Driving the Ball 280 to 300.....Really???

[black knight]

Do I have to hit the fairway? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[ArcticKnight]

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If I could hit my driver with any regularity I'm sure I could carry it 250+. I currently hit my 3i 200-210 consistently (GuyOnTilt can confirm).

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Based on you 3 iron distance, you probably would be pretty close to 250. I'm not sure how far I can hit a 3iron, cause I dumped mine for a hybrid a couple of years ago.

PS. Kyleb, if you got the same extension and forearm rotation in you golf swing as you did on that hit in your baseball picture, then 250+ would be a certainty.

[stopcensoringme]

I worked at a golf course for about 3 years, and probably played close to 300 rounds/year during that time. I'd guess over 1/3 those rounds were with random people. I think it's safe to say less than 1% could hit a driver 300 yards. And exactly zero could carry a drive 300 yards with neutral conditions.

Now, of the 15 regulars I played with, most with handicaps less than 5, I'd say 3 could carry a drive 300 yards, and maybe 6 or 7 routinely hit it 300 yards with roll.

More weirdness... I worked at a golf shop for about a year. 98% of our customers hit it 300 yards, but needed a new driver to squeeze out 15 more yards. Go figure...

Last weird story... I was playing golf 2 weeks ago and there was a foursome of 20 year olds behind us. I've never seen 4 people hit so many 330+ drives in the middle of the fairway in my life. The 9th hole was playing ~ 365 yards. Our group was putting. There 4 balls less than 20 yards from the green. Maybe 5 miles/hour down wind.

When I played all the time I would consider myself above average with my driving distance. But my max under neutral conditions was ~285. I usually hit about 10/14 fairways and averaged 260-280. Now I hit about 6/14 fairways and average about 240. Stupid game.

[KFCandKoolAid]

if i play at the local muni course i hit it 240-260, on a manicured resort course i hit it 260-280 and on a desert course 280+. the course conditions are key here.

[kyleb]

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If I could hit my driver with any regularity I'm sure I could carry it 250+. I currently hit my 3i 200-210 consistently (GuyOnTilt can confirm).

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Based on you 3 iron distance, you probably would be pretty close to 250. I'm not sure how far I can hit a 3iron, cause I dumped mine for a hybrid a couple of years ago.

PS. Kyleb, if you got the same extension and forearm rotation in you golf swing as you did on that hit in your baseball picture, then 250+ would be a certainty.

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Oh, I'm cheating. I'm using a 3-hybrid to carry it 210. Not sure how that equates to a driver.

Thanks, btw.

[bonds]

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if i play at the local muni course i hit it 240-260, on a manicured resort course i hit it 260-280 and on a desert course 280+. the course conditions are key here.

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I'm looking forward to testing this in a couple weeks, playing at Primm Valley outside LV. I haven't played a desert course in 15 years & have been concerned about being able to reach some of the longer par 4s, as 250 is a very good drive for me.

I've played with a few bombers over the years, but almost none who hit it 300 - in part because you rarely get much roll at my home course. Bottom line, people lie.

[chucksim]

On average, I drive it in about the 250-275 range, I figure.

Thing is, as someone said, be careful where you're playing, too. A number of the public courses I play, we KNOW the measurements are wrong and most times give people the impression they hit it further than they do. Tees are OFTEN further up than the card suggests.

I play a lot of these public courses and when I go to a club where I know the measurements are right, I'm a bit more "humbled".

Quite frankly, for me, I don't care what the number says. I'm a "long hitter" in most of my groups, and would give up 20 yards for improved accuracy.

Also, I find that the newer technology in clubs and balls has really leveled the playing field. I play a "newer" driver (Titleist 905R) and guys who used to play older stuff (old Big Berthas, etc) but have recently upgraded have caught up remarkably in distance.

[matt85]

Anything I hit reasonably solid goes c~.300.

If you were to ask me why I can hit it pretty far I'd have to answer that im pretty big, flexible, have decent fundamentals... and pretty much just try to kill it every time.

FWIW 2 good friends of mine... 1 ex Walker Cup, one now Challenge Tour/ EPGA who both hit it further than their respective tour averages probably hit it c.10-15 past me (but they generally know where its going).

[Hey_Porter]

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Also, I find that the newer technology in clubs and balls has really leveled the playing field. I play a "newer" driver (Titleist 905R) and guys who used to play older stuff (old Big Berthas, etc) but have recently upgraded have caught up remarkably in distance.

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Are you talking about average distance, or distance on a good drive? I upgraded from a 983K to a Sumo, and while the sumo is a lot more forgiving, my crushes with the 983 probably pass the crushes with the Sumo by a little bit. It's always been my understanding that this is generally the case: 460cc drivers are more forgiving, which might lead to more distance overall, but aren't going to give you THAT much more distance (if any) on your solid swings.

[squeek12]

I shoot in the low 80s and play about 3-4 times a month. I'm 5'7", 170 lbs. I probably average about 280 and surpass 300 a couple of times a round.

However, I'm pretty much always the longest driver in my group, even when I'm the worst player. I'd say that if you average 280+ then you are in the top maybe 3% of golfers that play at least a couple of times a month.