D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
They used it for their 3 wood and then the RBZ stage 2 went 10 yards futher.
Average driver distance now and then - R&A
- Thread starter Kellfire
- Start date
They used it for their 3 wood and then the RBZ stage 2 went 10 yards futher.
BTatHome
Tour Winner
Is the correct answer .... but doesn't stop the 17 yds comment being used every time TM have a club released.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I don't really understand statistical averages based upon actual play. Is your average drive based upon EVERY tee shot regardless of where it finishes; your 'acceptable/OK' drives; those drives that stay on the fairway - regardless of where on the fairway they end up); your 'I'm happy with that' drives; or your 'got that one well' drives. We all know how our average distance would vary for each of these scenarios.
Anyway - that's maybe a digression from the OP - and so I'll note that in 1974, and towards the peak of his powers, Big Jack's 'that's OK' drive was 250yds. Rather shows how technology has changed the game and actually why for most of us if we can hit the ball on average 250yds we are doing 'bleedin' well.
Anyway - that's maybe a digression from the OP - and so I'll note that in 1974, and towards the peak of his powers, Big Jack's 'that's OK' drive was 250yds. Rather shows how technology has changed the game and actually why for most of us if we can hit the ball on average 250yds we are doing 'bleedin' well.
I would say I'm as long as I was 25yrs ago but the field, including golfers in their mid 20's, is way beyond me now. Once upon a time if there was a longest drive in a comp I'd be there or there abouts - not any more.
However, if I drag my old Titliest persimmon driver out of the wardrobe it is, a) a lot shorter than my current driver, and b) a lot harder to hit consistently.
However, if I drag my old Titliest persimmon driver out of the wardrobe it is, a) a lot shorter than my current driver, and b) a lot harder to hit consistently.
The average age at our club is 58, Id dare say that a lot of 60 plus golfers dont hit it too far. Its up to this forum to help move it upwards and onwards.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
The quoted average distances are what I suspect to be about right. So many golfers talk of averaging 250+ yards but I dont see this happening in reality.
Exactly, 250+ is getting into the realms of european tour distances, accuracy on the other hand.... 
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
This is probably the main reason...
But I would say that big headed drivers have not really aided technique, and people just pull it out and slap it further right.
My experience is I have gained yardage, especially with my fairways, but I rarely required a driver and used a 13 degree strong 3 wood, when I was good. I probably could still hit similar distances with my 3 wood if not longer, I have a mp series 15 degree titanium somewhere, but my 5 wood is huge and I have opted for an extra wedge due to the irons now having a stronger loft and not playing a links course.
I think the ball is the major factor I remember comparing a pro 90 vs a pro V and it being a massive 10 extra yards with every club and god knows how much with the driver ... it was just massive. Unfortunately you cannot compare like for like nowadays unless someone is producing fresh balls of that era.
Regarding Nicklaus, come on, take his swing speed and put it into a modern club and he will have been in excess of 280 yards ... The equipment has increased distances but it has also made the game easier and brought more people to the fairways.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
I doubt that the average age of club members has greatly increased over the same period.
Also, as a 60+ golfer still comfortably exceeding the quoted figure I don't think that age has that much to do with it. Might not be up to forum lengths of 300+ average but it is still out there!
Perhaps in recent years the tendency has been to rely on equipment rather than technique.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
[video=youtube;glFOEBdJeMA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFOEBdJeMA&feature=share&list=UUZelGnfKLX ic4gDP63dIRxw[/video]
ger147
Tour Winner
Exactly, 250+ is getting into the realms of european tour distances, accuracy on the other hand....
I suspect you are correct, hence the well known phenomenon of "Forum Distances".
I have hit quite a few 250+ yard drives. I have also dumped quite a few in the rubbish in front of the tee, taken a driver divot and sent a few balls in to orbit and carved a few miles in to the trees never to be seen again. I also have a measured long drive record of 391 yards (downwind on a brick hard fairway with a steep downhill at about 250 yards).
If I looked at either the mean, median or mode of my drives, the number would be between 220 and 230 yards as that's where about 80% of my drives end up.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Wow he could send anyone to sleep with that monotone voice !!
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
Its a good point perhaps it should be broken up into the handicap categories...
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I certainly can hit the ball 50yds further from off the tee than I did 25 years ago - my handicaop then was 6 - it is now 10.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
My point was actually that even with the new technology (clubs and balls) available these days, I tend to doubt your average golfer claiming same average distance as Nicklaus was getting back then.
RobertB
Assistant Pro
R&A are in a quagmire on this. Either all the technical advances in ball and clubs are complete baloney or at best worth 5 yards or the sample is all wrong.
Best consistent evidence is to look how pros perform as they remove inconstency as the mark crossfield video highlights on swing path.
Check this simple table out http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2011/11/30/pga-tour-driving-distance-over-the-decades.html
I'd say that back-ups my own personal experience since I started playing in 1978.. new clubs in 1979, then again 1984, and 2000 (with woods changed twice in between) and then this year with woods changed in 2007/8. On Sunday with soggy yellow range balls I was carrying 230+ yds, swapped over and hit a slightly used Pro VI and it flew 250 yds...off an OK hit. Never in a lifetime would I have flown my late 80's / 90's clubs that in the air. On the age/size, I'm now mid forties and carry a few lbs, and compared to my healthy supple 30's there is no comparison.
