Monthly Poll 1: on average, how far do you hit the ball with driver?

[hovis]

Because he is a professional athlete who has dedicated his life to improving his strength and technique as opposed to club golfers who only play once a week. Everyone can hit the odd good one (I've hit 300 yard 2 irons on links courses) but for people to claim their average is 270 or 280 is pretty unlikely.

For sure I have the physical ability to hit the ball as far as a tour pro does. But I have the technique of a mountain goat. Thats what I believe makes the difference between a hacker like me and a tour golfer.

 

[hovis]

We won't be on the same page if you miss out the point about relative distances.

So are els's muscles different from mine?

 

[Robobum]

So are els's muscles different from mine?

Not sure what muscles have to do with hitting it long.

But to answer your question - almost definitely, in fact as close to definite as is possible

 

[hovis]

Not sure what muscles have to do with hitting it long.

But to answer your question - almost definitely, in fact as close to definite as is possible

Well without the use of muscles you wouldnt be able to pick up a golf
Club. So why are you so sure that a non pro cant be as strong as tiger when it come
To firing your muscles into a downswing

 

[sawtooth]

I dont understand peoples lack of belief of peoples figures. Perhaps its just the circles I hang
around in. but I see 280 yard drives everytime I play golf. I dont use my driver on the pga's 10th as I stick it in the stream that cuts the fairway at 275. (and i'm one of the shorter hitters)
I slapped a great one down the forest of ardens 10th about 270 and the guy I was paired with beat me by 5 yards with his nike vrs 3 wood.

To be fair to both sides an average drive distance means 10 different things to 10 different people. I don't think anyone would doubt that you hit a 270 yd drive in Summer playing golf. Even to say that you averaged 275 in Summer is not unbelievable in my opinion. But if someone claims to have a 270 yd driving average throughout the year in the UK then that would be unbelievable!!

There is a world of difference playing golf now then in the height of summer on a boiling hot sunny day. A drive in Winter may carry 200 yds and stop dead. A drive in Summer could easily carry 250 and roll out another 50 yds or more.

It would be more sensible to quote summer and winter averages to keep the arguments to a minimum. I don't think people are making stuff up , just not being clear about what they deem to be an average drive.

 

[hovis]

To be fair to both sides an average drive distance means 10 different things to 10 different people. I don't think anyone would doubt that you hit a 270 yd drive in Summer playing golf. Even to say that you averaged 275 in Summer is not unbelievable in my opinion. But if someone claims to have a 270 yd driving average throughout the year in the UK then that would be unbelievable!!

There is a world of difference playing golf now then in the height of summer on a boiling hot sunny day. A drive in Winter may carry 200 yds and stop dead. A drive in Summer could easily carry 250 and roll out another 50 yds or more.

It would be more sensible to quote summer and winter averages to keep the arguments to a minimum. I don't think people are making stuff up , just not being clear about what they deem to be an average drive.

You make a good point there mate. All I know is winter or summer I carry the bunker on the brabazons 1st that is 235. And like is said, i'm the girl of the group. Perhaps its because I play with single figure golfers and they dwarf my drives

 

[Robobum]

Well without the use of muscles you wouldnt be able to pick up a golf
Club. So why are you so sure that a non pro cant be as strong as tiger when it come
To firing your muscles into a downswing

You're absolutely right, no reason at all why you can't become stronger than Tiger. Perhaps you're right, I probably haven't played with enough people to see players like that yet.

From what golf I have played though, particularly in comps where the h'cap ballot has been 4 with the best golfer being off +4, I am still yet to see someone average more than that weak old fart Els @ 282.

 

[SGC001]

Using "average" has never made sense to me. I defy anyone to know what there actual average driver distance is as they would need to know the distance of every drive over a sustained period of time to actually know. It also doesn't really mean anything. Take an example of hitting 10 drives. You hit 9 drives well with 250 yards carry and then top the last one 10 yards. All of a sudden your "average" drive is 226 yards. Does that mean you wouldn't take on a carry of 230 yards because your average is 226 but 9 times out of 10 you would make the carry by 20 yards?

Conditions also play a huge part in how far the ball travels so does average distance refer to average conditions as well?

When asked what my average driver is all I can do is give the distance I'd expect a decently hit drive to travel in fairly calm conditions into a fairway that doesn't plug. If I hit it really well it will go further if I don't hit it well it will go shorter. Of all the clubs in the bag the driver has by far the largest variance in distance so average is just meaningless in my opinion.

