Golf is a an easy game with infinite opportunities to make it complicated
How far do you hit your clubs
- Thread starter asru1927
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Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I have said on here many times.....if you want to measure improvement count the number of really good full shots you hit during a round.
Once it gets into double figures you are on your way.
Nicklaus was once asked that question after knocking it round Muirfield in 66........his reply was 'about 6 or 7'.
Once it gets into double figures you are on your way.
Nicklaus was once asked that question after knocking it round Muirfield in 66........his reply was 'about 6 or 7'.
IanG
Tour Rookie
That's an interesting metric I've not seen before - I played well in a bounce game on Sunday and looking back I'd count 7 'really good' full shots. (Clearly my measure of really good is different from Jack's
) Hit 4 chips stone dead too which helped a lot!
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
This is very evident for 'today's golfer' if you have a read of Harry Vardon's 1905 Book The Complete Golfer - I have a copy of the 1914 revision he did as he appreciated that equipment and the game had moved on a lot since he first wrote it
Boy does Vardon make golf sound simple. Nothing terribly technical about how they played golf 'back in the day'. They just hit worked out the best shot and club to use for any particular situation they faced and then just hit it.
SugarPenguin
Challenge Tour Pro
Driver - 275
3wood - 240
Hybrid - 215
4iron - 195
5iron - 183
6iron - 171
7iron - 159
8iron - 147
9iron - 135
wedge - 125
50 - 105
56 - 80
60 - 60
Hit my irons and wedges like a fairy for some reason.
Did a gap test and the numbers were very similar to what you see above give or take a few yards. Hard to say with the driver. On the gap it was 282 average but you don't get as much roll out on the course as I only carry it about 255.
3wood - 240
Hybrid - 215
4iron - 195
5iron - 183
6iron - 171
7iron - 159
8iron - 147
9iron - 135
wedge - 125
50 - 105
56 - 80
60 - 60
Hit my irons and wedges like a fairy for some reason.
Did a gap test and the numbers were very similar to what you see above give or take a few yards. Hard to say with the driver. On the gap it was 282 average but you don't get as much roll out on the course as I only carry it about 255.
Dannyj1984
Assistant Pro
I am sure it has been mentioned I only got up to page 3 of the comments, but improving your putting and short game (under 100 yards) should be next on your list.
I have only been playing properly 6 months or so, I have done 2 of my 3 handicap cards. when I did a quick test on a GC2 a few month ago,
Driver 232
4h 191
and pretty much 10 yards off for each club down.
I didnt have a 3wood at the time and still don't now although I borrowed one when my driver went for repair and I hit it further than my driver :s probably to do with my driver being on a grey castle tee and 3 wood on a white one and my driver is 12 degrees and 3 wood was 15 degrees.
Anyway on my first handicap round I 3 putted or worse every hole apart from 1!!! My short game is actually good but putting is awful, I blame a cheap putter I got my total score for 18 holes was 98 so if I had 2 putted half of the holes I 3 putted that would get me down to 89 on a par 71 which I would be more than happy with. Next time you go on a round count up how many putts you take and maybe how many shots it takes you from under 100 yards.
Danny
I have only been playing properly 6 months or so, I have done 2 of my 3 handicap cards. when I did a quick test on a GC2 a few month ago,
Driver 232
4h 191
and pretty much 10 yards off for each club down.
I didnt have a 3wood at the time and still don't now although I borrowed one when my driver went for repair and I hit it further than my driver :s probably to do with my driver being on a grey castle tee and 3 wood on a white one and my driver is 12 degrees and 3 wood was 15 degrees.
Anyway on my first handicap round I 3 putted or worse every hole apart from 1!!! My short game is actually good but putting is awful, I blame a cheap putter I got
my total score for 18 holes was 98 so if I had 2 putted half of the holes I 3 putted that would get me down to 89 on a par 71 which I would be more than happy with. Next time you go on a round count up how many putts you take and maybe how many shots it takes you from under 100 yards.Danny
I am sure it has been mentioned I only got up to page 3 of the comments, but improving your putting and short game (under 100 yards) should be next on your list.
I have only been playing properly 6 months or so, I have done 2 of my 3 handicap cards. when I did a quick test on a GC2 a few month ago,
Driver 232
4h 191
and pretty much 10 yards off for each club down.
I didnt have a 3wood at the time and still don't now although I borrowed one when my driver went for repair and I hit it further than my driver :s probably to do with my driver being on a grey castle tee and 3 wood on a white one and my driver is 12 degrees and 3 wood was 15 degrees.
Anyway on my first handicap round I 3 putted or worse every hole apart from 1!!! My short game is actually good but putting is awful, I blame a cheap putter I got
Danny
Good point well made. No good bashing it miles if you then three putt most greens or duff and thin chips and can't get out bunkers first time on a regular basis
JCW
Journeyman Pro
Playing at East Horton last week on the Parkland course , 5th hole I think after a long par 3 , I hit the driver on the 317 yard par 4 to the back of the green , next hole I hit it to the front off the green at 290 and won the nearest to the pin in 2 prize , a fourball at Dibden , so I can get it out there now and again , average is about 250 but I am straight , no use hitting it long if your wedge play , chip & putting is no good as you not going to score , apart from driving a golf ball I also putt very well so it gets me out of jail a lot as I do not play a lot these days and get rusty on iron play ..................EYG
IanM
Journeyman Pro
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...not a far as I'd like and probably not as far as I think! 
