While many golf equipment manufacturers focus their marketing on clubs that achieve greater distance, the weekend golfer has been left behind wondering why their new $400 driver is not achieving the results they were promised. In this week’s article, we share some useful information that will make the biggest impact on your game, and how you can begin using that new $400 driver to your advantage. Even if you don’t have the latest and greatest driver, we’ll show you how to use your golf clubs and improve your technique for lower scores.
According to TrackMan stats taken from the PGA Tour in 2014, the average carry (the distance a ball travels in the air) of a shot hit with a driver by a Tour player was 275 yards. An average 3-wood shot carried 243 yards and the average 5-wood carried 230 yards. The typical carry for a 3-iron shot was 212 yards, for a 4-iron 203, for a 5-iron 194, for a 6-iron 183, for a 7-iron 172, for an 8-iron 160, and for a 9-iron 148. The average PGA Tour pitching wedge shot carried 136 yards.
Interesting information right? So, how does this apply to your game. Let’s do some math.
Average 7-Iron Distance for a Pro: 172 yards
Average Driver Distance for a Pro: 275 yards
Scenario 1: PGA Pro or Tour Player
172 x 18 = 3,096 yards
275 x 14 = 3,850 yards
Add 3,096 yards and 3,850 yards and PGA Professionals can easily play 6,946 yard courses. In 2009, Bethpage Black was playing 7,486 yards, that’s 540 yards longer, but with excellent shot making skills, precision short game skills and 300+ drives, 71 or lower for a pro golfer is a makeable score.
Scenario 2: Typical Mid 80’s Player
Having completed hundreds of golf lessons over the years, I’ve found the mid 80’s player hits the 7-iron around 155 yards (carry) and driver 240 yards (carry). Using these numbers we can determine your optimal distance to play your best golf.
155 x 18 = 2,790 yards
240 x 14 = 3,360 yards
You can easily play golf courses up to 6,150 yards. When a golf course is 6,150 yards or less, you’re going to play your best golf, and give yourself birdie opportunities.
Scenario 3: Typical Mid 90’s Player:
The same math can be used for mid-90’s golfers. The average 7-iron is 130 yards (carry), while the driver is 200 yards (carry). Again these are averages that I’ve seen with hundreds of golf lessons completed over the years.
130 x 18 = 2,340 yards
200 x 14 = 2,800 yards
You can easily play golf courses up to 5,140 yards
So, what do all these number mean for your game. If you’re a mid 80’s or 90’s player and you get invited to play golf with friends or co-workers on a course that is 6,946 yards (Mid 70’s skill level), you’re going to struggle and here’s why:
As a mid 80’s player, for every 7 Iron swing you’re losing 17 yards compared to a Pro. And for every driver you hit, you’re losing 32 yards compared to a Pro. That’s 754 yards lost over 18 holes compared to a Pro, and we’re not even talking of a mid 90’s or plus 100 player. This number can double or even triple, leaving you 2000 yards behind a Pro. So how do we fix this?
- Play a golf course that matches your ability – and if you do play a golf course that is longer than your comfort zone, accept that a higher score is still a good score.
- If you’re playing a longer golf course, sharpen your short game and putting skills – this will have a significant impact on your round of golf. Even if you don’t make the green with your second shot on a par 4 or third on a par 5, with a sharp short game, you can score well and make-up lost distance off the tee.
- If you’re looking for added distance, consistency and power, then schedule a few lessons at Play-a-Round Golf and we’ll analyze your swing, course management and biomechanics to help you play a longer course.
- Schedule a distance analysis lesson with our state-of-the-art club fitting technology, to determine the distance of each club. We’ll analyze all your clubs for a full report on your game, and develop a road-map for a more consistent and powerful golf swing.
- Finally, DO NOT pack your golf clubs away this fall and winter – this is the same East-Coast cycle that forces thousands of golfers to play badly every summer. Start attending our fall and winter master classes, get a few lessons as a holiday gift, and even start your own weekly league with friends and co-workers to play, learn and grow in 2017. We’ve seen incredible results with junior and adult golfers who take lessons through the winter, and play golf in the summer.
- If you’re thinking of making changes to your golf swing in the summer, make sure you’re getting professional advice before making a change – otherwise you’ll be hitting more TREE-Woods then THREE-woods.
Our professional golf instructors will look forward to helping you with your game this fall and winter. Let’s make this year a fantastic golf year!
Call us to learn more about the incredible offers and promotions to help YOU achieve and enjoy this amazing game! Call 610-725-9155 or 610-228-2814 and we’ll help you design a step-by-step plan to better golf and more fun on the course!