Now I've said all that I've gone with the 250-275 option.

This honestly wasn't supposed to be a rant haha

If you take mean, median and mode of measurements of average and consider what would be most appropriate in the instance of this question we can safely disregard mode and of the other 2 when considering the range of handicaps likely to answer then median becomes arguably the better measure due to the nature of a the question, the example of a 10 yard drive in your quote, a ball bouncing back of a tree or a best ever downwind bouncing on a cart path... been reasons supporting this decision.

Although to be honest if the worst drive is going to be something that bad, you'd have to question if that person should be using a driver.

Anyway mean, median or mode it made no difference to my answer.

Edit if I was wanting to make an analysis of data for how far players believe they hit it on average:

I'd also go for summer over winter as golf is mainly now a summer sport as opposed to it's origins. Some clubs don't even have qualifiers in the winter and the more rounds are played in the summer. An argument could be made for every round you teed it up, it's not one that would win me over but may merit a mention in the contraindications.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

isnt the pros average distance only calculated over two pre designated holes per round , going in opposite direction or something like that ?

or is that a myth ?

It used to be but I believe it recently changed to all holes but could be wrong.

EDIT: Ignore me I just checked and it is still only 2 holes. Wish I'd looked that up before I posted

 

[SGC001]

isnt the pros average distance only calculated over two pre designated holes per round , going in opposite direction or something like that ?

or is that a myth ?

It also didn't take into account what club they hit on that hole, I gather some players were paid to hit drivers on the holes used for making the assessment.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Drive for show - putt for doe !!


It doesn't matter how far anyone drives or claims to drive - it's the score on the hole that counts

I remember playing in medal with a guy who hit big drives and used to boost about out driving a single figure handicapper - he went round in about 97 - told him golf is more than hitting a long drive

 

[Dellboy]

220 for me, not a big hitter but on the plus side do find the short stuff more often than not.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It also didn't take into account what club they hit on that hole, I gather some players were paid to hit drivers on the holes used for making the assessment.

I've never heard that before, would be interested to hear where you got that from?

What I do know though is that wherever possible, the tour pick 2 holes where players are likely to hit driver.

 

[macca64]

Why do some people always get there knickers in a twist when this subject comes up, mind you its quite funny reading some of the comments the stress heads make!!!

 

[SGC001]

I've never heard that before, would be interested to hear where you got that from?

What I do know though is that wherever possible, the tour pick 2 holes where players are likely to hit driver.

Just a local pro, it does present a certain ecological validity when you look at how some players obtain their sponsorship (long drive ability which can reflect well the manufacturer) and if you've watched tournaments where they name the holes and view club selection of those in the field during the round and on those holes it does appear possible.

 

[Captainron]

This poll is hilarious. Astonishing, even. I'll bet 5 of the Bank of Englands finest that less than 5% of golfers ever hit over 250 once, yet alone average this. So, to maintain this mythical average figure what about the one hit out of the heel at 190? The next one 300+???!! Of course. Brilliant. Really cheered me up, thanks.

I'm down for 225-250; A verified average of 232 from a unashamed decent hitter of the ball at Titleists headquarters using their best kit after a couple of hours being fitted. Real world.

I'll have a bit of that action. £5 to hit it over 250 yards? Do I get paid every time, or is it a one off?

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I'll have a bit of that action. £5 to hit it over 250 yards? Do I get paid every time, or is it a one off?

You can do that with just your 4 iron!!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I'll have a bit of that action. £5 to hit it over 250 yards? Do I get paid every time, or is it a one off?

Yes me too.. Ill tell you what spear chucked me Captain Ron and Hovis will all measure each other's drives at the forum KOK regional qualifyer and you can send £5 each to who ever manages 250 yards or more once, then in the summer we will do the same again but set the mark to 300 yards :thup:

 

[bluewolf]

Yes me too.. Ill tell you what spear chucked me Captain Ron and Hovis will all measure each other's drives at the forum KOK regional qualifyer :thup:

I think you got the words Kok and drives mixed up mate..

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Yes me too.. Ill tell you what spear chucked me Captain Ron and Hovis will all measure each other's drives at the forum KOK regional qualifyer and you can send £5 each to who ever manages 250 yards or more once, then in the summer we will do the same again but set the mark to 300 yards :thup:

If you and hovis are as long as captainron Then I will be having a word with the green staff to set the course up for all drives over 250 to be in the heather. :rofl: