Know Your Distances

[John_Findlay]

Anyhoo,

back to the subject.

One interesting thing I've found ueseful when I'm up at the range is what distance I hit it in different weather conditions. On freezing cold winter days like these when the ball is cold and rock hard I'll notice a significant difference in the distance I hit my irons.

With the laser rangefinder in the summer my 7 iron will land anywhere between 145-160 depending on the strike. At the moment I'm struggling to fly it 145 with my best strike, sometimes only 130.

I tend to bear this in mind when I'm playing in the winter. On approach shots I'll pick the club that I think will land the ball on the back portion of the green. More often or not it makes the front at least.

 

[nomadpaul]

I do have a rough idea of my own distances but my swing is so unreliable that i have to counteract the knowledge with how i'm playing on the day.
Unfortunately , i can only use a local golf range so am also hitting range balls as opposed to my normal ball(s) of choice . I posted a question here , a while back , asking whether range balls would differ in distance and as the general view was that they would , by as much as 30% , and be quite varied , it makes it difficult to get these reading's sorted accurately

 

[AlchemyGolf]

We have had a pretty healthy and frank chat about GPS on here

a lot of HIGHER HANDICAPPERS are more comfortable hitting the shortest club possible and hit 7 iron hard losing control.
Now you have a situation where anything else other than my very best 7 iron is going to get to the green,This is WRONG!!!.

HIGHER HANDICAPPERS

It seems that the better and more expperienced players on here are are taking me the wrong way.
This post was not aimed at you guys.

Homer and the other veterans,How am I supposed to know you have covered the gps issue.
Jeeezzzzzzz are there any issues you have not covered on here.

If we couldnt post issues you have already covered then how are new forummers supposed to get involed!!!!

That is all im trying to do, is get involved.
I have invited 3 NW forummers to my club for a game in the spring to help this.

You are all very quick to tell me how I sound but have you ever thought how you sound saying we know this already,we have already covered this issue, move onto something else to the new forummers that have come on here and said its new to me & interesting & want to get involved themselves.

In fact the odd veteran has took interest.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

I have been following this thread closely and there's no doubt that Alchemy has all the knowledge and experience and genuinely wants to help people enjoy their game.
It's no surprise to me then that some love the tips and some dont BECAUSE WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

Bobmac is the voice of reason.

Listen I promise to try and be more suggestive in the future but there are going to be plenty of times where it will be an issue that has been discussed already or feel that they know the subject inside out

 

[theeaglehunter]

Glad to see you are going to stay on board- I'm sure you have loads to offer and well done for getting actively involved. There is no point dwelling on what has already been said, keep posting and you will discover people won't hold an e-grudge against you Except maybe me... in jealousy of your handicap

 

[AlchemyGolf]

Did for a minute think ,sod this i will use my time elsewhere but had second thoughts.
I will be around to ruffle the feathers every now and again!

 

[John_Findlay]

Good man. We all need our feathers ruffled every now and then...or so the girlfriend tells me.

By the way, what's the golf club in the photo? Looks nice.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

Golf Trip actually it was a stag do to Citywest just outside Dublin.
They have a championship course and the lakes course both designed by Christy O Conner Jnr.
Trust me the lakes course is aptly named with water on 16 holes.
Hotel was class,golf courses were great,Guinness was drank and a good time was had by all.

 

[Cernunnos]

I promise to start every post from now with

"I suggest this might help"

Rofl... all except, "I suggest this might help" comes across even more condisending, than what you were accused of earlier.

Alchemy, carry on doing what you were doing, just be aware you will be stating the obvious for some around here, no matter what their ability.

Infact for many, occasionally our knowledge outstips our ability to put that knowledge into action. Except maybe on rare occasions, when the golfing gods give us some sort of divine inspiration.

 

[borntorunsean]

AlchemyGolf, thanks for your post. very helpful to someone like me.
can i ask what gps would i get to do this as i very much want to have a good idea of the distance i hit.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

For just measuring a distance you just need the most basic gps device.

you simply mark the location with the device your hitting from and then when you have walked to your average shot note down the distance.

Something like a garmin etrex is ideal and cheaper on ebay.

This can also be a lot cheaper way of doing gps for your course than sky caddie.If you can afford sky caddie then get it,it is the best gps for golf bar none.

But for a fraction of the cost my basic device does the same thing.
It just meant I had to stand on the front of the 1st green,mark location and call it 1 front,then do 1 mid and 1 back.
So as i stand on the 1st fairway I select 1 Mid and it gives me my precise distance to that point.
It took me 1 round to input all the information for greens,Carrys over ditches,lakes and bunkers etc ,you can get all the information you need on the device as long as you put it in accuratly.

