60 replies to this topic

[saltrunner]

have you ever played with a friend or have a guy in your foursome for years and then all of a sudden he is hitting 20yds further. Has ayone ever really been impressed with a guy who used to be a short hitter and now hits the ball a long way ....... what was the difference ?

• 0

• Reply
  
• Quote
  
• Delete
  
• Edit

[Willie Malay]

Huh? Not sure what you are asking? If I had a friend that hit the ball 20 yards further I'd be happy for him. Not sure what you are getting at. Maybe ask them? Is this a real case or is this rhetorical?
I have a buddy that got an R11s and hits it about 20 yards further. I'm happy for him. I'm impressed, yes. There's one case for ya.

Edited by Willie Malay, 12 November 2012 - 02:40 PM.

[saltrunner]

I have an R11s haha....... what I am getting at is I want .. I need 20 more yds... I need 25 more yds. I have been working really hard to increase swing speed but not seeing any consistent results. We see ad after ad and you tube videos and articles on how to gain yards off the tee but it never seems to work. As I thought about it I couldn't really think of anyone I knew or have played with really increase big yardage off the tee or with irons. Sure a good drive here and there but to see a guy go from be an  avg joe off the tee to a big hitter. If your buddy gained 20yds what was he hitting before ??

[+Church]

The best way to increase swing speed is by working out.  Doing a specific workout routine to increase the muscles utilized and your flexibility for the swing.  I'm not impressed with distance.  It impresses me when a guy can hit 10 balls to the exact same spot time and time again.

[saltrunner]

I agree Church but how about the guy that can hit 10 balls to the same exact spot and bomb monster drives ...... thats special

[BrianL99]

saltrunner, on 12 November 2012 - 04:06 PM, said:

I have an R11s haha....... what I am getting at is I want .. I need 20 more yds... I need 25 more yds. I have been working really hard to increase swing speed but not seeing any consistent results. We see ad after ad and you tube videos and articles on how to gain yards off the tee but it never seems to work. As I thought about it I couldn't really think of anyone I knew or have played with really increase big yardage off the tee or with irons. Sure a good drive here and there but to see a guy go from be an  avg joe off the tee to a big hitter. If your buddy gained 20yds what was he hitting before ??

I gained 21 yards, by properly fitting my Driver.  Most of it was an improvement in trajectory that resulted in more roll ... actually carry increase was more like 8 yards.

& when I say "properly fit", I don't mean by some guy working from his basement or garage.  I went to GolfTec twice and a TaylorMade Performance Lab, before I was convinced & sure of what I needed and wanted.

Edited by BrianL99, 12 November 2012 - 09:33 PM.

[Chew70]

Get a Hammer!!! POWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 50 more yards, problem solved.

[MoondogNYC]

Chew70, on 12 November 2012 - 09:33 PM, said:

Get a Hammer!!! POWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 50 more yards, problem solved.

BAAAAAAAAAAAM !!!!!!  I mean, I agree...

[MDP1555]

I have had lots students pick up 20+ yards once they got rid of bad habits like casting and other power draining moves. Then there is the properly fitted club issue. Hells bells, my switch from a persimmon head to my first Taylormade metal driver in 1979 I picked up 15-20 yards.

Edited by MDP1555, 13 November 2012 - 09:14 AM.

[juststeve]

Most people can hit it longer by:

1.  Hitting the center of the club face more often;

2.  Learning to draw the ball;

3.  Keep the ball in the fairway to maximize roll;

4.  Get a driver with more loft since most golfers play drivers without enough.

For most golfers there is probably 20 yards there without increasing club head speed at all.

Steve

Edited by juststeve, 13 November 2012 - 09:41 AM.

[sonofagunn]

Just based on my personal experience, I agree with MDP1555. Fixing a bad swing fault (casting, over the top, etc.) will add distance easily (and accuracy and consistency at the same time).

But if you already have a fundamentally sound swing and clubs that fit, it is probably a slow and tedious process to get longer (1 yard at a time through speed training, flexibility, strength, etc.)

[MelloYello]

Can someone see big gains is driving yardage?

Well, that really all depends on whether you're doing the things that get the best results. If you're already playing an appropriate club, hitting it well and hitting the ball straight, I doubt you're going to be able to do anything to boost yardage aside from working out which is a very slow, painful and methodical process left mostly to those who play for a living.

Any individual can do a general fit for themselves in terms of shaft and loft. Once you're in the general vacinity, custom fitting and performance analysis (which is great) isn't going to be able to add significant yardage. It'll polish the product with a few yards, a better trajectory, maybe some more control and hopefully the best consistency you can achieve with your ability.

The individuals who are going to gain big yardage are those that are fixing swing faults and flaws that are sucking power and accuracy. If you fit in that category, there's no reason you can't add 10 or 15 yards, maybe even 20, but...if you're already doing most of the right things, I'd worry about something else.

Edited by MelloYello, 13 November 2012 - 09:36 AM.

