Forum distance versus real distance?

[Ethan]

I bet nobody has actually posted a real, genuine average of anything.
Who measures the top off the tee, the schlap into the undergrowth or the thin onto the next tee...?
We only ever measure decent shots and then we tend to forget the slightly worse ones and count more of the better ones....
I don't care how far anyone hits anything and anyway, the weather is diffdrent everyday so will affect how far you hit it. It's often said " on a calm day how far do you hit a 7 iron" - absolutely no idea as I don't recall the last time I used a 7 iron on a flat calm day, in fact I can't remember the last flat, calm day.......
I can hit my driver anywhere between 5 and 300+ yards....
How far I actually hit is another matter entirely

Average has a number of meanings.

You can have the mean, which most people understand as average, but if you have an asymmetrical data set, say 10 drives that go 20 (duff), 25 (top), 190, 200, 210, 230, 240, 240, 245 and 250, then the mean (181) is a bit misleading with only two drives shorter than it and 8 further, so median (220) would be better. This makes the average more like the typical shot.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Hahaha, maybe I should have added an extra note to say why I added that.
I thought it was important to add as any eagle eyed forumer (is that a word) would have noticed I hit my 3 hybrid the same distance as my 4-iron, which could result in a question as to why I carry the club in the first place.

but thanks for caring!

No problemo - I can be quite pedantic (btw - can you be quite pedantic - dunno)

 

[londonlewis]

No problemo - I can be quite pedantic (btw - can you be quite pedantic - dunno)

No I'm not pedantic.
technically it should be 'no problema' as the word is feminine in Spanish but whatever...

 

[harpo_72]

Average has a number of meanings.

You can have the mean, which most people understand as average, but if you have an asymmetrical data set, say 10 drives that go 20 (duff), 25 (top), 190, 200, 210, 230, 240, 240, 245 and 250, then the mean (181) is a bit misleading with only two drives shorter than it and 8 further, so median (220) would be better. This makes the average more like the typical shot.

However to quote the number 220yds would be negative, and any positive thinker will tell you that 240yds is the best as it is the mode number ... The point being you should be honest and say well that 280 yard drive was a flash in the pan and more often than not my ball flies out to 230yards etc... All the duffs and mi***** are discounted they are spurious data sets, unless of cause you duff,top, fat,slap,shank and whiff all the time, then by all means include them and perhaps get a lesson or take something else off the tee!

 

[harpo_72]

Miss hits = *****

 

[Yosser]

All the duffs and mi***** are discounted they are spurious data sets, unless of cause you duff,top, fat,slap,shank and whiff all the time, then by all means include them and perhaps get a lesson or take something else off the tee!

You've missed out duck-hook, hook-slice, thin and sky, some of us have more shot variations than Bubba Watson!

 

[SocketRocket]

I hit one minus 50 yards recently. It hit a stone tee marker and shot back over my head and behind the tee box. Bit embarrassing

 

[duncan mackie]

However to quote the number 220yds would be negative, and any positive thinker will tell you that 240yds is the best as it is the mode number ... The point being you should be honest and say well that 280 yard drive was a flash in the pan and more often than not my ball flies out to 230yards etc... All the duffs and mi***** are discounted they are spurious data sets, unless of cause you duff,top, fat,slap,shank and whiff all the time, then by all means include them and perhaps get a lesson or take something else off the tee!

hence my reference to 'water carry'......

I know (from experience) what people who 'hit their driver about 250' do when given a choice between a 220 carry or avoiding it and going round when anything's at stake.

A 220 carry is a long way.

 

[Captainron]

I'm long because I am tall and my distances are the same in real life as they are on here in my alternate life

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Average is important but I base how far I hit my clubs like this, if I have a pin at 155 yards I hit my 8 iron I don't think but what happens if I hit it fat and it goes 80 yards and pull out my 4 iron, it wouldn't make sense.

I have a gap at the Belfry which is a 220-280 yard carry depending on how much you cut off. I know if I don't hit a nice shot then it will not make it, but I still go over it every time and have sent some skyward some with too much fade which have come up short but I've also hit lots of good shots with the best being 290 yards leaving me a short pitch to the difficult green.

