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How far do you hit your clubs

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asru1927

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Hi

I am 24 handicapper and have been playing for about a year now. I am curious to see how far people hit their clubs and whether I should persue more distance in order to enter into the teens.

I currently hit the following distances.

Driver 220-230
7 wood 160-170
4 hybrid 150-160
7 iron 130-150
8 iron 120-130
9 iron 110-120
Pw 100-110
Gw 80-100
Sw 50-80

I actually believe that in order to lower my score i need to remove all silly shots and sharpen ahort game even further (its not too bad presently).

Thanks
 
asru1927 said:
Hi

I am 24 handicapper and have been playing for about a year now. I am curious to see how far people hit their clubs and whether I should persue more distance in order to enter into the teens.

I currently hit the following distances.

Driver 220-230
7 wood 160-170
4 hybrid 150-160
7 iron 130-150
8 iron 120-130
9 iron 110-120
Pw 100-110
Gw 80-100
Sw 50-80

I actually believe that in order to lower my score i need to remove all silly shots and sharpen ahort game even further (its not too bad presently).

Thanks
Click to expand...

I did my gap testing last night, mine are as follows (averages over 10-15 shots);

[TABLE="width: 192"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64"]Carry[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64"]Total[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]LW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, align: right"]68[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, align: right"]70[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]SW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]84[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]87[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]GW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]100[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]PW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]119[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]124[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]9i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]137[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]8i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]139[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]148[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]7i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]152[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]162[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]6i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]158[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]170[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]5i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]163[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]179[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]4h[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]177[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]191[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]3w[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]200[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]228[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]D[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]217[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]239[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I need something, probably a 3 hybrid, to plug the gap between my 4h and 3 wood. I was also spinning the driver at 3500rpm so I am going to work on bringing this down to increase my distance with the driver - I occasionally get this right and hit one an extra 15 or so yards carry.

Distance isnt such a biggy though, I would sooner be consistently straight and lose distance and Im not even a big hitter as it is. Seems too many people worry about distance rather than hitting it straight.

Edit: i also didnt seem to be hitting my 5 iron well at all last night, this is normally around 170 carry.
 
Last edited:
I would say they mirror my distances pretty much spot on. I'm off 22. These distances are not holding me back, it is inconsistency that does that. I accept that you are unlikely to get to single figures with those distances but 24, or 22 in my case, to 9 is so far off that it is not worth worrying about. I also suspect that if we both hit the ball more consistently then our distances may creep up anyway. I know my clean strikes are at the top end of those specs but I don't get those often enough.

Worry about distance once you remove the silly shots and have a really decent short game (no offence meant)
 
You'll soon get the "distance doesn't matter" brigade along to tell you not to bother.

It depends on a few things such as how long is the course you play? Do you need the distance? I got my handicap off the pga. Distance gains had a massive impact on my handicap. my friends course is very short and puts the emphasis on placement and good shortgame.

Also, we cant see you physically. So are you already at you limit? or have you loads in the tank?

Only you can answer the above. ultimately, a playing lessons will isolate what you need to get you into the teens

7 iron= 170 carry
Driver =280 total
 
asru1927 said:
Hi

I am 24 handicapper and have been playing for about a year now. I am curious to see how far people hit their clubs and whether I should persue more distance in order to enter into the teens.

I currently hit the following distances.

Driver 220-230
7 wood 160-170
4 hybrid 150-160
7 iron 130-150
8 iron 120-130
9 iron 110-120
Pw 100-110
Gw 80-100
Sw 50-80

I actually believe that in order to lower my score i need to remove all silly shots and sharpen ahort game even further (its not too bad presently).

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome.

Doesn't look as though distance would be an issue for you on most courses. Quality of strike and getting it straight should be the priority to lower those scores into the teens (along with the all important short game of course). You'll probably find distances will improve as your strike and swing improve the more you play.
 
Grieve14 said:
I did my gap testing last night, mine are as follows (averages over 10-15 shots);

[TABLE="width: 192"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64"]Carry[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 64"]Total[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]LW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl68, align: right"]68[/TD]
[TD="class: xl69, align: right"]70[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]SW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]84[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]87[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]GW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]100[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]105[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]PW[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]119[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]124[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]9i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]130[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]137[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]8i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]139[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]148[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]7i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]152[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]162[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]6i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]158[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]170[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]5i[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]163[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]179[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]4h[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]177[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]191[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]3w[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]200[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]228[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]D[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, align: right"]217[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, align: right"]239[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I need something, probably a 3 hybrid, to plug the gap between my 4h and 3 wood. I was also spinning the driver at 3500rpm so I am going to work on bringing this down to increase my distance with the driver - I occasionally get this right and hit one an extra 15 or so yards carry.

Distance isnt such a biggy though, I would sooner be consistently straight and lose distance and Im not even a big hitter as it is. Seems too many people worry about distance rather than hitting it straight.

Edit: i also didnt seem to be hitting my 5 iron well at all last night, this is normally around 170 carry.
Click to expand...

Maybe get rid of your 3W in favour of either a 4W or a 5W?
 
