66 replies to this topic

[dplevin]

Click the link: http://ht.ly/b5dDZ
The testing was done by real people with launch monitors

Edited by dplevin, 22 May 2012 - 04:46 PM.

[FLOGMR]

Nothing surprising there....I can't tell you all the recreational amateurs I have fitted over the years that "Claim" to hit various clubs outrageous distances....UNTIL you get to the range and have them demonstrate.
Worst ever was a guy who claimed he hit his 5 wood about 285.........at the range he never got it to the 200 marker even once.

[KYMAR]

I guess that's interesting for what it is, But I also think it's a limited sample with to little information provided about the players being tested. I am a HUGE believer that most people over estimate how far they hit the ball so while i believe the crux of the article i am skeptical of the science of  this "testing".

[jlh1508]

I have no truth on my distance claims.  In my last 4 rounds here are my 10 gps verified 8 iron distances

177
164
142
151
155
162
174
141
138
176

last year my 8 iron was 140-145.... this year i have added distance with all of my clubs, but its not consistent... so I have no clue what iron to hit anymore because there is a 30 yard variance in all of them and I never know what swing is going to happen... its frustrating

[duffer888]

did you get new clubs this year?

[MtlJeff]

honestly if you are over a 10 handicap i'm not sure you really have a true average anyway. I don't mean to offend anyone, it's just if you aren't striking it consistently your averages are going to skew big time. Let's say i take a 15 capper who's athletic and hits it 260 easily on well hit shots. He might answer 260 to that question, and then hit 6 out of 10 drives well, top one, horribly slice 2 others etc...and then his average is 229 and he is a "liar"...i don't know, i wouldn't say he's a liar, just not a great ballstriker

I'd be surprised if guys with handicaps say ,under 5, were that far off. Because they know their yardages and actually hit the ball consistent enough

Edited by MtlJeff, 22 May 2012 - 06:32 PM.

[KYMAR]

MtlJeff, on 22 May 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

honestly if you are over a 10 handicap i'm not sure you really have a true average anyway. I don't mean to offend anyone, it's just if you aren't striking it consistently your averages are going to skew big time. Let's say i take a 15 capper who's athletic and hits it 260 easily on well hit shots. He might answer 260 to that question, and then hit 6 out of 10 drives well, top one, horribly slice 2 others etc...and then his average is 229 and he is a "liar"...i don't know, i wouldn't say he's a liar, just not a great ballstriker

I'd be surprised if guys with handicaps say ,under 5, were that far off. Because they know their yardages and actually hit the ball consistent enough

This was my feeling as well.

Hooray Canada!

[Sean2]

I'm very realistic about my distances. Always have been. As a result I don't under club, unless I hit it fat, which I do on occasion.

As far as the driver goes, I'm realistic about how I hit it as far as well. Inflating how far I hit it doesn't change how far I hit it.

[jlh1508]

duffer888, on 22 May 2012 - 05:15 PM, said:

did you get new clubs this year?

Nope... same irons i have played for the last 3 years

[Zk ProuT]

People that lie about their distance is not as bad as people that lie and sandbag with their handicap. Like at my course the 15 year old kid who has a 1 handicap, but yet shoots an 93 86 in tournament. Or the 14 handicap that shoots 75.

[lukesmurf59]

Playing with a guy, we're on the first tee.  I see he has out a wood.
"How far do you hit that, like 200?"
"280."
"Oh.   Well then yeah you do have to look out for that bunker on the right, it is about 260 out, me and my friends have all lasered it and that's what the pro said.  Plus, my drives usually land right on it or a bit short.  I've only carried it once.  I'm usually right level with that bunker."
(I hit my tee shot, short and nasty left. still made par though)
He hits his tee shot, just left of the bunker in the fwy.  Now that is still a big poke. 260 with a 3w is great.  But it was not like the 280 he described.  I think he was just doing the typical, report your best.  I could tell people I hit it 280 but I know that is only with my best drives (assuming conditions are normal).  I hit crappy drives 250ish, decent drives 265ish and great drives (I don't seem to have a lot of these sadly) 280ish.
I am kind of a super honest freak and this always drove me nuts so over the summer I went and plotted the distance I hit every shot and came away with actual averages.  I think I could be very good at MGS's game.

