Yardages

[selwood90]

So, out of interest. How did you find out your yardages? How well do you know them? I ask because, I know mine roughly. And playing my home course regularly I know what club I need for particular holes/positions etc. But today at my place the course I normally play was closed. But the other still open. So I played that, for the first time and pretty much just couldn't get to grips with the yardages especially on the par 3's I was flying the green or a club short. Didn't have gps/laser with me, so was having an educated guess. My club does have a launch monitor and I think it's something like 15 20 quid to go through your bag and get your yardages. But it's on the range, not into a screen so I find that pretty pointless. As I would be hitting range balls for a start. I have a shop local that has a launch monitor into the screen I use quite regularly for bits and bobs and the odd bargain t-shirt. Would somewhere like this let you hire the launch monitor for an hour or so from people's experience? I will nip in and ask in the near future. But just interested how people got to know their yardages down to say within 5 yards. Or was it just experience on the course? Something I really want to get nailed before the season gets into full swing.

 

[evahakool]

So, out of interest. How did you find out your yardages? How well do you know them? I ask because, I know mine roughly. And playing my home course regularly I know what club I need for particular holes/positions etc. But today at my place the course I normally play was closed. But the other still open. So I played that, for the first time and pretty much just couldn't get to grips with the yardages especially on the par 3's I was flying the green or a club short. Didn't have gps/laser with me, so was having an educated guess. My club does have a launch monitor and I think it's something like 15 20 quid to go through your bag and get your yardages. But it's on the range, not into a screen so I find that pretty pointless. As I would be hitting range balls for a start. I have a shop local that has a launch monitor into the screen I use quite regularly for bits and bobs and the odd bargain t-shirt. Would somewhere like this let you hire the launch monitor for an hour or so from people's experience? I will nip in and ask in the near future. But just interested how people got to know their yardages down to say within 5 yards. Or was it just experience on the course? Something I really want to get nailed before the season gets into full swing.

Sorry just a bit confused re the par 3s did they not have yardage markers on the tee box?

I just have a rough knowledge of my yardages and I will never get them nailed down to 5 yards, but I'm sure some better players will be along to give you advice.

 

[selwood90]

They did but as I didnt know my yardages 100% it didn't really help. That's where the yardage question came from

 

[delc]

Most GPS's have a 'Measure this shot' function, so go out on a grass practice area, preferable flat, hit a few shots with each club using real golf balls (not range balls) and measure the average distances, discounting any obvious miss hits. If you don't have a GPS, pace out the distances, but you will need to know how long your paces are. Most courses have 150 and 100 yard markers to the green, so you should also be able to get some idea from these.

 

[PuttPuttSteve]

I use 121 Golf, a local store that has a studio complete with GC2. For £20 per hour you can hire the studio and check distances for every club, or 'play' an on-screen course. See http://www.121golfshop.com/studio-hire-38-w.asp

 

[Smiffy]

But just interested how people got to know their yardages down to say within 5 yards. Or was it just experience on the course? Something I really want to get nailed before the season gets into full swing.

It's all down to experience.
If you have a par 3 on your course that's 150 yards (or thereabouts) and you regularly have to hit a 6 iron to reach it, you now know that you hit your 6 iron 150 yards.
Add or subtract around 10 yards for each club either side of it, so a 7 iron will go 140 yards and a 5 iron will go 160.... hopefully.
As you improve you'll find you might start flying the 150 yard hole with your 6 iron, so club down to a 7 and adjust the other clubs yardages accordingly based on the 10 yard per club "rule".

 

[chrisd]

I use 121 Golf, a local store that has a studio complete with GC2. For £20 per hour you can hire the studio and check distances for every club, or 'play' an on-screen course. See http://www.121golfshop.com/studio-hire-38-w.asp

We have an indoor facility where the pro has GC2 as well, I did a full session to get carry and roll out distances and they seem pretty accurate to me

 

[Deleted member 15344]

From expirence - think that's the best way as well.

 

[Oddsocks]

A lot of ranges have a flightscope/trackman as do fitting studios. If your really worried do a gap session on one of these to get exact distances. They will vary slightly depending on temps.

 

[Capella]

I measured mine on our six hole short course. It doesn't have any bunkers or hazards and is basically just a flat field with tee boxes and greens and it is not frequented much. I know the tee to green distances on every hole (there are distance markers on every tee and the course is also mapped for the Garmin products, so it shows up on my S2 watch), so most of the time I can easily see or estimate how far a shot has gone. Or I sometimes use the measure distance function on the Garmin watch to get it more precise. It is total distances, though, not carry. I have no idea what my carry distances are (which sometimes bites me in the ass on the main course when I have to get over a hazard).

I like it that I get real life distances that way, not theoretical calculated ones from a launch monitor, making club selection on the main course a bit more realistic. Plus I can use my normal balls and hit off grass.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Over a few quiet evenings play a few holes and hit a couple of balls into the greens from the 150 yard makers plus/minus ten paces. Gives you an idea of your 140, 150 and 160 clubs. Rest can worked out from there. Can do the same if your course has 100 and 200 markers. Gives real life distances with the balls you normally use which as Capella says gives more realistic results.

 

[TheJezster]

I had a rough idea and used the range last year to firm those up. They have a trackman type app on the bays which measures carry and total distance so just used that from pitching wedge to hybrids. Obviously the distances can be a little less in winter b our very cold weather but that's ok.

 

[BTatHome]

Launch monitor into a range is fine, makes no real difference as they are calculating distances etc. Hitting with different balls won't make any difference anyway as your yardages on a monitor and on the course are gonna be different anyway as the monitor will be showing a beautiful summer day with no wind and your likely to be checking them on a freeze cold day with a headwind etc.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Measure your wedge shots, measure your 7 iron shots. Then do the math for 5/6/8/9/SW. Takes about 30-45 mins on a quiet, calm, night and you're sorted to within a few yards for all the clubs that matter.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Used my practice ground and my sky caddy. Hit 10 balls with each club, taking an average distance, hitting both ways (into and downwind). Was able to use proper balls so happy the distances are pretty accurate.