Is distance really that important?
 

I ask because I read all these threads about guys hitting it 280+ but still carry high handicaps and put up big numbers. I agree in the right hands, distance is a huge advantage. But the everyday golfer should concentrate on hit FIR and GIR, agreed.
We look for the longest balls, irons and woods but they do nothing but deplete the Bank account not the hdcp.
So is distance really all that important if it does nothing for your game? And if it is, why? I'm curious....

Depends on the tee's you're playing. If you're playing 6200 yards no. If you're playing 7000 yards yes.

I think some high handicappers forget to mention that it's 300+ to the right. . .control and accuracy is more important in my opinion, If I could hit 300 yard drives straight every time it would say something about my swing and skill and in my experience some (please note I say some before an uproar happens) people say they hit 300 yard drives but in reality it was once or twice a round or a massive banana slice. . .hey I'm honest I can barely hit my driver at 250 and when I really get a hold of it sure it can go farther but I'm not consistently obsessed with distance

I think it depends on what the other parts of your game are and how good they are. If some of the people who hit the ball 270+ can't do anything else at all well on a golf course, then while their handi's are still high, they would be higher. That being said, if you hit it 220 and are lights out from 100 and in and can really roll it, then no. For me it is a mix. My long game is probably my strength, but the rest of my game is catching up with it. Now, the days that I score well, it is because I was very good off the tee. The days I don't score well it is because I sprayed it everywhere. The rest of my game is more consistent, BUT my ability to go low is dependent upon my distance and control.

I'm sure I could bring my HC down to a 3 from a 5 if I wanted to play the shorter tees and hit irons off the tee all day but that isn't fun to me. I can more about a challenge than my current cap.

Not at all for the courses I play. I can guarantee a low HDCP short hitter would have no problems scoring well from the tips. Like JRod said, it really only comes into play on longer courses.

Unlike alot of the tournament guys I play with, I can't crush the ball out there around 300 and have wedges to every green, but because of that I am more comfortable hitting 7,8,9 irons into par 4s and hitting 3 woods for my second shots to par 5s. Does distance make a difference? Sure, if you can control it. But I'd rather be 260-270 off the tee and in the fairway than 300 and two holes to the right or in a hazard or worse, OB.

Totally agree! But also in saying that, my short game is a neglected part of my game right now.

I think you're onto to something FIRs and GIRs are way more important. If you can get it in the fairway first and foremost, then hit the green, then it's just a matter of not two putting and you're off to the races. Distance is fun and makes you feel great to really rip a drive, but putting drives and approaches offline can really dampen your mindset and send you into a downward spiral pretty quick!

Or courses that require forced carries or that have small greens. I'd trade yardage on my irons for 3 extra GIR a round without a second thought.

Yup. Good point. Interesting thought dude.

I say yes for one reason: the shorter your second shot, the more likely you're hitting higher-lofted clubs, which means more likely to hit a green in regulation. What do the PGA/USGA do to courses to "toughen" them up, besides grow rough? Move the tees back and make a guy/girl hit the green with a lower lofted club. It makes it harder to score. So, yes, distance IS important to having a better chance to score. I've seen it when I play against other guys who hit shorter than me, and especially with my father as he has aged- a longer second shot is tougher on the player.

GIR goes up exponentially the closer you are to the green. More distance increases the likelihood of a GIR, a hit fairway accentuates it.

I think that if you are playing the correct tees for your handicap, distance shouldn't matter at all. Agreed that FIR and GIR are more important than distance. I know that I'd have a difficult time playing from 7000+ yards because my distances are average at best.

I would say yes. I've worked on my driver more than any other club the last 2 years and it's all started to click recently. I'm hitting it longer and straighter than I ever have. As a result I've had some personal best scores. It's always easier when you're playing shorter irons with your approach shots. As long as you're accurate, I'd say distance off the tee is important.

Most of the people who say distance doesn't matter are the ones who have it. Granted, you don't want to be 275 (which is long for me) into the woods, but having something shorter into the green is always better. I'm working at getting longer, but I know that most of the time, in most groupings, I'll be one of the people hitting my second shot first. I'll poke a couple out there a long way during most rounds, but I'm not a long hitter by any stretch of anyone's imagination. I'd love another 35 or 40 yards on average. But it'sprobably too late for that! I do know that I am hitting it a lot farther than I did 15 or 20 years ago when I was young and much more flexible, but I'd say that most of that is because I have learned to hit it straighter. Hitting it straight instead of slicing. That's a good way to increase your distance.

As a very short hitter, I don't think distance is that important as long as you are "long enough". What I mean is that for me a good drive is 220 or so, but often in the fairway. The problem is, even on a short to mid length par 4 say 380 or so, that leaves me 160 plus to hit a GIR. Since I am a short hitter anyway, that means I'm looking at around a 5 iron for my approach. If I can increase my distance by say 10%, that means I'm driving 240'ish, leaving around 130 for the approach, and down to something closer to an 8 iron, a much more controllable shot for me. So I don't think you need to be able to bomb it to score, but if you hit as short as I do your mid and long iron and short game better be deadly, or you won't be able to post great scores. This helps explain my 22ish handicap, short with only a fair iron game and decent but not great short game.

Like Jrod said, yes I'd you want to play longer courses. I want to play longer courses, so I usually play from 6800 yards or more. I'm sure I'd shoot better scores from shorter tees, but I like the challenge.

Agree with JRod that it depends on the course. I used to think that I hit the ball a lot further off the tee. GPS measuring has sobered me up on that front a bit! http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...es/beat-up.png

I try to think my way around the course now. Do I really need to hit driver to get home in two on this par 4? Is it worth the potential slice fest? Also, if it's a long tight par 4 I'll sacrifice and take three on my way in if it means no penalties and a decent par putt. Keep in mind that I said I TRY TO... When I'm swinging good and I stick to this, I've seen some of my best rounds. Off days are still off days though. Nothing helps that.

I definitely think it helps to be long, but accuracy is still premium to me.

I think the extremely hot weather in our area affects the way we play too, I'm still up there in handicap too