Driving Distance

[Sneds]

This is the one distance that I don't really know how far I hit. I suspect the range that I go to has inaccurate distances and even with accurate distances, it's pretty hard to judge how far in front or past a '200/250' yard board it is.

Previously I've simply used the distance to the green from the tee and then used the distance from the 150yard markers after that to find a distance.

So if I have 160 yards to the green on my second shot on a 360 yard hole. I assume I hit the ball about 200 yards. However, I remember when people started using Sky Caddies they all said that they were surprised when they saw how far their drives went - so can I really use this method as measurement reliably? x

 

[birdieman]

You can if you are in the middle of the fairway on a straight hole which is where the course is measured from.
However if you cut the corner on a dog leg 360 yd hole and you have 160 in you likely haven't driven it 200.
You also need to be aware of where the tees on the day are in relation to the permanent yardage marker as that could deduct or add yards to your drive.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use the measure function on my SC5 to work it out. It proved what I knew all along that my ego and my real distance were not in the same universe. Actually I knew I was a short hitter and I guess I average around 225-230 yards. Even when I nail one and think "I'll measure this one" it invariably only comes up around 240-260. I think I've had one drive this year around the 280 mark!

I wouldn't mind being a weakling if I hit the bloody thing straight but I can't even do that at the moment

 

[Sneds]

I use the measure function on my SC5 to work it out. It proved what I knew all along that my ego and my real distance were not in the same universe. Actually I knew I was a short hitter and I guess I average around 225-230 yards. Even when I nail one and think "I'll measure this one" it invariably only comes up around 240-260. I think I've had one drive this year around the 280 mark!

I wouldn't mind being a weakling if I hit the bloody thing straight but I can't even do that at the moment

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about? Surely before you used your SC5 you could have gauged how far you hit your driver using markers? Why was it such a shock for you that you didn't hit it as far? x

 

[RGDave]

So if I have 160 yards to the green on my second shot on a 360 yard hole. I assume I hit the ball about 200 yards. However, I remember when people started using Sky Caddies they all said that they were surprised when they saw how far their drives went - so can I really use this method as measurement reliably? x

You can use this method, but it's only going to give you fairly vague readings unless you know the exact placement of the tee and where the markers/posts/score-saver refer to. Also, certain holes tend to roll out more or less....etc....etc....

A lot of folks forget that tees are often forward of the marker "stone". On some holes, if you are on the edge of the fairway right by a 150 marker, you could probably add a good few yards, depending how wide your fairways are!

 

[Imurg]

In the years BS (before Skycaddie!) if I hit a shot and I wanted to know how far it had gone then I'd pace it out - simple as that. Ok its not going to be 100% accurate but its going to be realtively close.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The thing with taking a measurement from the tee to yardage markers is that you are reliant on them being accurate. I found from using my SC on various courses that there is a big margin for error at times. I think the best way for an estimation is to pace it out.

 

[TWM]

I think the best way for an estimation is to pace it out.

How many of us can be sure our paces are 36 inches?
I always add a few yards to my estimate.

 

[JustOne]

How many of us can be sure our paces are 36 inches?
I always add a few yards to my estimate.

My inside leg on my jeans is 31 inches, I purposely make sure that when I walk my legs form a perfect equilateral triangle (3 sides the same length) therefore I know that each pace is 31 inches so each pace needs a further 5 inches added, so what I do is count how many paces it is to the ball, divide by the amount of beers I had last week, add my shoesize, double it and multiply by my last gross score - it's not unusual for me to hit over 600 yards!!

 

[rickg]

My inside leg on my jeans is 31 inches, I purposely make sure that when I walk my legs form a perfect equilateral triangle (3 sides the same length) therefore I know that each pace is 31 inches so each pace needs a further 5 inches added, so what I do is count how many paces it is to the ball, divide by the amount of beers I had last week, add my shoesize, double it and multiply by my last gross score - it's not unusual for me to hit over 600 yards!!

Are you using soft spikes or metal? There's an additional 2% to be added for soft spikes.

 

[Region3]

Why not measure a distance on a device, then pace it out using normal strides.

I did this years ago (for some reason I can't quite remember) and I know that 9 of my normal steps is 8 yards.

You have to do a little bit of maths after you've paced anything out but at least you don't have to march to your ball like John Cleese.

 

[JustOne]

I did this years ago (for some reason I can't quite remember) and I know that 9 of my normal steps is 8 yards.

Using my patented formula I have scientifically calculated that you are either 6foot7" with stumpy little legs or 4foot2" and use stilts

The thought of pacing 304 of your steps and trying to work out how far that is in yards makes me feel ill. I normally figure that if I hit the ball well it's gone 300 yards, if I don't quite get all of it then it's gone 200,.... regardless of what club it was

 

[Region3]

I'm not particularly bothered how far I hit my drives, but before I had a SC I used to use that method to pace out distance markers to my ball to work out how far I had left.

 

[viscount17]

so where is that 150 yard marker measured from and to?
centre of fairway, then extrapolated to their positions at one or both sides of the fairway, and are they placed at right angles to the measured point or on the arc as they should be? is the front of the green still the same as when the marker was measured? when was the last time the marker was removed or driven over by some idiot in a buggy (most of ours are bent!) and was it put back in the right place?
of course if you have a marker plate in the middle of the fairway then none of this applies - or does it.

 

[Region3]

We have markers in the middle of the fairways at 100, 150, and 200. Also 150 markers each side of the fairway just into the rough. All distances are from the marker to the centre of the green.
It normally tells you on the scorecard where the distances are measured to.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

I use the measure function on my SC5 to work it out. It proved what I knew all along that my ego and my real distance were not in the same universe. Actually I knew I was a short hitter and I guess I average around 225-230 yards. Even when I nail one and think "I'll measure this one" it invariably only comes up around 240-260. I think I've had one drive this year around the 280 mark!

I wouldn't mind being a weakling if I hit the bloody thing straight but I can't even do that at the moment

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about? Surely before you used your SC5 you could have gauged how far you hit your driver using markers? Why was it such a shock for you that you didn't hit it as far? x

Sneds am i reading this wrong or have you just replied to Homer and added a little kiss at the end of your post???

 

[Sneds]

I'm not sure you'll find too many of my posts without a kiss. Unfortunately for Homer, it's not exclusive to him. x

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Haha...i'm sure he's heartbroken!!!!!

 

[viscount17]

We have markers in the middle of the fairways at 100, 150, and 200. Also 150 markers each side of the fairway just into the rough. All distances are from the marker to the centre of the green.
It normally tells you on the scorecard where the distances are measured to.

true, but it doesn't say where it was measured from. if you have markers in the middle of the fairway you could assume that it's measured from there, otherwise you can't assume.

of course a lot of this is meaningless until I can hit to a distance.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

My inside leg on my jeans is 31 inches, I purposely make sure that when I walk my legs form a perfect equilateral triangle (3 sides the same length) therefore I know that each pace is 31 inches so each pace needs a further 5 inches added, so what I do is count how many paces it is to the ball, divide by the amount of beers I had last week, add my shoesize, double it and multiply by my last gross score - it's not unusual for me to hit over 600 yards!!

Are you using soft spikes or metal? There's an additional 2% to be added for soft spikes.

Also, what trousers are you wearing??? Farah waffles add another 10%.........