Slime said:
Maybe get rid of your 3W in favour of either a 4W or a 5W?
Click to expand...

My 3 wood is really a 4W i guess, its a 16.5 deg 'high launch' 3 wood.. I also have 1 slot free to use so might as well keep the closer gaps and get a 3h rather than having larger gaps i suppose
 
Grieve14 said:
My 3 wood is really a 4W i guess, its a 16.5 deg 'high launch' 3 wood.. I also have 1 slot free to use so might as well keep the closer gaps and get a 3h rather than having larger gaps i suppose
Click to expand...

If the driver only gains you 11 yards v a 16.5 degree wood, i would think DROP your driver or use it very sparingly makes sense
 
351DRIVER said:
If the driver only gains you 11 yards v a 16.5 degree wood, i would think DROP your driver or use it very sparingly makes sense
Click to expand...

I was spinning the driver at over 3500rpm on average. When i get this in the 2500-2700 range i am carrying it an extra 15-20 yards giving me 30+ yards more then my 16.5 deg wood. I just need to work on keeping the spin down.
 
I think I have some more yards left in the tank but when i do try and wind more into my shots and swing through faster i tend to lose accuracy and on the tighter holes i end up losing shots. I went out this morning and shot a 91 on a par 69 5700yds course and there we still a few silly shots that could have been avoided so I am confident that by doing what I am doing ill get to the teens.

Having said that we have a matchplay tournament at work and I came up againt an 11hcp and he could hit the ball a country mile which makes me think to get that level distance starts playing a much bigger role especially on the longer courses. I played a few longer courses over the last few weeks and to get GIR i needed 2 or 3 of my best shots and unfortunately these dont always come out of the bag when you are a 24 hcper...
 
PW 120
9I 135-140
8I 150
7I 165
6I 180
5I 195
HYBRID 220
2I 220 but lower height slight fade
3W 240
D 260-265 into the trees

Swing speed is 92mph with a 6I and unknown with the driver(guess 108mph)
 
A bit off topic but how often do people get their gaps tested? mines was last done probably 16 months ago and since then have moved from 25 to 18 and ball striking has improved- I figure my carry has increased a bit but i'm making an educated guess as couldn't pin an average down (maybe 5 yards). on a Normal day 7 iron used to be about 145-150 now I'd say 155-160.

I think I'll book in for a session prior to 2017 season and get it done with a pro
 
turkish said:
A bit off topic but how often do people get their gaps tested? mines was last done probably 16 months ago and since then have moved from 25 to 18 and ball striking has improved- I figure my carry has increased a bit but i'm making an educated guess as couldn't pin an average down (maybe 5 yards). on a Normal day 7 iron used to be about 145-150 now I'd say 155-160.

I think I'll book in for a session prior to 2017 season and get it done with a pro
Click to expand...

First thing to do is have your lofts checked. Out of the box clubs can be off by a considerable margin. When i got my pings this year my friend checked them. The 50 degree gap wegde was actually 48.5 and my pw should be 45 was 46.

So not having the correct loft will give you duff readings
 
I've never had my gaps tested, maybe its something I should consider.

I've realised this year that since starting weight training at Christmas my distances have increased, which has meant for several dodgy rounds where I literally didn't have a clue what club I needed. Also, the hot weather seems to have had a massive difference (15 yards on my 9 iron) to distances also.

I think I play more by feel than pure distance. Maybe that's why I'm hanging around 14.5 hcp and not coming down.
 
351DRIVER said:
This topic should be automatically banned
Click to expand...

I agree when it turns into a willy waving contest with all the short hitters calling the long hitters a liar.

In the OP's context I think it's a fair question though. It's useful for an inexperienced golfer to know how their distances compare to other players.



asru1927 said:
Hi

I am 24 handicapper and have been playing for about a year now. I am curious to see how far people hit their clubs and whether I should persue more distance in order to enter into the teens.

I currently hit the following distances.

Driver 220-230
7 wood 160-170
4 hybrid 150-160
7 iron 130-150
8 iron 120-130
9 iron 110-120
Pw 100-110
Gw 80-100
Sw 50-80

I actually believe that in order to lower my score i need to remove all silly shots and sharpen ahort game even further (its not too bad presently).

Thanks
Click to expand...

Your distances are about the same as I guy I play with off 10 (and has been to 9).

As long as you keep the ball in play you can get a lot lower than you are now without gaining distance. If you can get longer without losing what you have then go for it because it definitely helps, but you don't NEED to be longer than you are to improve your scores.
 
asru1927 said:
Hi

I am 24 handicapper and have been playing for about a year now. I am curious to see how far people hit their clubs and whether I should persue more distance in order to enter into the teens.

I currently hit the following distances.

Driver 220-230
7 wood 160-170
4 hybrid 150-160
7 iron 130-150
8 iron 120-130
9 iron 110-120
Pw 100-110
Gw 80-100
Sw 50-80

I actually believe that in order to lower my score i need to remove all silly shots and sharpen ahort game even further (its not too bad presently).

Thanks
Click to expand...

i would suggest that you could comfortably be a cat 1 player without hitting it any further
 
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