[phase3golf]

Factually the most common lie is the distance issue! Followed by peoples lowest rounds lol.....

I have a friend (great guy but full of BS) who thinks he hits it 250 metres....never seen him hit that far but always justifies the short distance with - I miss hit it or the wind killed that one or I'm a bit stiff today or I've got the flu LOL

Some people ay

[Tony_Ireland]

Sure all you need to do is look at the weapons on here who carry it 290 and are playing off 18 just because they got a crappy short game, ive never seen the likes of it in my life. Sooner peeps realise scoring well is not about distance is when results will come

[JCLJorgenson]

Is there a trick to reading this before the web page goes black?  Really annoying...

[Yepyukon]

Actually had something funny happen to me today.  Was playing in a charity golf tournament with my uncle and we were paired with two other people he knew.  On one of the par 4's, I hit a good drive down into the fairway and one of them said "Wow, you crushed that one!  How far did you hit it?"  I replied about 260.  He was flabbergasted and claimed I easily hit it 3 bills.  So, we got out the laser and shot the tee box marker...262.

I think that a lot of people over exaggerate how far they hit the ball, but I also believe that a good many of them don't really know how far 300 yards is.

[RJRJRJ]

KYMAR, on 22 May 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

MtlJeff, on 22 May 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

honestly if you are over a 10 handicap i'm not sure you really have a true average anyway. I don't mean to offend anyone, it's just if you aren't striking it consistently your averages are going to skew big time. Let's say i take a 15 capper who's athletic and hits it 260 easily on well hit shots. He might answer 260 to that question, and then hit 6 out of 10 drives well, top one, horribly slice 2 others etc...and then his average is 229 and he is a "liar"...i don't know, i wouldn't say he's a liar, just not a great ballstriker

I'd be surprised if guys with handicaps say ,under 5, were that far off. Because they know their yardages and actually hit the ball consistent enough

This was my feeling as well.

Hooray Canada!

Agree 100%.  I hit a lot of terrible shots, and while they are technically part of my average distance, its not really an accurate representation of how far I hit the ball.

But I also agree that the vast majority of people overestimate (not lie) about how far they hit it.  I have a friend that thinks he hits it 250-260, and he rarely gets it past 200.  And I cant tell you how many times I hit one 250 and some guy im paired up with is like "damn man, you hit that one 300!"

[Tony_Ireland]

Yepyukon, on 23 May 2012 - 06:08 PM, said:

Actually had something funny happen to me today.  Was playing in a charity golf tournament with my uncle and we were paired with two other people he knew.  On one of the par 4's, I hit a good drive down into the fairway and one of them said "Wow, you crushed that one!  How far did you hit it?"  I replied about 260.  He was flabbergasted and claimed I easily hit it 3 bills.  So, we got out the laser and shot the tee box marker...262.

I think that a lot of people over exaggerate how far they hit the ball, but I also believe that a good many of them don't really know how far 300 yards is.

100% true, when uve played with some really good golfers you really learn about true distance quickly. Ive played with some damn good golfers from pro to 2 and 3 hcaps who hit the ball well, but i cannot think of one of them that hits it 300 consistently, little bit downwind yeah we would reach 300 but on your average day unless its downwind or down a slight hill 300 yards is a seriously seriously good puck!! You just dont see it every day from any amateur golfers, from my experience the max ud normally see is about 280-290

[blink3665]

Yepyukon, on 23 May 2012 - 06:08 PM, said:

Actually had something funny happen to me today.  Was playing in a charity golf tournament with my uncle and we were paired with two other people he knew.  On one of the par 4's, I hit a good drive down into the fairway and one of them said "Wow, you crushed that one!  How far did you hit it?"  I replied about 260.  He was flabbergasted and claimed I easily hit it 3 bills.  So, we got out the laser and shot the tee box marker...262.

