Distance and handicaps for 14 year olds

[FSUGolfdog]

My son is 13, currently a 10 handicap. His average at the Bridgestone ball fitting in August was 232 yard carry, swing speed was 104, ball speed 141.

Here's a link to his swing, hope the link works. Comments are welcome.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ[/url]

[Sling]

My son just had his handicap reviewed, his index is now 0.1, he turned 13 in December, he hits a five wood about 250 and a pitching wedge about 150, if he does take a driver he'll hit it about 290. All this depends on conditions, our home course is at altitude.

But of course distance and handicap don't actually matter all that much, I'm trying to teach my son that, trying to get him to hit a 9 iron on a 150 shot and recommending he use the 5 wood or hybrid off he tee as often as not. Handicap relates very much to your home course and a run of good scores can dramatically lower it.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

[quote name='FSUGolfdog' timestamp='1359498096' post='6324731']
My son is 13, currently a 10 handicap. His average at the Bridgestone ball fitting in August was 232 yard carry, swing speed was 104, ball speed 141.

Here's a link to his swing, hope the link works. Comments are welcome.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ[/media]
[/quote]

Nice looking swing, know you are proud!

[castellar]

[quote name='FSUGolfdog' timestamp='1359498096' post='6324731']
My son is 13, currently a 10 handicap. His average at the Bridgestone ball fitting in August was 232 yard carry, swing speed was 104, ball speed 141.

Here's a link to his swing, hope the link works. Comments are welcome.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ[/media]
[/quote]

He's got a great swing. Very smooth! 232 carry is great for 13 but for his swing speed he is leaving a lot of distance out there. 104 mph under better launch conditions (not perfect) can be carrying between about 225 to about 257. Just something to think about for the next driver fitting!

[FSUGolfdog]

[quote name='castellar' timestamp='1360015889' post='6362917']
[quote name='FSUGolfdog' timestamp='1359498096' post='6324731']
My son is 13, currently a 10 handicap. His average at the Bridgestone ball fitting in August was 232 yard carry, swing speed was 104, ball speed 141.

Here's a link to his swing, hope the link works. Comments are welcome.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ[/media]
[/quote]

He's got a great swing. Very smooth! 232 carry is great for 13 but for his swing speed he is leaving a lot of distance out there. 104 mph under better launch conditions (not perfect) can be carrying between about 225 to about 257. Just something to think about for the next driver fitting!
[/quote]

His launch agle was pretty low, if I remember it was below 10*. I'm taking him next month for his birthday for a driver fitting. He's pumped.

And thank for the compliments, I will pass them along to him.

[col902]

I'm 14 (15 in a month) and have a 0.2 handicap. I average 280-290 with my driver, and I have gotten my ball speed up to 166 on some of my best drives. Here are some videos of my swing, critique is welcome as always.

[url="http://www.uschedule.com/desktopmodules/uschedule/popupvideojp.aspx?url=prod/102250/201212/2275_100310.mp4"]http://www.uschedule...2275_100310.mp4[/url]

[url="http://www.uschedule.com/desktopmodules/uschedule/popupvideojp.aspx?url=prod/102250/201212/2276_101338.mp4"]http://www.uschedule...2276_101338.mp4[/url]

[Hrocks]

As a parent of a kid who started swinging a USKG training club and putter at age 3-1/2, I can believe[b][i] some[/i][/b] of the GHIN index numbers that some of you juniors are posting out there. If you're posting legitimate scores (That assumes NO GIMMES, NO MULLIGANS) they are impressive. My boy turned 12 last summer and has been consistantly one of the shortest drivers in his age group since he started on the USKG tour 8 years ago. He learned the game from the hole back to the tee, and consequently his favorite club is his sand wedge, followed closely by the putter and most recently, driver. (hits it straight)

Bobby Jones once said, "there's golf, then there's tournament golf". Believe me, being a parent/caddie it's a much more intense game than mine, hanging with the guys playing for $5 or a beer. There are a few boys in the 11-12 year old groups that are low single digit handicaps at 5,600+ yards [i]under tournament conditions[/i]. (My guy's GHIN index is 10.1) Most of these kids have played under tournament conditions since they were 5 years old. Made my knees wobble when I first heard them announce the little kid's name and city on the first tee, but they get used to it and they play their game. So, if you're "rounding up" your driver distances, or "rounding down" your scores, or taking gimmes or mullies, think twice before entering a tournament. Your real handicap will be exposed. In any case, keep playing and practicing, and HAVE FUN playing golf!