So I'd call bull on R&A - the tech is making huge distances.... just look back at old clips of the open --- how often did Watson hit long irons for 2nd shots etc ... now the run of mill pro is, subject to extreme weather, bombing 500+yd par 5s in short irons. Laughable.
Returning to Joe Punter ... most likely, given the slashing you see on course and range, there is probably little advance in yardage because the technique for getting club (irrespective of size, materials etc) onto the ball (despite massive step from top flight XL, PTS90/100 to VI) hasn't really improved. Majority of people buy off shelf and slash away.
Best consistent evidence is to look how pros perform as they remove inconstency as the mark crossfield video highlights on swing path.
Check this simple table out http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2011/11/30/pga-tour-driving-distance-over-the-decades.html
I'd say that back-ups my own personal experience since I started playing in 1978.. new clubs in 1979, then again 1984, and 2000 (with woods changed twice in between) and then this year with woods changed in 2007/8. On Sunday with soggy yellow range balls I was carrying 230+ yds, swapped over and hit a slightly used Pro VI and it flew 250 yds...off an OK hit. Never in a lifetime would I have flown my late 80's / 90's clubs that in the air. On the age/size, I'm now mid forties and carry a few lbs, and compared to my healthy supple 30's there is no comparison.
So I'd call bull on R&A - the tech is making huge distances.... just look back at old clips of the open --- how often did Watson hit long irons for 2nd shots etc ... now the run of mill pro is, subject to extreme weather, bombing 500+yd par 5s in short irons. Laughable.
Returning to Joe Punter ... most likely, given the slashing you see on course and range, there is probably little advance in yardage because the technique for getting club (irrespective of size, materials etc) onto the ball (despite massive step from top flight XL, PTS90/100 to VI) hasn't really improved. Majority of people buy off shelf and slash away.
MadAdey
Money List Winner
Looking back to 1996 I was using a TM Ti Bubble II driver compared to my R11s now. Can I hit it any further, the answer to that is simply no. Do I hit a more consistent distance with it, yes. I think if I hit 50 balls with my driver from 1996 and the same with my current one I would expect the average distance and the dispersal to be better on the R11s. But that is what the modern day drivers are all about, you can smack them from almost anywhere on the face and they still go long and straight.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I have to say that the majority of players I see at my club - midweek only - certainly don't exceed the R&A's numbers.
200 is a good hit for most of them.
And, at the end of the day and however you look at it, as long as the R&A have used the same method to arrive at the final figure then it does give an indication.
I know handicap is no real indicator of distance hit, but, your average 18-20 handicapper is going to average about 200-210 off the tee.
Don't forget, we're all. mostly serious(ish) Golfers, striving to get that extra yard or 2.
Many. Many people couldn't give a flyer about that....
200 is a good hit for most of them.
And, at the end of the day and however you look at it, as long as the R&A have used the same method to arrive at the final figure then it does give an indication.
I know handicap is no real indicator of distance hit, but, your average 18-20 handicapper is going to average about 200-210 off the tee.
Don't forget, we're all. mostly serious(ish) Golfers, striving to get that extra yard or 2.
Many. Many people couldn't give a flyer about that....
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
Having read the link, some guy was saying Lexi Thompson was hitting it 290 yards, so thinking WHAT?? I did a bit of looking and googling she has a swing speed around 102-105mph and her ball speed was around 151mph ... That will not get her to 290 on the fly. I think we need to determine what is a carry distance as opposed to a total distance. The swing speed is the key number we should consider.
Now I always thought a good single figure bloke, should watch a good pro women golfer as they were always going to be roughly in the same place. By watching them you could learn better course management. However when I went to see the PGA matchplay in 1997 I was not overwhelmed with the yardages they were cranking out off the tee with there drivers, visually it did not look massively different to what myself, assistant pro and the league team were knocking out. I confess though I have no idea about now and hearing the numbers makes me think WOW, that is massive, I can't get anywhere near that. However I think some of these numbers are exaggerated the run conditions are superb ( yeah I can squeeze 300yards plus out on baked fairways, but I still have only carried 240 ish ... )
So I think I would question the numbers quoted for these pros now, I know they are long, they have fantastic mechanics but their swing speed is the number that matters. It is the only number comparable through generations.
Now I always thought a good single figure bloke, should watch a good pro women golfer as they were always going to be roughly in the same place. By watching them you could learn better course management. However when I went to see the PGA matchplay in 1997 I was not overwhelmed with the yardages they were cranking out off the tee with there drivers, visually it did not look massively different to what myself, assistant pro and the league team were knocking out. I confess though I have no idea about now and hearing the numbers makes me think WOW, that is massive, I can't get anywhere near that. However I think some of these numbers are exaggerated the run conditions are superb ( yeah I can squeeze 300yards plus out on baked fairways, but I still have only carried 240 ish ... )
So I think I would question the numbers quoted for these pros now, I know they are long, they have fantastic mechanics but their swing speed is the number that matters. It is the only number comparable through generations.
talksalot81
Club Champion
I think people simply don't know how far they hit the ball. I am guilty of this and didn't really learn until I started playing with a GPS device. I could have sworn that I was able to hit 250 quite regularly but the reality is that 250 TOTAL is a stonker of a shot. Inspite of this realisation, I am still longer than most people I have ever played with and I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever actually seen someone hit a 300 yard carry.