[Kadin 25]

I am not sure what your asking either. If it's do I play with a guy who all of a sudden was hittting his drivers 20 yards further, than no. If you looking for more distance in the 20 yard range... Speed will help, but in my opinion better ball contact is more important. You can achieve longer distances just by hitting it center flush, If I remember correctly 1/4" off center is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25 yards loss of distance.Work on better ball contact and once you have reached your max distance on center hits, move on to building swing speed.

I hope this helps and good luck in your quest for 20 yards.

[QEight]

juststeve, on 13 November 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

2.  Learning to draw the ball;
...
4.  Get a driver with more loft since most golfers play drivers without enough.

#2 happens almost automatically when you start hitting up on the ball, quite easy to actually start hooking it.

#4 after #2, as you do not need that much loft when hitting up.

[airjammer]

If you already have the proper equipment,  sound swing, and minumum fexibility needed imo it is nearly impossible to gain 20 yards.  The pros with all that is available to them there is almost no improvement in their swing speed.  With the mentality just bomb it out there and wedge it close, I'm pretty sure a pro like brian gay would have already discovered it.   Just hit the sweetspot more often is about all you got to work with.

[HitEmTrue]

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

[MDP1555]

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

I assume this question is for everyone.



At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.

Edited by MDP1555, 13 November 2012 - 10:43 AM.

[HitEmTrue]

MDP1555, on 13 November 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

I assume this question is for everyone.


At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.

Question for the OP, since he's asking for advice without giving any details.

But I like to hear about others, too.  

[Cicero]

I've posted before that I saw an immediate 20 yard increase just by switching to a newer, better-fit driver.  Not to sound like a shill for the equipment industry, but unless you get lucky grabbing something off the rack, you're likely leaving yards out there just by playing ill-fitting equipment.

[saltrunner]

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

decent golfer.. practice twice a week and play atleast once a weekend...... about a 15 handicap

[HitEmTrue]

saltrunner, on 13 November 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

decent golfer.. practice twice a week and play atleast once a weekend...... about a 15 handicap

And....you hit driver 220?  275?  

How far do you hit your 9-iron?  Twice 9-iron distance for driver is a rule-of-thumb some peeps use.

Edited by HitEmTrue, 13 November 2012 - 11:39 AM.

[saltrunner]

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

MDP1555, on 13 November 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

I assume this question is for everyone.


At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.

Question for the OP, since he's asking for advice without giving any details.

But I like to hear about others, too.  

what other details do you want... ? simple question really..... I just want to add distance and I have done all the obvious things without positve results and I was just hoping to come across a tip or drill that would significantly increase my distance....... if I didn't hit the ball straight or couldn't chip or just had general golf swing issues I would not be looking for tips to increase distance...... I feel like I do most things well but I am just so darn short off the tee...... I hit a few 260yds but for the most part I hit many drives 235 or 240yds... leaving me with really long 2nd shots that on average over 18 holes affect scoring

[saltrunner]

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 11:38 AM, said:

saltrunner, on 13 November 2012 - 11:35 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

decent golfer.. practice twice a week and play atleast once a weekend...... about a 15 handicap

And....you hit driver 220?  275?  

How far do you hit your 9-iron?  Twice 9-iron distance for driver is a rule-of-thumb some peeps use.

I hit my 9 iron about 115-120 depending on swinging  easy or swing hard at it

[HitEmTrue]

saltrunner, on 13 November 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

MDP1555, on 13 November 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

I assume this question is for everyone.


At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.

Question for the OP, since he's asking for advice without giving any details.

But I like to hear about others, too.  

what other details do you want... ? simple question really..... I just want to add distance and I have done all the obvious things without positve results and I was just hoping to come across a tip or drill that would significantly increase my distance....... if I didn't hit the ball straight or couldn't chip or just had general golf swing issues I would not be looking for tips to increase distance...... I feel like I do most things well but I am just so darn short off the tee...... I hit a few 260yds but for the most part I hit many drives 235 or 240yds... leaving me with really long 2nd shots that on average over 18 holes affect scoring

My apologies.  Your original post sounded like a hypothetical.  Much easier for people to help you if they have a few concrete details.  Not safe to assume that you are hitting it solid and straight.

Edited by HitEmTrue, 13 November 2012 - 12:17 PM.

[MDP1555]

No tip in of its self is going to add 20 yards. What is a tip? By definition a tip is a recommendation of a move, concept or equipment change that someone thinks should help. Tips come free of charge, often even come unsolicited, but never come with actual promises that you can cash in on. In most cases tips are nothing more than a segment of someone's teaching philosophy given with the intent to draw you in to their camp. Not that that is always bad but reading or acquiring the tip means nothing without skillful implementation. It is the implementation that is the key.

Some tips are great some are just plain BS. No magic exist in the golf world. It is all about physics. Most tips are intended to convey a feel, swing thought or moves of how to get in a better leverage position and assume that the preceding fundamentals and proceeding fundamentals are in tack.