[Sling]

Hrocks,

I understand your skepticism but there are kids out there who hit the ball a long way and have very low handicaps but yes there are caveats. My son does have an index of 0.1, it's on the official website together with his last 20 rounds used to calculate it all conducted under USGA rules, he plays at a course rated at 73.5 which is 7,000 yards long and a par 71, if he shoots level par the relevant number used to calculate his index for that round is +2.1 and in his last few rounds he has managed level par three times. But yes it is practice and he knows the course like the back of his hand.

Although not absolutely the longest 13 year old I've seen, I've seen two others hit it further, he does get it out past 300 yards which explains why he shoots low on his home course, there are few par 4s anywhere where he is taking more than a 7 iron in. But it isn't the be all and end all. In the last tournament he was in he shot 72, even par, for his last round which was 8 shots better than anyone else on the day, but the round before he had 85, an attack of the three putts mostly, and the first round he had a 79 with 9 penalty shots (4 out of bounds). If he played against your son he might wel be a hundred yards or more past him on every drive but at the moment your son might well score lower than him on any given round on a strange course.

It all evens out in the next couple of years or so anyways. The top juniors will all be scratch or better by the age of 15 and will all be bombing it given many of the course are 7300 plus in the AJGA.

[Hrocks]

[quote name='Sling' timestamp='1361984912' post='6513901']
Hrocks,

I understand your skepticism but there are kids out there who hit the ball a long way and have very low handicaps but yes there are caveats. My son does have an index of 0.1, it's on the official website together with his last 20 rounds used to calculate it all conducted under USGA rules, he plays at a course rated at 73.5 which is 7,000 yards long and a par 71, if he shoots level par the relevant number used to calculate his index for that round is +2.1 and in his last few rounds he has managed level par three times. But yes it is practice and he knows the course like the back of his hand.

Although not absolutely the longest 13 year old I've seen, I've seen two others hit it further, he does get it out past 300 yards which explains why he shoots low on his home course, there are few par 4s anywhere where he is taking more than a 7 iron in. But it isn't the be all and end all. In the last tournament he was in he shot 72, even par, for his last round which was 8 shots better than anyone else on the day, but the round before he had 85, an attack of the three putts mostly, and the first round he had a 79 with 9 penalty shots (4 out of bounds). If he played against your son he might wel be a hundred yards or more past him on every drive but at the moment your son might well score lower than him on any given round on a strange course.

It all evens out in the next couple of years or so anyways. The top juniors will all be scratch or better by the age of 15 and will all be bombing it given many of the course are 7300 plus in the AJGA.
[/quote]

Hey Sling,

My intent was not to broadbrush all the kids that proffered near scratch hdcps as fiction. My point was that throughout this string, some of the "handicaps" were listed as "about, between", etc. and if they are really posting legitimate scores, the index is pretty cut and dry. Indeed there are already a couple of kids that were single digit hdcps in my boys 11yr old group @ 5,000 yards last summer. Believe me, you don't have to tell me that these kids will be blowing in way past me in a couple of years. All these kids that had good fundamentals instilled at a young age by pro instructors will naturally continue to get longer as their arms and legs get longer.All the best to your guy. Sounds like he's on a great path.

[Rodabodem]

I know this is a few days old, but I was scratch when I was 14. I don't find any of these kids numbers to be out of the ordinary for talented players.

[dpb5031]

The course and slope rating (difficulty of the course) can have a huge impact on HC. This is especially true with junior girls. My daughter (just turned 14) is a 5.1 index with mostly tournament rounds in her HC history. The GHIN system throws out your ten worst scores, so even as a 5.1 index her scoring average is only 82.4. Her low tournament score is 74 and she drives it in the 230-240 range in normal conditions.

Most of the junior tours she plays on now set up the courses at around 6000 yards (typical men's regular tees). For women, the course and slope ratings get really high when they move the tees back. Last year she played in a sectional qualifier for the US Girl's Junior and the set-up was brutally difficult. I don't remember the exact numbers, but they told us for posting purposes that the course rating was something like 77/155. The medalist that day shot 79 and the next closest score was 86.