I think that a lot of people over exaggerate how far they hit the ball, but I also believe that a good many of them don't really know how far 300 yards is.

I've been guilty of this.  I thought my buddy crushed the ball at least 300.  turns out it was actually around 270.  It's just because I don't hit the ball far (about 240 avg ((good shots )) so I don't know what a REAL crushed ball looks like!

[PINGWRXforeme]

MtlJeff, on 22 May 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

honestly if you are over a 10 handicap i'm not sure you really have a true average anyway. I don't mean to offend anyone, it's just if you aren't striking it consistently your averages are going to skew big time. Let's say i take a 15 capper who's athletic and hits it 260 easily on well hit shots. He might answer 260 to that question, and then hit 6 out of 10 drives well, top one, horribly slice 2 others etc...and then his average is 229 and he is a "liar"...i don't know, i wouldn't say he's a liar, just not a great ballstriker

I'd be surprised if guys with handicaps say ,under 5, were that far off. Because they know their yardages and actually hit the ball consistent enough

I agree though I get the occasional right on the nut jumper that goes 7-10 yds long. You know, Sunday at the masters adrenaline.

[nutted]

That link is garbage... I don't see a real data sheet anywhere.  In general, most people that complain about people lying about distances have problems generating club head speed themselves.  I don't give a crap how far someone says they hit it because it never makes me feel inadequate.  I've gone beyond the point where I try and measure out a long drive I happen to catch.  I simply care more about the next shot.

[tobybear]

I know this is beating a very dead horse, the horse's carcase might have already been picked clean from the circling vultures but when it comes to better players distance control is the name if the game.

Im retty sure this is a Tiger woods quote but not 100% sure:

Reporter: how far do you hit your 7 iron?

Tiger: how far do you want me to hit it?

I work golf retail and trust me it happens every day and no matter how I explain to a guy that his 83MPH swing will in no way produce a 300 yard drive, they WILL NOT LISTEN. These guys are usually very high handicappers, because lower handicap players are usually very accurate with thier club distances because thats how they score.

[Thrillhouse]

Higher handicappers often legitimately don't know how far they hit it, so that's where that often comes from with them. Better players know how far they hit it but often lie because they don't want to admit that they are old and fat and have a 94 mph swing speed.

The above "data" does nothing to dispute what is said on here. Lots of us know how far we hit it, some of us are really long (present company excluded from that!), some of us aren't but are ok with it, some of us aren't and lie because they aren't ok with it, and some people are chops who have no idea.

[Wknd_Warrior]

Lot's of people come up short on approach shots, but lot's of mid to high handicappers miss shots.  What are you supposed to do, target your "average" 8i distance?  Then you hit a solid shot and are over the green.

I've known my yardages for decades, they haven't changed a whole lot in the irons.  I've never really seen anyone who constantly miss clubed by overestimating their distances.  Most of the people Ive joined up with tend to underestimate their drives, know one wants to be a false braggart.

I think it's perfectly rational to report a good drive when you are easked how far do you hit "whatever".  You're supposed to give your average including all the popups, slices, duck hooks etc...that doesn't make any sense to me, other than to keep some cocky golfing dude in the golf shop from snikkering when you start hitting into the screen.

If I went in to get fitted, and hit a reasonable bunch of balls and their monitor said differently than my yardages I'd tell them they need to recalibrate their equiment or maybe get some new balls or something.  Now if I didn't get the club on any of them, which could happen, ya they'll end up short.  I'm not planning my game around missed shots.  That's not very likely to be the case, I'm just saying.  Also, I'm not always very comfortable hitting into those screens in those small areas, I suspect lots of other people are the same.  It takes me a few shots and walking around to get into the groove.

I just can't believe that 90% of golfers hit their 5i 20 yards shorter than they think.  This has to be some kind of statistically derived factoid.

