Poor distance

[WeekendHacker]

Generally I hit the ball well, but even when I connect well I find my shots fly 20 yards less with same club as my fellow golfers. I've played with a lot of different players and it's one thing i've always noticed. Sometimes i'm 2 clubs up on fellow golfers for same hole. I know it's a very general question, but without seeing me swing, does anyone know why i'm so feeble? I'll give you an idea. I'm 29, and reasonably fit, so it must be technique. I would hit a 7 iron approx 130yds.

Also, other question. I'm a very twitchy guy. Always been nervous disposition. Does any other similar golfers find anything that keeps them focussed when the mind gets messy and the club feels like it's connected to the mains? Strange question I know, but if I can stay calm I can swing well, usually I beat myself with the negative thoughts of what not to do.

Cheers

 

[ScienceBoy]

Firstly how old are your clubs and what make?

A 7 iron from 4 years or so of one make can be the same loft as a 8 or 9 iron bought new made by someone else today!

If you are 20 yards shorter than someone with the same gear and a similar handicap then I would worry, if you are playing with a set of older blades and comparing yourself to someone with brand new TM cast irons I wouldnt worry one bit!

I WAS a 12 handicapper playing with forged Mizuno MP57s, fairly soft lofts compared to modern TMs and alike.

I would carry a 7 iron about 150, a 4 iron about 170. There are some people on here who hit a game improvement 7 iron about 170! When I played off 17 it was more like 135 and 155!

Next is your shot shape, if you fade you will always be shorter, if it still goes where its supposed to and it flies true and on line then again, don't worry! I drew the ball but my contact was generally all over the place before I got to 12, where you hit it on the club face makes a lot of difference. Try getting some impact tape, I bet you are hitting it on the toe!

Thirdly where did you get your distances from? I am always 10-20 yards shorter with range balls, 5-10 yards shorter with softer spin balls compared to distance balls!

 

[duncan mackie]

as you say - not a lot to go on!

however, with Poirot hat on, I suspect you are probably not swinging with your body/shoulders.

don't get too carried away with distance per se - I only carry a 7 iron 140

relax a little, focus on your swing/contact and ignore others - it's what not how.

 

[ScienceBoy]

however, with Poirot hat on, I suspect you are probably not swinging with your body/shoulders.

Turning properly would help not hitting on the toe, Mark Crossfield to the rescue! His videos helped me remember how I used to play golf!

 

[RGDave]

Hmmm.

How long have you been playing?

I don't hit the ball that far, but I know the (3) reasons for my issue with distance. Using two clubs more is not a crime, but I'm fairly sure you're not hitting the ball even close to your potential.

Don't panic, it'll come, as long as you practice the right things.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As others have said it isn't a lot to go on. Old clubs with weaker lofts than modern equipment and maybe a shaft that doesn't suit could be the case. Do your shots balloon really high and get affected by the wind? Ifits not the gear it must be technique so maybe a quick 30 minute refresher with a pro will sort you out

 

[Region3]

I can relate to the twitchy part of your post. I reckon I fidget as much on a shot as Derek Randall did at the crease but being only 29 you might not have heard of him

I find it really hard to make myself concentrate on each shot, always a million thoughts (not golf related mostly) fizzing through my head.
If you find a good way to control it I'm all ears.

On the distance, I don't think 130 with a 7 iron is particularly short. I play with a couple of 11 h/c golfers most weeks and that's about right for them. Yes, longer would be nicer, but the important thing is that it goes 130 most of the time, rather than 150 one shot then 160 the next.

 

[Scottjd1]

.
but the important thing is that it goes 130 most of the time, rather than 150 one shot then 160 the next.

Wise words....

 

[need_my_wedge]

I'm by no means an authority on giving swing advice, and certainly not able to comment on a swing that I haven't seen.....but....

I suddenly lost about 20 yds or more on every club over this last winter and was struggling to find any kind of distance. I had a lesson about 6 weeks back before I went away and one of the things that my pro spotted was my hands.......I was breaking my wrist before I hit the ball so that the club head was in front of my hands when I hit the ball.........

once I was aware of this, I could do something to resolve it, and am now hitting the ball further than I've ever hit it it, with a very relaxed slow looking swing. I try to visualize my swing like a whip. Slow take away, as it reaches the top of the back swing I start the hands down in a sweeping motion scooping up the ball and making sure that the hands are level or past my left leg before I break the wrists.

I probably haven't described this very well, or in any where near the detail that will help, and may put you on the wrong path altogether, so really suggest that you see a pro and can see what you are doing and help you put it right.....

 

[northernshep]

If it goes straight then don't worry, I played with a bloke about 4 years ago who played of 6 and hit his driver around 190-200 yards on a good day, 130 yards would have been around a 6 iron. Rescue from 150 etc.

But he just played nice and easy and down the fairway. had an excellent short game.

Its very rarely about how far you hit it but where you hit it. I regularly get out driven by high handicappers but always score lower because i'll be further back on the fairway and have a better shot in.

As for the nervous thing, Have you tried practising with an ipod and some relaxing music?? get used to the feeling on the range then take that to the course. (not the ipod)

Play your own game not someone else's

 

[shewy]

Sounds very similar to myself,I'm only hitting it 140 with my 7 although I can put the driver out to 240 on a good day my irons always seem 1 or 2 clubs down compared to my playing partners.I had a video lesson and found out I am releasing way to early,probably about a foot behind the ball,this ads loft so making my 7i more like a 9i/pw.Still struggle with it tbh and not really found a good drill to combat it yet,but it may be what you describe as well.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I was breaking my wrist before I hit the ball so that the club head was in front of my hands when I hit the ball.........

I try to visualize my swing like a whip. Slow take away, as it reaches the top of the back swing I start the hands down in a sweeping motion scooping up the ball and making sure that the hands are level or past my left leg before I break the wrists.

I meant "release the wrists"..............NOT "break the wrist"

 

[WeekendHacker]

Cheers guys for the replies. Sorry for delay in posting only I don't get on here too often.
Makes me feel a bit better that my distances are more normal than I thought . Yeah, my clubs are old things, like Dunlop starter set, but a mate has similar and he hits it way further. Maybe need to be less obsessed with distance. The story about the low handicapper hitting relatively short distances is one i'll remember. Might get new irons but i'm always sceptical the marketing hype of most the main companies may not add up to better scores. Think the overactive mind in a genetic thing, maybe it'll take longer to fix lol.

 

[G1BB0]

some folk are just naturally long, I play with a bloke off 9 who hits it miles off the tee but we are only 1 club different from 7 iron and in.

stick to your own game and keep it in play. I am just about to purchase another set of irons, my old ones (well, same model) as I felt I hit them best and more importantly consistently.

good luck

 

[Rooter]

Straight (or at least controlled fade or draw) to where you want the ball is worth way way more than an extra 20 yards with a drive, or ten with a 7 iron etc etc... You don't shoot many birdies from playing out of the trees!

 

[Lump]

Know your distances. Don't worry about anyone else. You have to trust the club your picking up.

 

[Shiny]

I am a short hitter too. 200 yards for driver/3 wood off the tee and a 135 yard 7 iron but it was good enough to win a club comp against the bigger hitters. I have learnt to play the game my way and not worry about what others are doing.

It turned out after chatting to a few people that when I used to be in awe of the long hitters they were actually in awe of my short game and control so its horses for courses. Just play your game.