Distance V Accuracy ...(lifted from SwingingLooney's topic)

ShriekingSheet

I've started this topic again because SwingingLooney's (silly driver question) topic got a bit distorted - the replies focused on his (probable) over-estimation of yards.

Whether he is or isn't over-estimating, I think it was actually a good question regarding shedding yards in favour of accuracy and how to go about that.

Speaking about drivers, personally, I've never experienced any proof of the old adage - hit it easier to keep it on the fairway.

I think if anything, using a 3 wood or buying a driver with more loft and swinging normally woulh have more success.

That said, at the peak of my own golf to date, about 4 years ago when I was off 3 and (being 6 ft 4 helped) hit the ball some silly yardages I was advised by my golf teacher who'd taught me since I was off 18, to get a 10 degree, steel shafted Titleist driver that was 2 inches shorter than standard. You can imagine how many yards I gave up from the TiSi 7 degree ProForce Ping I was using. Anyway, I didn't hit it any straighter or better.

I resolved that there has to be a happy medium and since returning to the game have a 9 degree S flex which I hit really well.

Apparently, on tour, quite a few guys employ very 'safe' driver specs when things arent going well off the tee. Even 12 degree drivers are used the very odd time is what I've heard but can't confirm that.


Obviously, I don't have many answers above but I have a lot of anicdotal experience of this kind of challenge which I thought I'd share in the interest of discussion that might help swinginglooney and the many golfers like him.

getfit

Was flicking through golf digest this morning at brekkie and saw a little article on Zach Johnosn "tactics" that won him the Maasters last year. His Par 5 strategy of laying up is well known now. But his figures were:
Drive - 260 yrds
7 iron - 169 yrds (lay up before water)
wedge - 100 (or 80 or 120 - whatever was necessary)
He assumed on getting a few up and downs from 100 yrds area and never getting a bogey.... Can't knock the results!!

The distances were fascinating to me... He was betting on a 260 yrd drive, not the fabled 300+ yrd drive that virtually every second amateur seems to boast of.

Thats how he planned to attack a 550 yrd Par 5. The bog standard Par 5 for amateurs would be 500 ish yards (especially when there's water guarding the green) = 230 drive, 170 yrd iron/utility, 100 yrd wedge...
Pulling off the 230 drive and 170 yrd second shot is easily doable.... The real "test" is getting close in the final 100yrds!!!

It's all about accuracy. Johnson not only avoided the water with his strategy, the fact his drive was "easy" guaranteed he found the fairway every time and thus had an easy second shot, which gave him a nice easy 3rd shot.... Accuracy was rewarded with another nice lie and another easy shot which resulted in less pressure and a nice rhythm through the round...

I can see it with my father at the moment. He's in his 50's and new to the game. Drive would be about 170/180, and he only hits the 6 iron (about 110 yrds) or 7, 8 or 9 etc. next.... He practices no other iron (no woods, no 4 irons as he can't rely on hitting them well), BUT, he hits its straight every time with the shorter ones....

The result on a 400 yrd Par 4 is 180 driver +110 6i +110 6i = 400 which has him on or close to the green on a long Par 4.... If he gets a 2 putt or as is often the case, just off the green and dinks a little 7 iron close to the hole for an up and down, he has his bogey on a hard hole and probably gets 3 points as he's off 21.... Simple straight short golf is hard to beat... Whether your Zach johnson or my old fella

ImDave

We all know that for distance what we want is a high launch angle and low spin rate. The key to maximising distance by changing driver is to ensure that the loft, shaft and club type are all suited to you. I have found that many golfers cannot be convinced that a high loft can potentially yield longer shots. They see each degree they move up i.e. from 8* to 10.5* as a major loss in distance. However, comfort can be taken from the fact that, as the OP says, tour players are using lofts upto 12*

While many obsess over the loft, infact it is the shaft which most often causes problems for the average golfer. If a shaft is too stiff, it will take distance away, and also contribute to a loss of accuracy, but too soft will provide a similar shot. With driver fitting becoming as advanced as it is, the correct specification of club can easily be found by any golfer.

bigtimecharlie

getfit wrote: »

I can see it with my father at the moment. He's in his 50's and new to the game. Drive would be about 170/180, and he only hits the 6 iron (about 110 yrds) or 7, 8 or 9 etc. next.... He practices no other iron (no woods, no 4 irons as he can't rely on hitting them well), BUT, he hits its straight every time with the shorter ones....

The result on a 400 yrd Par 4 is 180 driver +110 6i +110 6i = 400 which has him on or close to the green on a long Par 4.... If he gets a 2 putt or as is often the case, just off the green and dinks a little 7 iron close to the hole for an up and down, he has his bogey on a hard hole and probably gets 3 points as he's off 21.... Simple straight short golf is hard to beat... Whether your Zach johnson or my old fella

That's how I play my golf. I don't try to bomb the ball because if I do, then it's in the tree's with no second shot. I have changed my club's (starter set) to Callaway clubs and the increase in distance is only about 40 yard. My old clubs were 150 yards, new clubs with the same swing is approaching 200 but still in the fairway.

RuggieBear

accuracy for me. used to be a big hitter but lack of practice means i'm better off playing it safe rather than looking for the ball 300 yards left or right...:D