 

[borntorunsean]

thanks for that. i think i will get one.

 

[Basher]

Christ on a bike!!!!

Can we stop slating contributors to the forum please?

Alchemy has offered advice and tips, he's obviously a knowledgeable golfer but gets a right slagging from some people.
I know there is often a clique on here, fortunately I've been spared the wrath, I do feel sorry for some contributors who are well intended and get stick straight away.

I've seen this forum grow into a well respected site. If we slag off all newcomers the way Alchemy has been, we'll end up with just a small band of grumpy old members.

Thankfully Alchemy has ridden the storm and remained with us. Thanks mate, your input is most valued.

 

[Pedro_Wedgitos]

ta had sussed some of this but had always played to my maximum best for a club and then seen it drop short. I will try this tip and hopefully won't underclub so much.

In fact a real challenge when you've only been playing for a couple of years is to ignore the macho must hit club x y distance.

Whereas it is how far I hit each club that matters.

cheers fella

 

[bobmac]

If I can add one thing to what Alchemy said about knowing your distances.
I was given this tip years ago from a pro and I have passed it on ever since.
Take a look at the green you are trying to hit and work out where the dangers are.
8 OUT OF 10 WILL BE SHORT.
If you are standing right next to the 150 marker and there's no wind and the shot is flat, most will think 150? 7 iron or 6 or 8 or whatever you hit 150 IF YOU HIT IT PERFECTLY.
Now, most greens are 30+ yards from front to back which means standing next to the 150 you are at least 165 to the back of the green.
Unless you know the flag is at the front of the green, club yourself for 160!
If you hit it flush, your ON THE GREEN towards the back.
If you hit it okay, your ON THE GREEN near the middle.
If its a slight mishit, your ON THE GREEN at the front
If you duff it, your in the bunker where you deserve lol
The next time you play try adding 10 yds onto your distances and see how many bunkers you hit and how many times you go through the back.
Good luck

 

[jeffc]

Stick with it Alchemy,
hate it when people criticise someone's genuine enthusiasm.

I fact you are one of the few 2 handicappers I know who WILL give tips and information.
Most of em think they're to good or thet you're not capable enough to be able to use their help.

Go for it mate. One point on this distance topic,how can you take into account being 20 - 50 yds off target.
As I tell the pro who teaches me , I've ony got two probs , Distance and direction !!

 

[AlchemyGolf]

It was informative and could have helped somebody, a lot of golfers will be out their looking for places like this to read tips, ideas or is it a closed shop and you can only post new stuff.

If we couldnt post issues you have already covered then how are new forummers supposed to get involed!!!!

Christ on a bike!!!!

Can we stop slating contributors to the forum please?

Alchemy has offered advice and tips, he's obviously a knowledgeable golfer but gets a right slagging from some people.
I know there is often a clique on here, fortunately I've been spared the wrath, I do feel sorry for some contributors who are well intended and get stick straight away.

I certainly think newcomers are discouraged on here!

As a newcomer it does feel like there is a select band,the clique if you like on here that feel that this is there territory because they have been involved for a long time.

I copied and pasted this exact same thread on another forum and the response was very positive.

I do take part on other forums and this one from MY experience,i will say that again MY experience without doubt stands alone as the most hostile towards new people who have something to add to the forum.

Im probably ruffling feathers again here but sorry this is my opinion of what I have experienced.

 

[Cernunnos]

Alchemy, keep doing what you're doing. Newcomer maybe, but a regular one all the same.

If we get the chance of a game, feel free to offer advice, no matter how obvious it may seem to this recipient..

 

[nicksampo]

Being new to the game, posts like this are really informative in themselves and also prompt useful replies such as Bobmacs on picking a club, if flushed, to hit the back part of the green, something I will definetaly take into account aswell.

From a fellow newcommer I say ruffle/pluck as many feathers as you want, its great to get some advice from someone who clearly plays the game very well since my club lost its pro.

 

[DCB]

Alchemy & Bobmac

Good to have your comments on here. A more experienced view does help us all at times.

I've read the post through a couple of times and some of the critisism does indeed smack of this being a rather tight clique with no entry for new guys unless they pass some secret initiation test. (Apron only issued after 25 posts usually !)

Fear not, most of the guys on here are just as keen/mad about their golf as you are, it;s just that recent weather and course conditions are brining them out in a bad case of the DTs as they haven;t had their on course fix for a while.

Stick with us, it's a good forum (really !) and we will welcome your comments in the months ahead.

dave