D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
That is a very sweeping statement, why do you think that?
GM Web Article on Distance
- Thread starter DCB
- Start date
That is a very sweeping statement, why do you think that?
Alex1975
Tour Winner
Its a poor article that GM have put together to fill some space. You see this rubbish all over the golf industry. No mention of how much data and for sure those who have game golf are a type of golfer.... Average is not the right phrase.
If the article said... the average of some people in our very unscientific study showed x it would not read well so the press just ham it up. Its all very dull but they do have to fill space.
The really funny bit is that they have created it to look so linear: As you get better you some how suddenly hit it further and as you get older no matter if you get stronger/fitter or not you suddenly get shorter.
The frustrating thing is people who create articles like this must consider that the reader is stupid.
If the article said... the average of some people in our very unscientific study showed x it would not read well so the press just ham it up. Its all very dull but they do have to fill space.
The really funny bit is that they have created it to look so linear: As you get better you some how suddenly hit it further and as you get older no matter if you get stronger/fitter or not you suddenly get shorter.
The frustrating thing is people who create articles like this must consider that the reader is stupid.
drewster
Tour Rookie
I'm about right for my age but below average for my handicap which is what i would have guessed at although my fairway stats are probably better than average.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Fair point.............
But that's why I always question when people claim how far they hit it. PLayed with a lot of different golfers over the years and found only a handful that outhit me. But on the internet there's a lot that claim to outhit me by 20-30 yards, maybe I've not had the pleasure of their company on the course yet. I'm not for one minute saying they are all full of crap, just most of them.........
I haven't been playing golf that long but in that time I have only ever played with and seen a couple of guys hit it the distance they claim - never seen a mid HC hitting 300 yards of the tee or i read a 195 yard 7 Iron ! Any time I have seen someone hit it an average distance that a pro would claim it's always someone who is a cat 1. We have one guy who plays off about 23 and claimed a 285 average ! All rubbish.
There's some on here that seem to get mixed up between anecdotal evidence and empirical evidence. Just because you've seen some old coffin dodger like me hit x yards doesn't mean Joe Average hits it x yards. Its a fact I hit it x yards but it has almost zero effect on the average guy. And using the old coffin dodger example to argue against an average is just plain rubbish.
Get 500,000 coffin dodgers hitting it x yards and it'll give you empirical evidence, and it will give you a truer average.
As an aside, I hit a half decent ball that is up the with most golfers. Strangely enough the yardages in the article, although they appear short, are accurate for me. I'd seriously question many Billybigboots that say they hit it 280yds. Some will, but in my experience most will be lucky to knock out around the 240yds.
Get 500,000 coffin dodgers hitting it x yards and it'll give you empirical evidence, and it will give you a truer average.
As an aside, I hit a half decent ball that is up the with most golfers. Strangely enough the yardages in the article, although they appear short, are accurate for me. I'd seriously question many Billybigboots that say they hit it 280yds. Some will, but in my experience most will be lucky to knock out around the 240yds.
Coffey
Challenge Tour Pro
Completely agree, I am relatively new to golf, completed 2 seasons so wouldn't say I have the most experience. But in my experience to date I'd say I hit the ball further than most off the tee, and would normally be around 20/30 yards further than my playing partners.
I have played with a couple of people who hit the ball further than me but not by much, and they both play off 4.
In saying that, my average carry is about 240 and this would be considered long compared to my playing partners. I am yet to see anyone come out and constantly hit around the 260 mark, never mind the 280 mark. In saying that, there are exceptions and some people can do it.
DCB
Well-known member
So, if that is not the case, why does the regular Tour and the Seniors Tour not play the same courses ?
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
They play pretty similar length courses in a lot of events. I went to a Champions tour event in North Carolina a couple of years ago and the course was over 7,200 yards. Tom Lehman finished birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie to win so they can still get the ball out there.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I have certainly dropped 5 mph in swing speed in the last 10 years, for whatever reason. Injuries, age, fitness, confidence, whatever.
I do know some very big hitting choppers though. Seriously long, who buck the trend game golf are putting out.
I do know some very big hitting choppers though. Seriously long, who buck the trend game golf are putting out.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I also think that they are not trying to say that as your handicap drops you are automatically going to hit it longer. I am guessing that most in the survey have fairly static handicaps, and that statistically, the lower golfers hit it further, which may be what helped them get lower in the first place.
Alex1975
Tour Winner
I have gained about 5 mph with the driver in the last few years.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I am older, and more decrepit. I also dont practice anymore. Or play as much golf. I am also way fatter and much less fit than before. All of which add up!
Alex1975
Tour Winner
So AVERAGELY we have stayed the same.... that is mathematics in action! Wonder if they will write and article about it?!
G
guest100718
Guest
One of my regualr 4 ball is a monster off the tee. he plays off 14, he is pretty wild at times with it though.
MadAdey
Money List Winner
I think the big thing with these results is that they are not very scientific.
The only way something like this could ever be accurate is if they did real testing in a controlled environment. Basically 10 golfers from every category they have listed and get them to play the same course for 3 days in a row. Measure every shot with a driver and see what the results are and use that as the result. This would at least take into account the day when a player has a great driving day, but also the day where we can't hit it to save our life.
All an article like this shows is that golfers will argue about anything on this forum, even when the evidence that has been presented is obviously inaccurate.
The only way something like this could ever be accurate is if they did real testing in a controlled environment. Basically 10 golfers from every category they have listed and get them to play the same course for 3 days in a row. Measure every shot with a driver and see what the results are and use that as the result. This would at least take into account the day when a player has a great driving day, but also the day where we can't hit it to save our life.
All an article like this shows is that golfers will argue about anything on this forum, even when the evidence that has been presented is obviously inaccurate.
Canary_Yellow
Journeyman Pro
I'm confused. Isn't that what game golf effectively does? Not your specific example, but measuring every single shot.
You don't need a controlled environment to see a general trend.
kevingopher
Medal Winner
Small sample of data? I have never seen anyone with a game golf. Some hit it long some don't. Seems for every 1 long hitter there are 2 people willing to argue they are not.
Alex1975
Tour Winner
No? What about weather? Location? The fact that 99.999999999% of golfers don't use game golf...
Why are you so keen for this to be fact?
GreggerKBR
Head Pro
Whilst I would have to agree that not all golfers who shoot the same score doing so in the same way (on tour or the "average golfer") there are a couple of things most people haven't quite observed from that table...
Distance is a combination of skill(ability), strength(speed) and external conditions.
On tour and at club level "Distance" is usually a dominate factor in the top 10 players.
A handicap is an indication of your playing ability and usual indicates how well you strike the ball - you will not find Cat1 players with poor ball striking ability.
Older Age (most likely) affects your ability to achieve clubhead speed.
Overall distance will only come if you are capable of a good strike AND higher clubhead speed at least better than someone else of the same age or someone of same ability.
Add youth (strength/speed) to ability (low handicap) and you get centered strikes and high ball speeds... hey presto = long hitter!
Take an older person who isn't as capable and you get dodgy strikes and lower ball speeds.
None of this should be a surprise to any of us - it's quite logical!
If you are limited to "x" strength and can swing it at maximum "y"mph, the only ways to hit it further are to strike it better "z" or change the other factors (or external conditions).
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
If you remember that the article gets its information from Game Golf, therefore every shot has been measured by GPS, and the data used has only been collected by the people who use Game Golf, so for users of Game Golf the evidence I would suggest is completely accurate, and as such only relates to users of Game Golf.
