Is distance embarrassing?

[Nosevi]

So.......what exactly are you saying?

14 pages but I'll try to paraphrase

Hitting it big is not about thrashing at the ball, it's about being balanced, having a smooth transition and accelerating through the ball. In essence it's about technique. Some may say (and have said on this site) it's just "willy waving" or showing off, macho stuff. I'd say it isn't, it's a skill that can be learnt. If you use your body properly and put an effective swing together you can get the most out of it and get longer carry distances, much longer in some cases.

Bobmac came over today and looked at my swing. Was interesting because he gave me my first lessons when I first picked up a golf club, he literally told me how to hold the thing. I'm a 40 year old, bit over weight (understatement of the thread!) and have a dodgy right knee having totally snapped my patella tendon a couple of years ago. I swing in a controlled way, pretty smoothly really and certainly nothing approaching a snatch at the ball or a thrash and I hit it about 315-320 ish today in still air as an example, I averaged a shade over 300. That's not 'internet yards' that's measured. Bob hit as well and the kit gave him precisely the yards he knows he normally gets.

It is possible to learn to hit it big (or at least bigger) it just takes work. But then it's no different to learning how to chip well or putt well - it's a skill.

It was interesting, when Bob asked me to try to 'only' hit it 250, a good few yards past what I could hit it before with the same physique as I have now, I really struggled. I couldn't turn my body through as I normally do and swing through the ball and get it to not go longer. I had to just kind of push the ball down the fairway to get it to not fly further. It's all technique, it really and truthfully is. Not saying everyone is going to hit it over 300 yards but if you're down at 190 yards or so you could probably pick up a few extra without actually hitting the ball any harder at all.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

So you have started a thread to tell us that you hit the ball further than the longest hitter on the European tour? I'm impressed :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Seems you have a better average than McIlroy and all the ET pros bar about 5

So why are you as high as 5 HC ?

It appears you are fixated with distance but possibly need to look at the areas in your game that are letting you down

 

[shewy]

out of interest how tall are you?

 

[hovis]

Seems you have a better average than McIlroy and all the ET pros bar about 5

So why are you as high as 5 HC ?

It appears you are fixated with distance but possibly need to look at the areas in your game that are letting you down

I dont see the link with distance and tour level golf. If one hits a ball bubba long should he be on tour? I have a friend who is 19. He looks and is built like tiger. His driver ss is 127mph. His 7 iron is 114mph. He is crazy long off the tee

This guy is a 2 handicap not a tour player

 

[garyinderry]

So you have started a thread to tell us that you hit the ball further than the longest hitter on the European tour? I'm impressed :thup:

He is carrying 280, not 320.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

He is carrying 280, not 320.

He says in his reply above he was averaging 315-320 today, Colsearts average this year is 313 and he is the longest according to the ET stats page.

 

[Nosevi]

So you have started a thread to tell us that you hit the ball further than the longest hitter on the European tour? I'm impressed :thup:

Not quite. I started this thread to try to suggest a few ways guys could increase their distance off the tee. I have and it seemed sensible to use me as an example. Not a lot of point in saying if you do x you will pick up more yardage but no I have no evidence for that. You clearly don't believe I hit the ball that far, doesn't really matter to me. I'm just saying that if you implement some of these things the ball goes further, that's all.

Seems you have a better average than McIlroy and all the ET pros bar about 5

So why are you as high as 5 HC ?

It appears you are fixated with distance but possibly need to look at the areas in your game that are letting you down

I will and I am, hence all the time I spend putting and chipping In answer to your question of why am I am 5 handicap the answer is pretty simple - because I've only recently got my initial handicap and when it came out as 3 the EGU said they wouldn't give me a cat 1 handicap right off the bat so gave me 5.5. On my first card handed in it dropped to 5.1. I expect it to drop quite a bit further given some time and effort.

Look guys it started as a "why are people funny about long hitting?" Type thread but as I was asked how you hit it long I said how it's done. What precisely is the problem with that?

 

[garyinderry]

Do the tour not use carry numbers? nosevi is talking about where his drives have rolled out to.

 

[Nosevi]

He says in his reply above he was averaging 315-320 today, Colsearts average this year is 313 and he is the longest according to the ET stats page.

No, I said I hit it about 315 or 320, I averaged a shade over 300. I take it you doubt me sir

 

[Nosevi]

Do the tour not use carry numbers? nosevi is talking about where his drives have rolled out to.

No the ET use total numbers, the PGA use total numbers for drive aberage but have carry numbers on the 'radar stats'.

 

[Nosevi]

out of interest how tall are you?

Sorry shewy, didn't see the question. About 6 foot.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

No, I said I hit it about 315 or 320, I averaged a shade over 300. I take it you doubt me sir

To be honest, I really don't care how far you hit the ball. I've played with guys who hit the ball a country mile and I've played with a guy I can outdrive by easily 30 yards but he is in his 60's. Last year his handicap went up to 1, the first time in over 40 years that his handicap hasn't been scratch or better. Now THAT impresses me.

There is only 1 number that matters........the one on the bottom right corner of the scorecard.

 

[Nosevi]

To be honest, I really don't care how far you hit the ball. I've played with guys who hit the ball a country mile and I've played with a guy I can outdrive by easily 30 yards but he is in his 60's. Last year his handicap went up to 1, the first time in over 40 years that his handicap hasn't been scratch or better. Now THAT impresses me.

There is only 1 number that matters........the one on the bottom right corner of the scorecard.