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
That's an interesting metric I've not seen before - I played well in a bounce game on Sunday and looking back I'd count 7 'really good' full shots. (Clearly my measure of really good is different from Jack's
Hit 4 chips stone dead too which helped a lot!
Without appearing to be desperately rude you probably hit a few more shots than Jack so your 'chances' of one of them being really good will be a bit higher
IanG
Tour Rookie
Without appearing to be desperately rude you probably hit a few more shots than Jack so your 'chances' of one of them being really good will be a bit higher
for sure I hit many more shots and even the ones I thought of as really good would likely be classed as mis-hits by Jack. What I found interesting in your comment was that two players of vastly different ability judged themselves to have hit about the same number of 'really good' (by their internal standard) shots during one of their better rounds.
Would a 28 handicapper find the same , what about a scratch golfer ? This is just about where we set our internal threshold of being pleased with a shot and how that evolves as we (hopefully) improve - does everyone only ever have half a dozen or so full shots they're really pleased with in a round?
Anyway, well off topic and maybe my brain likes finding patterns in numbers too much .....
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
What I found interesting in your comment was that two players of vastly different ability judged themselves to have hit about the same number of 'really good' (by their internal standard) shots during one of their better rounds.
Would a 28 handicapper find the same , what about a scratch golfer ? This is just about where we set our internal threshold of being pleased with a shot and how that evolves as we (hopefully) improve - does everyone only ever have half a dozen or so full shots they're really pleased with in a round?
Anyway, well off topic and maybe my brain likes finding patterns in numbers too much .....
There are probably any number of elements at play at the subjective level. As we improve we also begin to understand what constitutes a good shot in both relative (for us) and absolute terms.
I know I play many, many rounds without a single shot that I consider acceptable, let alone perfect...
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
What I found interesting in your comment was that two players of vastly different ability judged themselves to have hit about the same number of 'really good' (by their internal standard) shots during one of their better rounds.
Would a 28 handicapper find the same , what about a scratch golfer ? This is just about where we set our internal threshold of being pleased with a shot and how that evolves as we (hopefully) improve - does everyone only ever have half a dozen or so full shots they're really pleased with in a round?
Anyway, well off topic and maybe my brain likes finding patterns in numbers too much .....
I don't think this is Off Topic as the distance you hit the ball has connections to how well do you hit the ball.
As I said earlier a 24 handicapper would gain little from knowing the exact distance to the green and the 'average' distance he hits a ball with the club to reach the middle of the green.
On a practice ground a grouping of 10 six iron shots hit by a 24 handicapper will be all over the shop. If they were grouped within the size of a green that would be useful info, but even then the ball could be 40 yards off the intended target.
turkish
Journeyman Pro
Absolute tosh IMO... I'm not long from being a 25 H/C and knowing the distances definitely helped- not because I knew I could hit exact yardages but using front back and middle yardages, and relative to pin position have definitely helped me lower my handicap... with the main aim getting it close to the green if not on it.
For example had a playing lesson and the pro made the exact point to help me more by using not my perfect yardage shots but by course managing duff/less than perfect shots. IE if I have a club which would be perfect distance to the pin but have 25-30 yards behind to work with i'm clubbing up. Not taking yardages into account doesn't exactly help if you are trying to course manage.
IanG
Tour Rookie
DfT I meant off topic referring to my musings on the subjective judgement of what is a good shot, not on your original post.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I note your handicap has come down quite rapidly, well done.
Would you say that it is because you are hitting better more consistent shots or that your judgement and control of the distance you hit your shots has improved ?
Probably a bit of both, but I would wager a small bet your improved consistency of strike is the main reason.
I remember a bit of research carried out a few years ago, which suggested that a competent golfer would almost always get the ball to his intended target within 10% of his distance out, that is within 10 yards (30 feet) from 100 yards out and 20 yards from 200 yards. That is of course assuming he can actually reach the target. However you should always aim at a target area, even with your drives on a long par 4 or par 5, or on a lay up. If you can achieve this target and putt well you have to be a decent low handicap golfer. Remember, it's not how good your good shots are, so much as how bad your bad shots are!
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I have submitted this thread to Guiness World Records
Longest ever HOW FAR DO YOU HIT YOUR CLUBS thread that has not turned into willy waving.
I will let you know what they say..
Longest ever HOW FAR DO YOU HIT YOUR CLUBS thread that has not turned into willy waving.
I will let you know what they say..
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
How far do I hit my clubs?
Not as far as I can throw them!
Not as far as I can throw them!
The good shots per round comment made me smile. I used to play with a guy off low single figures, played Amateur golf for GB in his youth. He was known for coming off the course with the comment of "didn't hit a good shot all round". Anyone who played with him just laughed as he was such a beautiful ball striker. It's all relative and very much depends on your own expectations.
I certainly have a range within a shot of duff, okay, clean and wow. Wow can add up to 10yds on a strike. I never base my distances on the wow strike as they don't happen that often. When they do I accept I will over the back but frankly the strike feels so good I don't care, I just enjoy the moment. Trying to be more aggressive I now take a club to hit midway between my okay and clean distances as otherwise I would end up being short more often than not.
I certainly have a range within a shot of duff, okay, clean and wow. Wow can add up to 10yds on a strike. I never base my distances on the wow strike as they don't happen that often. When they do I accept I will over the back but frankly the strike feels so good I don't care, I just enjoy the moment. Trying to be more aggressive I now take a club to hit midway between my okay and clean distances as otherwise I would end up being short more often than not.
