even the absolute shortest scratch golfers I know still get it out there to 250 at sea level.

[MaybeImLeftHanded]

I carried my driver 306 on the launch monitor as my longest but averaged around 284. My SP is 115 so I can't see those #'s being correct.

[MileHi]

Funny a few guys mentioned hockey players. Last year there were a few Avalanche players that were members of my club, and I never got the opportunity to play with them, but heard tales of one guy in particular who hit it in the upper 300s regularly. Evidently not an especially good player, but the pros there said they'd never seen anyone hit it as far as he did. Probably some very similar muscles and moves used in the two games.

[Timmay_MO]

I hit my 16* driver 305 on Sunday in 40 degree conditions, with about a 20mph wind at my back. Still bogies the hole. Who cares how long anybody is? I routinely waste monster drives. In fact if I want to chunk a wedge all I have to do is hit last on my approach.

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='Timmay_MO' timestamp='1330539278' post='4403593']
I hit my 16* driver 305 on Sunday in 40 degree conditions, with about a 20mph wind at my back. Still bogies the hole. Who cares how long anybody is? I routinely waste monster drives. In fact if I want to chunk a wedge all I have to do is hit last on my approach.
[/quote]

What, what?

16* driver?

[TheCityGame]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330535506' post='4403085']
[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330515287' post='4401219']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330489775' post='4400227']
[quote name='Tone-NY' timestamp='1330463309' post='4397301']
[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1330459675' post='4396863']
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sdey74oQIk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Guess how far I hit mine....
[/quote]

235
[/quote]

Do you actually believe this? I know you posted the Pelz article but come on...

The swing I posted is between 105 and 107. I was on track man earlier in the day. I've been a +handicap golfer for 25 years. Do you really believe that a scratch golfer can't hit it farther than 235?

I'll make you a bet. We meet up somewhere and have a little wager. I'll hit 100 balls. For every shot I hit under 235, I'll give you $1000. for every shot I hit over 235, you give me $100.

10 to 1 odds in your favor.... you in? I'll be in phoenix next week. I'll even buy you lunch...
[/quote]

LOL you took the bait! While looking at a video of a swing can tell a lot, it would be impossible to say how far that particular swing went. I don't doubt that you can do better than what Pelz said on a consistent basis. When you get a chance I suggest you read the article I quoted from the WSJ. It is a tongue in cheek look at the sport of golf and how we as players look at ourselves.

Free lunch, I'm in, enjoy the weather in Arizona!
[/quote]

Ok you got me! LOL!

Though after over 30 years of playing this game, I can tell pretty quickly how long a player hits it or how good he plays pretty quickly. Usually within watching him swing for about 30 seconds. There are always exceptions but they usually come up in short game. A guy that looks like a 20 could be a 10 if he's amazing at chipping and putting for example. Or a guy that swings like a scratch could be a 6 if he 3 putts more than 5 times a round.

[b]One thing I've never seen is a 10 handicap that hits the sweet spot on driver every single time with a swing speed over 100. I've never seen a 10 handicap have a true average of over 260 because he usually hits it X at least 1 in 4 times and that can really drop the average...[/b]

I did read the whole article and like I said, I worked for Pelz for a short stint and we had to become pretty familiar with all his stats. I still have no idea where the "235 average drive distance for scratch golfers" comes from. Maybe it was a typo or something. It's pretty much impossible to play a 7200 yard golf course consistently shooting near the rating while hitting the ball that short. Even the absolute shortest scratch golfers I know still get it out there to 250 at sea level.
[/quote]
(bolded part)

Yeah, I'm flipping through this thread, and I didn't read the whole thing, but the word "average" actually means something.

I'm a 7 capper, and I drive the ball better than anyone I play with who is higher than me. I don't have a great short game. Out of 10 drives I hit during a typical round with the driver, I probably catch 3-4 250-260. I usually miss one that goes short right or pull hook left (still might be 180) and then hit 4-5 that are straight, but are too low, too high, didn't run out. I occasionally hit a total dog.

I CAN hit 260. That's doesn't mean that that's what I drive it.

I'd like to take everyone in this thread who claims "X" and measure their real distance, on the course, with a GPS and counting ALL drives over 3-4 rounds. I'd give 5-1 and probably get away with 10-1 on people matching what they claim.

I don't necessarily think people are lying. I just think a lot of people aren't really talking about their average. I think a lot of people like to look at what they're capable of, so the couple times per round they really catch one, they realize they're at the 150 yard marker on a 430 par 4 so they go "oh, 280" with no regard to wind, elevation, tee marker location. That guy isn't walking off his drive on the uphill par 5, and going, "geez, that was only 210".

235 average for a scratch golfer doesn't really surprise me, either. I'd probably figure more like 245 or 250 but like I said, 235 doesn't surprise me. What's makes that scratch golfer special is that his worst drives are probably only 220 and still in play. 235 is a pretty playable drive on a 6800 yard course that might be rated 74 with a par of 72. Sure, you're going to be coming into a couple par 4's from 200 yard, but for a 0, so what, that's a par or bogey. He's still getting inside 100 on the par 5's after 2 shots.

One more than, I've never seen a 7000 yard course whose rating isn't higher than par so that scratch golfer is averaging well over par on a 7000 yard course. I'm not saying they're not out there. I just flipped through about 20 cards, and everything that is 6900 or longer is rated over par.

235 is especially playable if you hit 4 drives that are 250 and one that is 200. You might be saying, "that's hard to shoot par when you're that short", but keep in mind, too, that that scratch golfer averages to the rating when you take his best 10 of 20. His 10 worst rounds aren't getting figured in but they're getting figured into his driving statistics.

Probably the best group I play with each year is at a member guest I go to. There are probably 15-20 guys in this tournament who are between +2 and -4. I'm usually within 10-15 yards of the longest drive during that tournament and like I said, my good drives are usually 260.

Lastly, the best idea I have for how good wrx'ers are -- collectively -- is from the Golf WRX group at Skycaddie. 69 golfers, I think, average of 10.5 handicap. That's the self-selected group of golfers who are comfortable enough to post their rounds, and self-selected rounds that get posted.