• We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas from all at Golf Monthly. Thank you for sharing your 2025 with us!

Short, Average and Long Hitters

I agree with Gary, you can't really go with swing speed. A 100mph swing hitting a soft draw will go a lot further than a big banana slice. Likewise a low launch on a soft parkland course won't go very far but could run for miles on a links.
 
People don't lie as much about swing speed.

I find distance is way too dependant on other factors. Mainly time of year, as it governs temperature and ground conditions.

240 could be long, medium, or short. There's no way of knowing.
 
I'm a short hitter, drives probably top-out around 220-230 with roll on a Sunday best, but you won't often find me playing my second shot from the rough.

I'll take that anyday of the week.
 
Perhaps you should add another category for Forum Distances, for those players who delude themselves that they can hit the ball much further than they actually do! :rolleyes:
 
BrizoH71 said:
I'm a short hitter, drives probably top-out around 220-230 with roll on a Sunday best, but you won't often find me playing my second shot from the rough.

I'll take that anyday of the week.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't describe that as a short hitter in the average club. Depends how much roll though.
 
delc said:
Perhaps you should add another category for Forum Distances, for those players who delude themselves that they can hit the ball much further than they actually do! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

What about those of us who hit it 300 regularly but actually delude ourselves into thinking we're only short hitters achieving say 270?
 
Junior said:
Its so subjective , I play with guys who have been in single figure handicaps for 20 years who carry the ball 200 yards max with their driver

Carry distances
190-200 short
200-220 average
220-230 above average
240+long

Swing speed (mph)
80 short
90 average
100+ long
Click to expand...

Think I would say this. Not played with many people who can carry the ball over consistency say 220 yards with decent run to be honest.

I used to carry the ball with a driver to about 200-210ish(summer) with good drives, which run out probably 40plus yards. Now I am about carry 230ish(summer, winter about 10 yards less) but still a work in progress, cant wait for some roll.

Only once have I played with a guy who hit the ball massive, was amazing to listen to the sound off the face.

On a 520 yard par five, he took a driver and an 8 iron to get on the green...WTF:clap: he could play a different game to me....
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm in the short category, my efficiency of strike is just not there.

When it is I'm in the 250-270 range, when it isn't I'm down at 220ish
 
I think it depends where you are....when I played in Scotland I was chuffed if i got it over 200 yds....in Spain and Abu Dhabi I have hit it 280 but the average is 235 or so which is not huge by any means but its 95% fairways hit and round here that's worth a shot or three....
 
This can't really be answered as the terms short, medium and long are relative.

Am I short vs a pro? yes, am I short vs my 60 year old father? no.

Am I long vs my friends of similar ability? yes? am I long vs my friends of better ability? no?

Does my gps tracker show I'm shorter in the winter vs my summer drives? yes, would my current drives hit in the summer be shorter than my last years summer drives? no.

People being, unless you know what your measuring against, short, medium and long mean nothing. As a result, considering yourself short or long is likely to be based on your past experience, your playing partners, and even your age.

Following this through, you can't really measure short/medium/long unless you have the same conditions or course. The obvious example of this is winter vs summer, but really this is comparing apples and oranges as your more likely to be comparing carry distance to total distance. Additionally as some others have mentioned, comparing Scottish winter to Texan summer is likely to give you some wildly different 'distances' for the same swing.
Another caveat may be how to measure distances. I mean, specifically what tools you use. It's not good enough to look at the scorecard and say it's a 400 yard hole, I've got 150 left, therefore I drove 250 yards. Especially in the winter when the tees are likely to have moved.
Using a shot tracking tool is most likely the most accurate way to track things in terms of raw distance but even that could be out by a couple of yards at each end.
 
dougajmcdonald said:
This can't really be answered as the terms short, medium and long are relative.

Am I short vs a pro? yes, am I short vs my 60 year old father? no.

Am I long vs my friends of similar ability? yes? am I long vs my friends of better ability? no?

Does my gps tracker show I'm shorter in the winter vs my summer drives? yes, would my current drives hit in the summer be shorter than my last years summer drives? no.

People being, unless you know what your measuring against, short, medium and long mean nothing. As a result, considering yourself short or long is likely to be based on your past experience, your playing partners, and even your age.

Following this through, you can't really measure short/medium/long unless you have the same conditions or course. The obvious example of this is winter vs summer, but really this is comparing apples and oranges as your more likely to be comparing carry distance to total distance. Additionally as some others have mentioned, comparing Scottish winter to Texan summer is likely to give you some wildly different 'distances' for the same swing.
Another caveat may be how to measure distances. I mean, specifically what tools you use. It's not good enough to look at the scorecard and say it's a 400 yard hole, I've got 150 left, therefore I drove 250 yards. Especially in the winter when the tees are likely to have moved.
Using a shot tracking tool is most likely the most accurate way to track things in terms of raw distance but even that could be out by a couple of yards at each end.
Click to expand...


Stop dicking about. How far do you hit the damn thing? :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Orikoru
Short Game Thoughts
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
2K
Orikoru
Orikoru
H
Best course played & why?
4 5 6
Replies
111
Views
4K
Klimski
Klimski
N
Golf Licence
3 4 5
Replies
95
Views
3K
D-S
D
A
Memberships in Hampshire / Surrey
2
Replies
29
Views
3K
AngeloD
A
Mel Smooth
To Tee or not to Tee?
2
Replies
26
Views
3K
Pin-seeker
Pin-seeker
Top