So outside of mechanical advantage that modern equipment may offer it boils down to efficiency of the swing and efficiency of impact. Tips don’t give you that. They may lead you towards the well. But it is up to you to scoop up a cup full

Edited by MDP1555, 13 November 2012 - 12:21 PM.

[Slackattack]

saltrunner, on 13 November 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

MDP1555, on 13 November 2012 - 10:42 AM, said:

HitEmTrue, on 13 November 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?

I assume this question is for everyone.


At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.

Question for the OP, since he's asking for advice without giving any details.

But I like to hear about others, too.  

what other details do you want... ? simple question really..... I just want to add distance and I have done all the obvious things without positve results and I was just hoping to come across a tip or drill that would significantly increase my distance....... if I didn't hit the ball straight or couldn't chip or just had general golf swing issues I would not be looking for tips to increase distance...... I feel like I do most things well but I am just so darn short off the tee...... I hit a few 260yds but for the most part I hit many drives 235 or 240yds... leaving me with really long 2nd shots that on average over 18 holes affect scoring

We probably need to see some film of your swing.  As mentioned above, there is no magic formula for additional distance that will help everyone.  You could take ten different golfers all wanting to hit the ball further, and each golfer may have something different that is holding them back in their quest for more yards.  It could be swing related, could be fitness related, it could be multiple things.

[saltrunner]

[quote name='Slackattack' timestamp='1352837184' post='5929129']
[quote name='saltrunner' timestamp='1352825266' post='5928177']
[quote name='HitEmTrue' timestamp='1352823357' post='5927929']
[quote name='MDP1555' timestamp='1352821339' post='5927721']
[quote name='HitEmTrue' timestamp='1352820806' post='5927681']
What sort of distance do you hit it now?  How would you describe yourself as a golfer (beginner, occasionally play, decent golfer)?
[/quote]

[size=4]I assume this question is for everyone.[/size]


[size=4]At 2300 foot elevation (elevation of my club) I hit the 45" 9* driver W/ 70g Matrix shaft 270y carry and depending on fairway condition 12-15y roll out. Im 57 years old and don't play much because I run our family own country club. I would conceder myself a steady player. know how to not beat myself.[/size]
[/quote]

Question for the OP, since he's asking for advice without giving any details.

But I like to hear about others, too.  
[/quote]
what other details do you want... ? simple question really..... I just want to add distance and I have done all the obvious things without positve results and I was just hoping to come across a tip or drill that would significantly increase my distance....... if I didn't hit the ball straight or couldn't chip or just had general golf swing issues I would not be looking for tips to increase distance...... I feel like I do most things well but I am just so darn short off the tee...... I hit a few 260yds but for the most part I hit many drives 235 or 240yds... leaving me with really long 2nd shots that on average over 18 holes affect scoring
[/quote]

We probably need to see some film of your swing.  As mentioned above, there is no magic formula for additional distance that will help everyone.  You could take ten different golfers all wanting to hit the ball further, and each golfer may have something different that is holding them back in their quest for more yards.  It could be swing related, could be fitness related, it could be multiple things.
[/quote]

I agree 100% Slack ..... this is why I love this forum ..  I guess one thing I didn't mention and maybe I should have is that I used to hit 290-300yd drives (2yrs ago) and I had to scale my swing back to gain some control. This included chopping my driver at the time down to 43 ins and as I did these things my scores improved greatly and I really sharpened my short game skill but now that I feel I have become more of an advanced player and I feel I could control my misses with the big monster swing but ... its gone! No matter what I try and how hard I try I can't get the distance back........ I am hitting a TM R11s driver which I love and hit with good consistently but the swing speed I used to have is gone and I can't summon it as I thought I would be able to ......

[Slackattack]

When you say that you scaled back your swing, what do you mean by this?  I understand the shorter driver shaft, but I can't see cutting your driver shaft down to 43 inches causing a decrease in distance of over 50 yards (290'ish to 240'ish).  Did you also shorten your backswing?  Unless you've had an injury or have had health problems, you should be able to pick up many of those lost yards....it's definitely a swing issue as you have proven you have the capability.

[saltrunner]

I went to a more rotary 1 plane swing to keep things simple in my head...... by scaling back I just mean I stopped swing out of my shoes.... I come from a long baseball background and when I started playing golf I had that hit a homerun mentality ... blast it out there as far as I could..... I guess many beginners start that way..... but over time I started to realized that if I held my realease longer through impact I could hit a controllable fade that was very repeatable and relished shooting lower scores.... but now I want to gain that yardage back so I bought a swing radar and use it at the range to get a baseline swing speed and push myself to improve on it but its been frustrating. I wil swallow my pride and tell you my swing speed is in the mid 80's and it used to be 100mph ....... with no ball in front of me I can take a good controlled hard swing and hit 94 mph but put a ball in front of me and its back to 85 mph...... hows that for discombobulation .....

[russc]

Obviously technique and fitness are the main factors in  maximizing distance,but  most golfers  can add distance just through a  custom fitting.To think that you are going to go into  a big box store and be able to   buy a driver which fits you  is not being realistic