[Northpaw68]

[quote name='FSUGolfdog' timestamp='1359498096' post='6324731']
My son is 13, currently a 10 handicap. His average at the Bridgestone ball fitting in August was 232 yard carry, swing speed was 104, ball speed 141.

Here's a link to his swing, hope the link works. Comments are welcome.

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVoD5uN6LQ[/media]
[/quote]


Thats a really solid swing awesome tempo

[Nvgolf16]

15 years old. 12 index. Average drive around 225

[Luke Donald318]

Tiger woods first played golf when he was two, and when he was 13 his handicap was scratch. there is no way you have a handicap of 3.7 when you have been playing for ten months. unless you are going to wipe everybody out, and win every pga tournament you go to. chances you aren't better then tiger woods.

[PlayinThru]

A club pro friend of mine made it to stroke play of the US Am the summer before his freshman year in college (DI), 25 years ago or so. He's competed against (and beaten) some very recognizable names as a junior, in college, and in the odd PGA Tour tournament, and has won a couple of state opens. His clubhead speed has never been above 103, and he's never carried a driver past 250. The dude will totally eat your lunch!

His advice to me: KNOW (not guess) how far you can (and will) hit each of your clubs both carry and total. Calculate how far the shot is playing, and pull the correct club (EVERY time). The percentages of shooting a good round are heavily in your favor. Compared to poker, it's like calling with pot odds.

Also, as a junior, he told me he'd play in the afternoon by himself playing "worst ball". It's the total opposite of "scramble" or "captain's choice", where a player hits two balls and must play from the least desirable location.

[GoAromando]

Many golfers of ALL ages lie to others and themselves about their distances. Lying about distances only hurts themselves. 1st you need to hit the ball towards the target, then land it at the correct distance. Whether you hit the ball 220 yds and claim 260 yds or you hit it 260 yds and claim 300+ yrds, it's only your game the suffers.

Now, just because you can't hit the ball 300+ without fibbing, it doesn't mean others can't.

Lexi Thompson's average Drive was 286.5 yrds at the Kraft Nabisco Championship when she was in 8th grade, 2nd to Michelle Wie that year.

We check my daughter's yardages before every tournament. I stress the importance of KNOWING your ACTUAL yardages. She's 11 yrs old and her drives average 195 carry with 210 yrd total distance. When she gets one good (240) she'll want to know the yardage & I reminder her she can't expect it until she can average it.

Last weekend another girl was Bragging that she was now hitting the ball 240. My daughter question me, why she didn't gain as much over the winter...I laughed and said I'll believe it when I see it. That day they have a driveable par 4 (220 yrds to the front). My daughter planned to hit a high fade (light helping breeze) with hopes it would stay on the green, it did. I stayed back to watch the Bragger in the group behind her try the same thing...she found the bunker 30 yrds short of the green.

KNOW Your DISTANCE.

Regards,

Michael A.

[jdhallissey]

This is the thing. I have always laughed at this. I hope Juniors realize that the tour average in the AIR meaning CARRY is 275. So this thread has now told me that 95 percent of you hit it farther then a tour pro in the air? I think not. I would love to setup every guy/junior/gal on this forum on a tee box with a forced carry of 265 yards. You get 5 balls to clear it. It would be awesome to see how many actually get over it. I bet you half don't even come close and only 10-15 guys clear it. So I am glad you guys keep the torch going.

[GoAromando]

[quote name='jdhallissey' timestamp='1370378410' post='7169488']
This is the thing. I have always laughed at this. I hope Juniors realize that the tour average in the AIR meaning CARRY is 275. So this thread has now told me that 95 percent of you hit it farther then a tour pro in the air? I think not. I would love to setup every guy/junior/gal on this forum on a tee box with a forced carry of 265 yards. You get 5 balls to clear it. It would be awesome to see how many actually get over it. I bet you half don't even come close and only 10-15 guys clear it. So I am glad you guys keep the torch going.
[/quote]

FYI - When the Tours (Men or Women) select holes for Average Yards they normally pick 2 straight holes (they would expect most to hit driver) in different directions. This gives a true average.

