Are we hiting the ball further?

[HTL]

Seriously guys is equipment improving or are companies like Wilson cheating us into thinking we are hitting clubs longer, like the add I had a 9 iron for breakfast this morning by Wilson and showing a PW.

With the post started by MVP about wedges we went off on a tangent about the degree of new wedges and the difference between them, it was soon apparent that the degrees of clubs have changed over the years making us hit the ball further, is this technology evolving or just companies adjusting the degrees of clubs to make us hit balls further.

 

[StuartD]

I will stick my post here as well

From Taylor Made Website about the rather expensive Burner XD Irons:

» Thin, flexible and fast titanium face promotes increased ball speed

» SuperFast Technology for faster swing speed and more distance


The reality is that the 9 iron and PW lofts are 39 and 44 degrees.

The R7 TP lofts for 9 iron and PW are 43 and 47 degrees

 

[MVP]

I think The technology plays a part

The different lofts play a part

Also I think over the years there has been more information provided , in books on the internet, dvd's and golf monthly magazine. In general more weekend golfers have a better understanding of there swings and how to make the best of their power without having to go to a pro.

Take this forum for example. If you combine the knowledge of all the guys on here, when some one posts a question about a swing problem there is endless help and advice. So we ourselves also know how to hit the ball further and get more club head speed.
Further to this Pro's Have more equipment like the K-VEST and the quintic suite at the Belfry, which even gives them better understanding of student's swings.

Even tho some drivers are banned i play golf with guys who have the new drivers and they are still hitting it the same distances.

So its a combination of technology of the Clubs, Technology of our new ways to develop better swings and understand them and also your correct about the clubs in general have Stronger lofts.

hope this stays with the question.

 

[Teetotal]

I did a garage clear out recently and found an old wooden wood with a tiny head and took it down the range for a laugh. It went about 100 yards shorter than my Yonex driver and felt like I was spanking concrete. There's no going back now - 7000+ yard courses are the future.

 

[USER1999]

I am actually hitting it shorter, so I must be becomming a girl.

As I am getting older (and more sensible), I have stopped trying to smash the living daylights out of it, and get a more consistent distance with each club.

My old graphite shafted 8 iron would go 150 to 180, where as my current 8 goes 140. In theory, this should have lead to better scoring, but it hasn't. On the other hand, I don't loose as many balls.

My driving has stayed constant roughly, may be a bit less. Mind you, I have never tried a so called 'hot' driver, as I always buy mine in the states.

 

[GB72]

I am of the opinion that within the last year or so it is the change in loft that is making the difference. I did a bit of an experiment with a few of my mates 7 irons. Prior to buying my Di7s I could hit a 7 iron about 150 yards and, surprise surprise, when I used my mates clubs the ball went about 150 yards. My Di7, however, goes about 160 yards. We are being told that technology is helping my 7 iron go further than clubs released last year where the truth is, in fact, that I am effectively hitting a 6 iron. This also helps to create the large difference in lofts between the pithcing and sand wedges in most sets thus allowing companies to milk a bit more money out of the average punter who then has to buy a gap wedge.

 

[muttleee]

We are being told that technology is helping my 7 iron go further than clubs released last year where the truth is, in fact, that I am effectively hitting a 6 iron.

Does this also explain the recent boom in utility woods? As lofts have got lower, 4-irons have presumably become 3-irons and 3-irons have become 2-irons etc. Long irons are notoriously hard to hit (for high handicappers at least), so these changes in loft presumably mean that more and more people are having problems with their long irons and deciding to ditch them in favour of utility woods etc. More clever marketing from the club manufacturers? Not only do you have to buy a set of clubs but if you want to take on that long par 4 in 2 you have to shell out for a few extra woods as well.

 

[GB72]

Good point. I have also noticed that fewer sets in the shops I visit are being sold 5-SW to allow you to use your choice of hybrids. Either you end up with a couple of clubs you do not want or you are sold a progressive set with hybrids included that may not be up to the standard of the ones you already have. I liked to the look of the Mizuno Mx950s but do not want the 2 hybrids included in the set as am more than happy with those that I already have. Also, the hybrids come with the same shafts at the irons and I prefer graphite in my hybrids and steel in my irons.

 

[DCB]

I don't thing the average club golfer is hitting it any longer than they were 20 years ago. I still find myself in the same positions on many of the holes at my club as I was years ago. I play with a 10.5° driver and have done for a few years so the new driver is not making much difference to my game. I would agree about irons being stronger lofts than years ago, but if you go by the loft and not the number its all relative.

Biggest difference is the ball. It does go further and if struck correctly can stop quicker, so the sooner we go back to the small ball, (preferably a Penfold Commando)then we won't need longer courses!