[baseballfrk8998]

I shoot in the 80's pretty consistently and have a pretty good idea of how far I hit my irons and woods. I hit my 5 iron about 185-190 when struck solid, but as Jeff said, I don't strike it solid every single time. If you calculated your average and included your miss hit shots then you'd never have any idea what club to pull out.

Let's say I hit my 5 iron 187 yards twice and then I catch one goofy and it winds up 140 yards away. I think that averages out to about 170 or so. No way I'm pulling out a 5 iron for a 170 shot just because that's my "average".

That'd have to be a pretty pitiful miss by the way.

Edited by baseballfrk8998, 23 May 2012 - 11:39 PM.

[NKC]

Best part is playing with strangers that think they hit it 250 easily off the tee. So I tee up, hit a mediocre driver that goes about 260-270. Outdrive the other three strangers by about 50 yards. They go nuts, OMG HUGE drive, that's gotta be at least 290 (cuz they are comparing with theirs). I'm like, nopers, 260 maybe 265 who knows, then they go scratching their heads thinking they must have at least hit their drives 250. Then I go on and zap it with my bushnell and tell them their drives were around about 205-210. I guess that's why I play with strangers all the time lol.

[poizster]

When you see someone look like there about to do a deep squat before they hit the ball and then when they do the ball looks like it gets stuck in the air for a second or two, that's when you've seen a big drive.

Edited by poizster, 24 May 2012 - 12:35 AM.

[Mudguard]

That's why the metric system is good. Really hard to hit one 300 metres!

[MelloYello]

Thrillhouse, on 23 May 2012 - 10:29 PM, said:

Higher handicappers often legitimately don't know how far they hit it, so that's where that often comes from with them. Better players know how far they hit it but often lie because they don't want to admit that they are old and fat and have a 94 mph swing speed.

The above "data" does nothing to dispute what is said on here. Lots of us know how far we hit it, some of us are really long (present company excluded from that!), some of us aren't but are ok with it, some of us aren't and lie because they aren't ok with it, and some people are chops who have no idea.

I'd agree, my first thoughts were:

1.) Most folks without a GPS don't know how long 250, 275 and 300 really are.

2.) Most folks are so inconsistent an 'average' would be pointless since it would include some really awful shots.

3.) Many folks (including myself) don't keep track of every drive in order to average them.

[Grobster]

For me it is one of the positives about GPS units.  

The GPS unit will give you a distance and based on previous shots that have gone well for the same distance, you know which iron to take when you are left with the same distance again.  It's a little like playing your home course, if you make a good shot on a par 3 with a particular club you tend to remember the club and reach for it each time you play the same hole again.

There is nothing truer than the old saying....'drive for show...putt for dough'!  I'd rather be deadly accurate with the putter than one of the many big hitters in the trees who thought their drive would be easily big enough to carry them at only 300 yards!!

[dbogeyguy75]

Unfortunately, I would argue that statistics that include blatant mis hit shots serve no purpose related to recreational golf.  Knowing your average distance of mediocre to well struck balls is relevant to golf.  Example: A hole requires a forced carry of 230.   I know that a well struck shot with my driver will carry.  But, a mediocre shot will be wet.  In this case, I hit a 4 wood or hybrid.  Alternatively, when hitting an approach shot, I will want to be short rathr than long, so I typically judge my club based on somewhere between mediocre and well struck to the center of the green.  That way I have some leeway.  We recreatonal golfers with careers and families are not iron byron robots.   After 3 days vacation, 2 or 3 rounds, forgetting about my life stresses, stretching, warming up,  turning off my blackberry, drinking a beer or taking 4 advil, I might be loose enough to hit my high limits consistently.  Otherwise, I live in that cold, dark place called golf reality.  However, in my example, I still usually 3 putt after each GIR.  Anyone know a good sports therapist?

Edited by dbogeyguy75, 24 May 2012 - 02:34 PM.