[jdhallissey]

I understand that. I have played mini tour golf. Don't get me wrong there are some guys who flat out bomb it. (woodland,bradley, Watson). I can tell you that 90 percent of tour guys for a FACT do not hit driver in the air longer then 275 to 280 in the air. People don't realize how far that is. Kids in these forums are trying to tell me that they are 135 -150 pounds swinging at or above 115 mph? When the tour average swing speed is 110-112. Interesting.

[code56789]

First, a little about myself. Im 14, with a 13 handicap. I am 5'7" and 110 pounds. That said, i hit the driver (callaway X-Hot pro 9.25*) 260 carry with a 280 roll in average conditions. now befor anyone starts telling me that im lying, you should consider that i play golf 6-7 times a week, every week. I hit thousands upon thousands of balls, and i try to model my swing off of Jamie Sadlowski, beacase he is of similar build to me, and he is the longest hitter in the world. From a 5200 yard tees, i can shoot 1 or 2 under par, and from 6000 yards i can shoot on average 7 over. The reason my handicap is so high is due to my course managment skills being so poor (which i am working on), and this causes me to play poorly on courses that i am not farmiliar with. All comments are appreciated.
Best wishes,
Joe

[Jake24]

15 any ive been playing for about a year and i get about 240 carry and about 255 roll, im not long and im not gonna lie about it hahaah

[curtiscappa]

I'm 16, I'm 5'5 115 pounds. I'm quite small, but I get huge lag in my swing, and I manage to carry about 245 on average. 260 total with the rollout.

I'm a 6 handicap, but I just swing extremely hard at my driver, and hit a nice draw. They go so much further.

[patm3331]

I'm 17, 5'11'' 155 pounds. Im pretty skinny for my height with decent muscle mass but nothing extraordinary. On average I can hit the ball about 290 carry. On my course the fairways are soaked so every drive you hit ends up just digging straight into the ground so if you do get roll, its probably going to be backwards. When the course is dry, I can easily pump some past 300. The furthest I ever hit was around 350. I'm only a 9 handicap though so let me give you a tip. If you want more distance, build up your short game first. My short game is terrible and thats where I loose all my strokes. It doesn't matter how far you hit it if you can't get up and down for par. But once you do need a little more distance, the way I taught myself was that you use your flexibility and weight transfer instead of strength. I'm a hockey goalie so I'm really flexible. My brother who is exceptionally stronger than me is not so flexible and I can out drive him by a good 20-30 yards. So for all you juniors out there who just want to impress their friends with 300 yard bombs, work on your short game before moving to distance. A 72 is much more impressive than a 300 yard drive.

[Sean2]

I have a friend who is 15. She is 5'1", about a +3 HI. Average drive is 260 or so. Has won a boat load of tournaments. (Connecticut Women's Open two years in a row, the Scott Robertson, a lot of regional ones, played in the Annika Invitational, Rolex Invitational, is currently at the AJGA Tournament of Champions this week, was the medalist in the qualifier last week for the USGA Junior Amateur, etc.).

She can golf her ball.

[Ben Layton]

14 years old, 6.1 handicap, I live in Australia so I don't know pounds and feet, but I am 170 cm and 55 kg (not much muscle) around 220-240 metres which is probably 230-250 yards, carry: 200-220

[Spiritomb]

I'm 15. 5'4. 142 pounds. I drive the ball about 235-250. I don't know what my handicap is, but it's about a 10.

[justinp766]

Even the juniors like to BS about how far they hit it I guess! Or am I just that short of a hitter ?

It should be required that all members post swing vids of themselves to prove that they are as good as they say they are so my self confidence doesn't plummet. Lol.

 

What the hell are you going to prove with swing videos??

 

Only thing that matters is execution of the planned shot.

 

Maybe trackman numbers more like it...

[tcgc]

Just hit it 286 and 287 in the Drive Chip and Putt today

[pkwilli1999]

Im 14 and average 205 carry 230 with roll. No official handicap but id guess about 18. Not gonna lie.

[pkwilli1999]

I looked it up and Luke Donald's swing speed is 110.6 MPH and only averages 278.2 off the tee. So how do all these 13 year old's have 105 MPH swing speeds and hit it 300???