Are we ever happy?

[Papas1982]

Just got back from what should be deemed a positive session at the range. Was hitting the ball quite well. I always start with driver and work down and then back up. Hit 4 with each to try and keep it more lesson like and less routine. Anyways, as I was working back to driver a lad pops next to me and just blows me away with the driver. Was similar physique to me 6'2 13 stone. He was destroying the ball, flying last the 250 Marker and rolling on with a tight powerful trajectory. Now I'm not after huge distance and have got myself a pretty consistent drive at last but I end up with 250 max. Having watched him I think the biggest killer for me is trajectory. I have a 9.5 tm burner 2.0 with stif flex and tee the ball approximate height of pink castle tees. Any suggestions would be great. Booked a lesson for tomorrow but would like to get to range and tweak it before lesson begins.

 

[tsped83]

Just because the guy next to you at the range hits in 250+, what makes you think you need to? There is nothing wrong with a 250yd drive, give your head a shake! Accuracy is more important than distance all day long. If you hit it 250 and straight, then don't try and change it.

 

[wull]

If you are driving accurately enough then I wouldn't worry about it.id take accuracy over yardage any day of the week because let's be realistic,how much extra distance can we really get?

What you may improve with a proper fitted driver is like you say a much better trajectory which may improve carry distance and also roll out as your spin rate may be too high.

 

[Foxholer]

Don't be obsessed with your long game. It's your short game where your scores are made.

Go practice you chipping/pitching - and putting!

 

[hovis]

Don't be obsessed with your long game. It's your short game where your scores are made.

Go practice you chipping/pitching - and putting!

Long game makes a 450 yard par 4 much easyier. Short game is vital to becoming good golfer but dont listen to this "long game isnt importaint" because it is. Bottom line, if your playing a driver and wedge on the par 4's and your pals are driver 7 iron then thats a massive advantage. Go and see a pro about your driver distance of you think its lacking

 

[Papas1982]

Long game makes a 450 yard par 4 much easyier. Short game is vital to becoming good golfer but dont listen to this "long game isnt importaint" because it is. Bottom line, if your playing a driver and wedge on the par 4's and your pals are driver 7 iron then thats a massive advantage. Go and see a pro about your driver distance of you think its lacking

Agree totally, I know that short game is important and I'm not expecting massive distance improvements in my drive, just doesn't look to good and it gets destroyed my head winds due to height.

 

[hovis]

The wrong equipment does have a effect on ball height but your technique is probably the issue. Either way a good pro and a 30 minute lesson should point you in the right direction.

 

[DAVEYBOY]

If your hitting 250 then your as long if not longer than most on here, what's your average?

 

[Papas1982]

If your hitting 250 then your as long if not longer than most on here, what's your average?

I averaged 222 as total distance forwards on Friday. Was quite a tight course though so swung quite slow. Wouldn't say I've ever average more than 245 because most rounds I'll catch a few that end up at 260 ish but duff others to 180. Like I said, it's more the shot shape I'm concerned with as wind severely affects me!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Long game makes a 450 yard par 4 much easyier. Short game is vital to becoming good golfer but dont listen to this "long game isnt importaint" because it is. Bottom line, if your playing a driver and wedge on the par 4's and your pals are driver 7 iron then thats a massive advantage. Go and see a pro about your driver distance of you think its lacking

Bottom line is surely that if you are stuck in the middle of a bush then it doesn't matter whether you are 120yds from the green or 175yds. So I'd always go for the distance and shot that minimises the risk of my ball going in that 'bush'. If that comes from a tee shot of 230yds then so be it. I'd rather be putting or chipping on for my third than having at best a 120yds shot for my third having hacked out or taken a penalty drop. For me length doesn't really matter - it's what you do with it.

 

[Papas1982]

You raise a valid point, but surely we should all try to optimise our distance. I'm not in search of the one in ten 300 yard bomb. Just to hit as far as I can consistently. If that happens to be 220 so be it, but I wouldn't want to just accept a distance and not try to improve it. Because I'd rather hit my 8 iron than a 4 iron 2nd ****, coz that could easily find a bush itself, unless I just lay up my lap up in fear of finding trouble. Fortune favours the brave.......

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You raise a valid point, but surely we should all try to optimise our distance. I'm not in search of the one in ten 300 yard bomb. Just to hit as far as I can consistently. If that happens to be 220 so be it, but I wouldn't want to just accept a distance and not try to improve it. Because I'd rather hit my 8 iron than a 4 iron 2nd ****, coz that could easily find a bush itself, unless I just lay up my lap up in fear of finding trouble. Fortune favours the brave.......

