Distance with long irons

[billyg]

At the end of the day if you are hitting the ball fairly straight then distance shouldn't be worshipped the way it is. Yes you need a bit of length to your shots but you've got the clubs to hit a par5 in 3 and a par 4 in 2 so don't worry too much.

seconded.

I hit a 3 wood 220 yards but can't hit a PW more than 90 - explain that?

The bottom line is accuracy. I consider myself to be a short hitter for a bloke but apart from on long par 5s- distance is not the problem with my game and I doubt if it is with many of us on here

bill

 

[Herbie]

.

 

[Herbie]

ooops. I just re-read the original post and if the distances indicated are with no run at all it must be the manner in which you strike the ball. If those distances are 'carry' you havent got a problem at all, look at mine and they are with some run.

 

[madandra]

..... ignore old Tiger MVP.....

Sam, I hit my 5 iron about 190-200 and can get 215 from my 3 iron if I was in the zone so we all hit what we hit and I don't think it is big willy syndrome. Here are my numbers


Driver = 260
3 wood = 235
3 iron = 215
4 iron = 205
5 iron = 195
6 iron = 180
7 iron = 170
8 iron = 160
9 iron = 150
PW = 130
52* wedge 110
56* wedge 80
60* wedge 0 yards as its usually in the garage or 170 when I skull the effin thing.

 

[Smiffy]

I used to consistently hit a 7 iron somewhere between 145-150 yards (level ground, no wind) and worked in 10 yard increments from that, so faced with 170 yards or thereabouts I would take a 5 iron. 130 would be a 9 iron for me.
I used to play with a guy who took great pleasure in winding me up because he could hit a 9 iron about 150-160 yards.
But when you looked at his set up, he had his hands so far ahead of the ball that he had effectively delofted his club so that it behaved more like a 6 or 7 iron anyway!
He then wondered why he couldn't get any height on his bigger irons or driver.
I have been losing a little distance with my irons over the past year or so and it's all because I had been letting the ball creep too far forward in my stance. I've now moved it back a bit and the old zip and crisp striking (and distance) are back again.........sometimes!
Rob

 

[medwayjon]

Its a strange thing really and hard to judge on the driving range.

There will always be freak shots, like when I have hit 300yd 3 woods!

It doesnt mean it will happen everytime.

To be honest distance is irrelevant in the large, its all about getting it in the hole in the least number of strokes so if you get to the green and make your putts does it matter if you take 3W and a wedge or Driver & 6I?

 

[ColinR]

My game changed this year when I started working on 1/2 and 3/4 swings. By this I mean, I can hit a 8i 150 yards with a full swing, but I dont. I will now take a half swing with a 6i or a 3/4 swing with a 7i and hit the same distance, much more control with improved accuracy.

My GIR has significantly improved by not playing each club to its full distance, especially between PW and 7i.

 

[MVP]

..... ignore old Tiger MVP.....

Sam, I hit my 5 iron about 190-200 and can get 215 from my 3 iron if I was in the zone so we all hit what we hit and I don't think it is big willy syndrome. Here are my numbers


Driver = 260
3 wood = 235
3 iron = 215
4 iron = 205
5 iron = 195
6 iron = 180
7 iron = 170
8 iron = 160
9 iron = 150
PW = 130
52* wedge 110
56* wedge 80
60* wedge 0 yards as its usually in the garage or 170 when I skull the effin thing.

thats about the same yardage as i have andy(even the lob wedge) except i hit my driver twice as far as you ner enr enr enrr hahahahahahahahaha

 

[USER1999]

If you haven't measured accurately, as Homer suggests (using a gps), measurements are at best guess work.

Measuring anything at this time of year is a joke (I have been doing this for a laugh with my gps and the distances are pathetic). Wait til May before you start worrying.

At this time of year, getting a good contact with long irons is hard, they don't fly in the cold air, there is no run. At the moment, my 5i, 4i and 3 hybrid go the same distance, different flight, same result. This is not true in the spring/summer/autumn, once run is factored in. This is winter golf.

I have hit 195ish with a 5i, and over 180 with an 8i (graphite shafts = unpredictable for my swing), but right now it is 165 with the 5i. It may go up in the summer, but down in winter. Claiming distances for each club, without a statement on season/conditions (what are average conditions? - links turf is way firmer than parkland for instance). If the OP is measuring now, telling him how far you hit it in Spain last summer is irrelevant.

Another point for any big hitting high h/cappers is, if you aren't hitting greens with your irons (and if you are, learn to putt), you are swinging too hard.

Back on post:

Question for the OP, do you fade/slice the ball. A slice will be much more pronounced on longer clubs, as side spin becomes the overiding factor, where as on shorter clubs, back spin keeps them straight. As a result, the gaps between clubs will get shorter as you move up the set.