True and I'm not arguing with any of that in the slightest. But as some guys asked earlier in the thread how it's done should I not tell them because you don't care? Should I be 'coy' about the fact I dive it a long way? Or is it more sensible to say "Here's the theory, here's a demo and this is the result."

As I said before if you don't care, by all means totally ignore it. But you've said (or implied) you don't believe me regarding driving it up there with the pros distance wise and you have no interest in increasing length off the tee. Fantastic. You asked what the point of the thread was, I told you. If you don't care that's fine. In another thread several guys are saying they don't like going off the back tees on a championship course because they're not long enough. May or may not be relevant to them to have an idea of how to add some extra yards? Just possibly?

 

[Region3]

True and I'm not arguing with any of that in the slightest. But as some guys asked earlier in the thread how it's done should I not tell them because you don't care? Should I be 'coy' about the fact I dive it a long way? Or is it more sensible to say "Here's the theory, here's a demo and this is the result."

As I said before if you don't care, by all means totally ignore it. But you've said (or implied) you don't believe me regarding driving it up there with the pros distance wise and you have no interest in increasing length off the tee. Fantastic. You asked what the point of the thread was, I told you. If you don't care that's fine. In another thread several guys are saying they don't like going off the back tees on a championship course because they're not long enough. May or may not be relevant to them to have an idea of how to add some extra yards? Just possibly?

Anyway, 154 posts in and I take it you now see the answer to your original question?

People don't shy away from talking about distance because it's embarrassing, it's because this is what always happens and it just isn't worth the grief.

 

[Smiffy]

To be honest I have not up close either but im looking forward to the day.

You're playing at Blackmoor next year aren't you????

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Not quite. I started this thread to try to suggest a few ways guys could increase their distance off the tee. I have and it seemed sensible to use me as an example. Not a lot of point in saying if you do x you will pick up more yardage but no I have no evidence for that. You clearly don't believe I hit the ball that far, doesn't really matter to me. I'm just saying that if you implement some of these things the ball goes further, that's all.



I will and I am, hence all the time I spend putting and chipping In answer to your question of why am I am 5 handicap the answer is pretty simple - because I've only recently got my initial handicap and when it came out as 3 the EGU said they wouldn't give me a cat 1 handicap right off the bat so gave me 5.5. On my first card handed in it dropped to 5.1. I expect it to drop quite a bit further given some time and effort.

Look guys it started as a "why are people funny about long hitting?" Type thread but as I was asked how you hit it long I said how it's done. What precisely is the problem with that?

Your first HC was 5 ?!

How long have you been playing ?

 

[Foxholer]

@OP What is your (measured from you LM) Swing Speed? I'd pick about 115-120mph for that distance.

I believe I have a fairly 'balanced' swing, but my Driver swing speed is around 90mph. Launch and spin are 18* and 1800-2000rpm. Would you care to explain how being 'more balanced' will give me more length?

As it happens I know a guy who swings 'balanced' at 145mph. He can push (thrash) it to 150mph but does lose a little balance! He does hit it a very long way!

So, to me, there is no substitute for Swing Speed. Sure it has to be balanced, but balance (I'm a huge advocate of that) really becomes a major factor in control and consistency as opposed to straight out distance!

 

[Nosevi]

Your first HC was 5 ?!

How long have you been playing ?

Took up the game mid 30s, played now and then for maybe 18 months, then snapped my patella tendon (not golf related). Had about 18 months out with a couple of Ops etc, couldn't play Rugby any more so took up golf properly and played for about 18 months and got my handicap at 5.5. One card later I tore my achilles (also not golf related, I'm just that clumsy) 9 months of shortgame later and just starting back into it. So next spring I hope to start getting my HC down a bit but we'll see how it goes.

Regarding what Region3 has posted above, so it would seem. I just think increasing driving distance is no different than working on your putting - it's a skill. I'm hardly saying "Woo hoo! I can drive it long and you can't!" am I? I'm saying there's a knack to it and doing just some of what I've said makes a difference. I've also said that using a good launch monitor can help loads - I have one so if anyone want to give it a go for free give me a shout. None of this seems all that unreasonable to me but it always seems to get peoples' heckles up.

Anyone not interested feel free to ignore it all, if you're not interested I'm frankly surprised you're reading any of it. But for those that ARE intested they should be allowed to discuss how to increase distance off the tee without the endless shouts of "Show off" or "I don't care" or "Stop talking about it!" From others. It's an aspect of the game of golf and this is a golf forum....... Just all IMterriblyHO of course

 

[Nosevi]

@OP What is your (measured from you LM) Swing Speed?

I believe I have a fairly 'balanced' swing, but my Driver swing speed is around 90mph. Launch and spin are 18* and 1800-2000rpm. Would you care to explain how being 'more balanced' will give me more length?

As it happens I know a guy who swings 'balanced' at 145mph. He can push (thrash) it to 150mph but does lose a little balance! He does hit it a very long way!

So, to me, there is no substitute for Swing Speed. Sure it has to be balanced, but balance (I'm a huge advocate of that) really becomes a major factor in consistency as opposed to straight out distance!

Got to sort kids out, not ignoring you and will get back to you. How far is your ball going? Low spin, ballanced, good launch - sounds like you're doing many of the things I'm advocating and that lots of others don't do. If you're getting a good smash factor (nice square centred strike) your ball should be going at a tad over 130mph which is not too shabby. Throughout all of this thread I'm talking about maximising your own potential, if you're already doing that that's great