Absolutely spot on - excepot for your last four words. Get to know your low risk, medium risk and high risk distances - especially off the tee. Know and play to your strengths - only go med-high risk when you have to.

Fortune favours the brave? Only sometimes and you should only seek that good fortune when you really need it.

 

[blackpuddinmonster]

Long game makes a 450 yard par 4 much easyier. Short game is vital to becoming good golfer but dont listen to this "long game isnt importaint" because it is. Bottom line, if your playing a driver and wedge on the par 4's and your pals are driver 7 iron then thats a massive advantage. Go and see a pro about your driver distance of you think its lacking

If your using a driver and then a wedge on a 450 yrd par 4, your a ruddy bandit of 17.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Long game makes a 450 yard par 4 much easyier. Short game is vital to becoming good golfer but dont listen to this "long game isnt importaint" because it is. Bottom line, if your playing a driver and wedge on the par 4's and your pals are driver 7 iron then thats a massive advantage. Go and see a pro about your driver distance of you think its lacking

Only if you can putt it does.

The bottom line is, everyone is different and making a score is about understanding your weaknesses and maximising your strengths. It doesn't matter how you make a score. You will never achieve your potential if you spend more time trying to be as good at something as someone else than you do concentrating on your strengths.

 

[hovis]

Bottom line is surely that if you are stuck in the middle of a bush then it doesn't matter whether you are 120yds from the green or 175yds. So I'd always go for the distance and shot that minimises the risk of my ball going in that 'bush'. If that comes from a tee shot of 230yds then so be it. I'd rather be putting or chipping on for my third than having at best a 120yds shot for my third having hacked out or taken a penalty drop. For me length doesn't really matter - it's what you do with it.

This is what im saying. Work on your long game to minimise the chance of being behind the bush. Shaun folley was on the golf channel and he said he was teaching a US college team and they said they wanted to do an extra hour on short game. He said "why not spend an extra hour on workng on your mid irons so you dont need your short game. this makes sense to me

 

[RollinThunder]

I remember McIlroy saying in an interview, something on the lines of: ''I don't have to worry about distance off the driver, because my iron-play is so good lately''. I think that the philosophy is that the longer off the driver, the shorter and easier the second shot. If you can make those long iron shots, then what does a 300 yard drive matter ? Play to your own advantages

 

[Papas1982]

I remember McIlroy saying in an interview, something on the lines of: ''I don't have to worry about distance off the driver, because my iron-play is so good lately''. I think that the philosophy is that the longer off the driver, the shorter and easier the second shot. If you can make those long iron shots, then what does a 300 yard drive matter ? Play to your own advantages

I wouldn't worry either if I could easily cream 300 yards, not entirely sure if e was talking about his game in its current state though........

 

[AuburnWarrior]

You don't know anything about the guy in the next bay to you! He could be a pro/elite amateur. Concentrate on your own game and don't worry about what the other guy is doing.

It's a bit different if you're playing against him or you know him because then you can ask questions but simply watching some guy ripping them at the range is very misleading.

This game isn't all about distance. I played a guy off 2 today. He hits it miles!! I beat him gross.

 

[Yosser]

I remember McIlroy saying in an interview, something on the lines of: ''I don't have to worry about distance off the driver, because my iron-play is so good lately''. I think that the philosophy is that the longer off the driver, the shorter and easier the second shot. If you can make those long iron shots, then what does a 300 yard drive matter ? Play to your own advantages

I bet Rory still worries about missed fairways though. If you watch Luke Donald, he never tries to compete with the big hitters and he also relies on excellent accurate iron play, great short game/bunker play and his putting - he got to number one without being anywhere near the longest on Tour! The Ryder cup match betwen Donald and Bubba Watson is a great example of that the longer hitter doesn't always prevail.

Even at Pro level no player is great at every single aspect of the game, and my observation is that they try to play to their own particular strengths.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

This is what im saying. Work on your long game to minimise the chance of being behind the bush. Shaun folley was on the golf channel and he said he was teaching a US college team and they said they wanted to do an extra hour on short game. He said "why not spend an extra hour on workng on your mid irons so you dont need your short game. this makes sense to me

But you must remember simple geometry tells you that even assuming straight lines the same angle of error off the club face will result in a greater distance off the aim point the further the ball goes - and my 'bush' isn't a bush in any specific position - it is any undesirable final position off your aim point line.