[Japakefrope]

I thought I hit the ball much farther then I really do and had no idea up until this past year when I finally got a GPS to measure my shots. Even now I think wow I got ahold of that one get up to the ball and the GPS says 210. It's almost enough to make me want to quit heh.

[itititit]

Yep. In the late fall and early spring when it was wet/cold I had some major ego destruction going on.

When I was younger, before GPS, I probably thought I hit it a little farther than I did, but I was always long compared to who I was paired with, even in State Am qualifying events where I played with really fine players. Then age and weight gain really decreased my distance. Then I got a GPS the same time I joined the club I now play at. Last year due to flooding the course was a soft swamp. I hit so many 220-235 yard drives measured with the GPS I was heart sick. Really affected me mentally. I started doubting myself as a player. As things dried out after a wet Spring this year, and I lost some poundage, I started seeing more distance. Then I got the R11 with the right shaft and found some more. But I'm not a huge carry guy, haven't been for years. Stats like those in the article can so easily be skewed by things like roll etc. It's one of the reasons I don't care a whole hell of a lot how far a launch monitor tells me I hit the ball.

I need to hit it what I need to hit it on each specific golf course. Hit it, press that button on the GPS on the tee, then find out some real world numbers. That's when you really know how far you hit it. I played with a guy last week, pretty good player 5ish, He was confounded that I hit the ball farther than him on a few holes where he really thought he ripped one. He couldn't believe it because he thought I hit the ball so low. He should have seen me when I played an FT-i with an Xcon 6. I'd hit the ball 30 feet high at my old course and it would roll out for days. That driver didn't work at my new course.

You want to know how far you hit it? Measure with a GPS in all kinds of conditions.

Kevin

[uMG6uOSo]

I believe in the skewed data theory postulated by JB. I know many many golfers who hit their drivers much farther than 195 yards and not many of them are better than a 13. I don't think there could really be any way of quantifying this thing without testing every golfer with a valid handicap.

[JessePex]

I believe in the skewed data theory postulated by JB. I know many many golfers who hit their drivers much farther than 195 yards and not many of them are better than a 13. I don't think there could really be any way of quantifying this thing without testing every golfer with a valid handicap.

I came away from this ignoring the numbers (195) but do agree that people think they hit farther than they really do for the most part. His numbers may be off, but the premise of the article is correct, imo.

[Stacypettlerr]

You mean I don't hit it 350 every time?

[JessePex]

You mean I don't hit it 350 every time?

Only on the internet, Craig, only on the internet.

[uMG6uOSo]

I came away from this ignoring the numbers (195) but do agree that people think they hit farther than they really do for the most part. His numbers may be off, but the premise of the article is correct, imo.

I do agree with that. I think his premise is right on.

[Konidurase]

I hit my nine iron 270 so I really don't know

damn internet golfer strength strikes again!

[Stacypettlerr]

Only on the internet, Craig, only on the internet.

I'm 30 yards longer on the internet, and handsome, and rich too!

[logpogingg]

I wonder how much of this has to do with averaging in folks that simply do not get to play too often and really do not spend much time developing their technique nor much time getting fitted etc etc. To some extent that is why I made a technique related comment in my other post in this thread. Driving is one of those aspects of the game where you can absolutely feel like you are coming out of your shoes and if your technique is flawed, the ball goes nowhere and I do mean nowhere!

If you spend some time looking around and check out folks as they take driver, I think you might be surprised at the number of very flawed swings out there. I did not offer an opinion earlier but I do think 195 is low as an average. An average of 195 would suggest that there are a fair number of guys out there driving it 175 or maybe even less and I find that one hard to come to grips with. Sure there are likely some older folks in the mix but I still think 195 would be low. I think we have seen numbers reported here of averages at about 210 or something like that and while there are all sorts of elements like conditions and altitude to take into account I think something like 210 is at least believable.

I am not sure that folks that show up for the THP demo days or even folks that participate here account for a mean average as I think the level of dedication to the game exhibited here is considerably higher than the mean average. I would expect them to perform better than the mean average and I would also expect them to improve at a better rate than the mean average.