What's the point in playing based on your bad shots?

 

[Region3]

I think true averages (mean) of ALL shots with a club is useless information.

Imagine a 20hc who hits his driver 260 on his good hits, but averaging out all shots including bad ones makes it 180.

180 or 260

Which number is more useful to a club fitter?
which number (unqualified) gives you a better idea of their game if you're planning tactics for a match against them?

Imurg - how do you know what club to use from 150 into what you guess to be a 2 club wind if you don't know how far they go wind free?

Duncan - I'll take on the water carry challenge

 

[Bound by convention]

Just used Google Maps to measure my tee shot on first yesterday

'just curious about the accuracy (not doubting your ability!). Did you just measure it using a rule, or does Google maps have a feature that carries out precise measurement?

Regards
Bbc

 

[Mr A]

No wonder this topic is such a touchy subject.

I would class myself as a slightly longer than average hitter, in that I haven't played with anyone who has out drove me regularly (mainly mid handicappers, im off 20). And to me, taking all my decent drives (non duffs) I would say I average 240/245. Anyone who consistently hits it more than 250/260 is a big hitter. Take our 2nd hole, 420yds off the whites, runs slightly downhill through the green. I hardly ever seen anyone hit an iron after a good drive, which to me means most good drives don't get to within 170ish yards.

I don't know if it's people wanting to show off, or are just misguided, but most good drives for your average club golfer wont go much further than 250.

Goes without saying there are exceptions however.

 

[Crow]

I play a lot of golf, with a lot of people, and the percentage that can stand on a tee and take on a water carry of 220 with a driver on a still day isn't great :whoo:

So true. We have a 90 degree, dog-leg, left to right Par 4; to cut the corner takes a carry of 235 yards form the whites or 217 from the yellows. The only players I see take this on as a matter of course are the longer Cat 1 players or the genuine long hitters.

I'm considered longish by my playing partners (yeah, they're really short!) but in a competition I will always lay up with a 5 iron or hybrid or similar and then play over the corner. I see quite a few try and drive past the corner relying on run out but what often happens is that they try and give it a but more and slice it OB.

 

[srixon 1]

I love this topic and think it is funny that a lot of golfers think that distance off the tee is directly related to the size of their penis and the sign of a better golfer.
If that was the case, Jamie Sadlowski would walk on three legs and would win every golf tournament EVER!

My distances are typically;
Driver - up to 290 unless assisted by wind or a downhill fairway
3 wood - up to 250
3 hybrid - 200 (flies high, lands soft)
4 iron - 200
5 iron - 185
6 iron - 165
7 iron - 150/155
8 iron - 140
9 iron - 130
PW - 110
52 deg - 90
56 deg - 85
60 deg - 65

I'm sure I could hit it further if I swung like a mad man but I would rather be in the fairway with a good angle in to the green.
I think it helps being confident with a 4 iron as well.


For forum yards, is there a science to it? or do I just say whatever distance I think will impress people?
If there is a science, maybe just add 20% to all my distances above - that would mean I drive the ball 350 - yeah, I like that.

I guess that you don't play golf in shorts then?

 

[Imurg]

Imurg - how do you know what club to use from 150 into what you guess to be a 2 club wind if you don't know how far they go wind free?

I'll hit one club more than I would into a 1 club wind.........:cheers:

 

[the hammer]

I bought a motocaddy s3 lite on saturday, and according to that i hit a 301 yd drive on our 12th ( which is one the featured pics on our website), wedge to the green.
still got a 5.

 

[londonlewis]

I guess that you don't play golf in shorts then?

never. And I have to wear baggy trousers!

So what are your distances then?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

'just curious about the accuracy (not doubting your ability!). Did you just measure it using a rule, or does Google maps have a feature that carries out precise measurement?

Regards
Bbc

There is new feature in Googvle Maps (satellite view) you can activate that straight ligives you straight line distances between any two points you click. I guess it is as accurate as GPS golf devices as it will use the same data.

@foxholer - not such a technotard me after all - one all methinks

 

[USER1999]

I hit one minus 50 yards recently. It hit a stone tee marker and shot back over my head and behind the tee box. Bit embarrassing

That's your average shot to pieces then!