Average driver distance now and then - R&A

[Kellfire]

According to the R&A the average driver distance in 1996 was 205 yards.

In 2012 it was 208 yards.

Can we assume timgolfy made up the difference and the rest of us stayed the same?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

So converted to forum distances that's an extra 33 yards.

 

[JustOne]

According to the R&A the average driver distance in 1996 was 205 yards.

In 2012 it was 208 yards.

Down from 311yds in 2011

 

[Imurg]

According to the R&A the average driver distance in 1996 was 205 yards.

In 2012 it was 208 yards.

Are you suggesting that all these Extra Yardage claims by the makers of Golf Equipment are factually incorrect - barring the 3 yard increase which could be put down to teeing the ball 2mm higher..........

 

[JustOne]

Are you suggesting that all these Extra Yardage claims by the makers of Golf Equipment are factually incorrect - barring the 3 yard increase which could be put down to teeing the ball 2mm higher..........

Your recent form hasn't helped that statistic!!!!!! :sbox:

(LOL)

 

[Ethan]

This kind of stat appears pretty often, as does data on the average handicap or average score. One of the problems is that the denominator is not necessarily the same for both samples, so you are not really comparing like with like. There may be more new players in the latter sample, for example.

I think many people who have played golf for a few decades will tell you they hit the ball farther than they ever have. That may or may not translate into lower scores or handicaps, although you might expect handicaps to stay more stable as they are partly determined by competition with others, and that can (to a certain extent) be a zero sum game if everyone gets the same benefit.

 

[Stuey01]

So how have they arrived at that stat then? To the best of my knowledge there haven't been any blokes in anoraks out there with the measuring tape during my medal rounds this year.

Is it a mean, median or mode? They are all averages and, as has been discussed at length on here in every average distance thread since the dawn of time, are quite different.

 

[JustOne]

They attended a few junior lessons and measured those.

 

[Matty2803]

This needs to be shown to TM! 17 yards further with RBZ. Load of rubbish then!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

So how have they arrived at that stat then? To the best of my knowledge there haven't been any blokes in anoraks out there with the measuring tape during my medal rounds this year.

Is it a mean, median or mode? They are all averages and, as has been discussed at length on here in every average distance thread since the dawn of time, are quite different.

http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/News/2013/May/Drive-Distance.aspx

 

[Stuey01]

http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/News/2013/May/Drive-Distance.aspx

Thanks for the link, it was interesting.
Unfortunately it doesn't answer either question I posed.

 

[TheDashingBlade]

I'd be very interested to know how they do their stats. Are the figures related to average driver distance or do they include numbers from back in 1996 where folk would be more inclined to only use 3 wood off the tee (i.e. people like me!). Do they include the absolute duffs off the tee that barely make it past the reds?

Personally, I don't find much benefit from new technology distance wise - I think the longest ever driver I hit was an original 9 deg Big Bertha with a steel shaft. But could I hit it consistently? Could I hell!

And that's where I think the gains our found in technology - consistency/finding more fairways. With a 460cc driver, I know I will find more fairways than with the older, smaller heads.

 

[patricks148]

What i want to know is how they arrived at that info?

if they asked on here it would have been at least 100 yards longer

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Not much of an endorsement for multi-layer balls, 460cc drivers etc;

Also a timely reminder to Club Committees to stop obsessing over the length of their courses unless they are regularly hosting pro' or elite amateur events.

 

[Keeno]

I'm guessing they may be using a mix of gents, ladies and juniors to get to this number.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Thanks for the link, it was interesting.
Unfortunately it doesn't answer either question I posed.

No, I realised that but it was the best I could do

 

[pbrown7582]

This needs to be shown to TM! 17 yards further with RBZ. Load of rubbish then!

that was for DJ at his swing speed not us mere mortals....

 

[BTatHome]

This needs to be shown to TM! 17 yards further with RBZ. Load of rubbish then!

Did TM actually use that line with the Drivers, as that is what is being discussed here?

 

[guest100718]

Did TM actually use that line with the Drivers, as that is what is being discussed here?

Wasnt it 10 more yards for RBZ then 17 more for the stage 2? or maybe the other way round. Either way My R1 doesn't go any further than my G20 which doesn't go any further than my BB460 which doesn't go any further then my Tisi Tec....

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Not much of an endorsement for multi-layer balls, 460cc drivers etc;

Also a timely reminder to Club Committees to stop obsessing over the length of their courses unless they are regularly hosting pro' or elite amateur events.

I expect because its very open to scrutiny that it wont effect much - i know i drive it further due to club and ball changes and i expect most of the pros drive it further with the ball and equipment changes