[somawaima]

Really depends on the type of course your playing too. A tight/short course could actually mean someone has no need for the driver. I'm playing a course tomorrow that measures 5501 from the yellow's which means only 3 holes require a driver off the tee. Better to be 50/60 yards short and in the fairway instead of being long and in the rough maybe trees

[chppjdf]

All I know is that as my distance has dropped, so has my handicap. Is that a coincidence? The real story is that once I stopped worrying about how far I was hitting the ball, and started focusing on how consistently I was hitting the ball, my scores began to improve.

[oranowdenda]

I would say not as much as accuracy. I am not a very long hitter at all but i know my game could be vastly improved with better accuracy. However, i know the more accurate i got the more i wish i had more distance. So with my handicap distance isn't as important as accuracy but once i start playing better ill definitely want more distance. Plus, it has got to be fun ripping the ball 280 down the center or the fairway; however making a 40ft putt for eagle has to be more exciting!

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[gambleingsites]

I think it's pretty important if you want to be somewhat competitive, But I place just as much emphasis on accuracy. There are some folks that can flat out kill a ball, 300+ yrd drives and 180 yrd 8 irons, we've all played with them. The scoring game is inside a hundred yards period, if you can't chip and putt, you will throw out some large numbers. I say hit it and hit it hard, then read the tortoise and the hare.

[AutocadOemM]

I'm just throwing this out there but since my distance has gone down and accuracy up (relative to the club, that is) with my new iron shafts, my scores have been higher. Maybe I'm just not in good form all around.

[RildFiemodo]

FOr me, it's about finding that perfect balance of distance and accuracy. Distance means diddly squat to me if I'm not in control of the golf ball. I much prefer being in situations where i can hit shorter irons into greens b/c I think I can get closer to the hole with them. I think distance is very important in the game of golf. Without it, everything past the tee box gets harder.

[arindiruppya]

I think that ACCURATE distance is massively important. The high and right distance? Not so much.

[DeilMikina]

Really depends on the type of course your playing too. A tight/short course could actually mean someone has no need for the driver. I'm playing a course tomorrow that measures 5501 from the yellow's which means only 3 holes require a driver off the tee. Better to be 50/60 yards short and in the fairway instead of being long and in the rough maybe trees

But kelly, distance isn't just with the driver. I've played with guys who hit their irons farther than my driver. If I drop down to an iron or hybrid off the tee, I'm still way behind the longball guy! (generally)

I've seen Woods hit 200 yard pitching wedges on TV. Heck, I've seen Texas Hacker airmail a 160 yard par three green with one! I'm hitting 5H into that sucker and just getting it to the hole (or somewhere in the general vicinity of someplace around the hole!).

[boleroman]

I know I'll get some hate for this, but.....Luke Donald.

He plays the same courses as all of these guys who hit the ball on average 300+, yet he averages under 280. He is one of the best iron players and the short game is great, but just shows you don't need to be overly long.

I do think amateurs focus too much on distance. I'm somewhere in the 250-260 range on average and I have no complaints. If I swing out of my shoes, I can get out to 270, but I have no idea where it's going. This summer I've come into a good spot with my driver and I don't want to change it. Focusing on 150 and in now, hopefully start to lower than handicap even more and get some consistency to my game.

[thushioli]

I too agree with Jrod, play the correct tees and length is relative. So is everyone playing the right tees to maximize their length?

@damakis you played Firestone from the tips. Where did most of you stroke come from? Tee ball, irons or short game. If you had to do it over would you play from closer tees?