What percentage of golfers can hit 300 yards?
What percentage of golfers can hit 300 yards?
GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture
350 yard tee shots
Tony_Muldoon:
Tomas that would make sense but you wouldn’t want to cross facts with Paul Turner!
Has anyone ever seen a article listing Henry Longhurst’s eclectic 18? I’ve seen a few stunning holes quotes as being a part of it.
Names can be so confusing.
One of Britain’s best ever exports. The now current member of The Valley Club of Montecito ruined countless television programmes in my youth.
OChatriot:
Yes Matthew is probably right. Let’s not care. After all, nobody talks of raising the net after a serie of Djokovic aces. that’s because not so many do.
Throw in a bit of scottish weather and they suddenly go all defensive. Less 350yds drives and more punched 2 irons.
Shall we blame the weather? Seriously: how many of us play 99% of their time in perfect conditions? That allow you to open your shoulders and hit hard without fear? If the Tour was playing in average conditions that reflect the weather the rest of the world play all year, the statistics would be far different, the scrambling gifted players would beat the machine-types and length advantage would cease to be a definitive factor.
Thoughts?
At least the modern equipment allows us humans to hit some jaw dropping shots once in a while, and it is fun!
RussBaribault:
First and foremost, this idea that 350 or even 300 yard drives are a problem (due to better golf balls) is such utter nonsense to start. There are so few golfers who actually hit the ball 300 yards let alone 350. Besides the tour pros (PGA, Web.com, etc.) and college golfers it may be .5% of all golfers who can actually hit the ball 300 yards. I am reading here, ONE or TWO guys at my club can do it. So this makes perfect sense, we need major rule changes to golf because of a few individuals who can actually do it. Frankly, and I mean no disrespect, when people spout this 300-350 yard drive stuff, it�s really flying the ball 270 and if its straight and if they get some roll it gets out too 300. I am willing to bet not one person here has actually seen a 350 yard under normal conditions by a golfer on a course. The REMAX Long driver pro�s are hitting them 350 (maybe 400) in competition. A very good friend of mine owns a range (very busy on the Philadelphia Main Line) and he watches thousands of golfers. His range ends at 280, yesterday he said maybe he see�s 1 or 2 guys in a season that clear his range. Where you will not get an argument, from me, does the golf ball allow guys, who are playing strategic golf to hit a hybrid instead of a driver? Yes. Guys, I understand where you are all coming from about appreciating the great classic courses and playing them the way they were designed, use old equipment. I don�t want to change any of the classic/great course either. If they are really great, they will be great no matter what the equipment. That is what makes them great. Today, the new courses are rightfully built with many tee set-ups to accommodate the average golf who is just as bad today as he was 20-30 years ago and the better golfers who do hit the ball further. The idea of reduced flight golf balls by rule changes in golf IS SO BAD. I have no problem with the USGA suggesting that golf ball companies make reduced flight balls. Let�s see how they do in the marketplace. The GCAers can play them if they like.
jeffwarne:
— Quote from: RussBaribault on June 06, 2014, 10:23:59 AM —First and foremost, this idea that 350 or even 300 yard drives are a problem (due to better golf balls) is such utter nonsense to start. There are so few golfers who actually hit the ball 300 yards let alone 350. Besides the tour pros (PGA, Web.com, etc.) and college golfers it may be .5% of all golfers who can actually hit the ball 300 yards. I am reading here, ONE or TWO guys at my club can do it. So this makes perfect sense, we need major rule changes to golf because of a few individuals who can actually do it. Frankly, and I mean no disrespect, when people spout this 300-350 yard drive stuff, it�s really flying the ball 270 and if its straight and if they get some roll it gets out too 300. I am willing to bet not one person here has actually seen a 350 yard under normal conditions by a golfer on a course. The REMAX Long driver pro�s are hitting them 350 (maybe 400) in competition. A very good friend of mine owns a range (very busy on the Philadelphia Main Line) and he watches thousands of golfers. His range ends at 280, yesterday he said maybe he see�s 1 or 2 guys in a season that clear his range. Where you will not get an argument, from me, does the golf ball allow guys, who are playing strategic golf to hit a hybrid instead of a driver? Yes. Guys, I understand where you are all coming from about appreciating the great classic courses and playing them the way they were designed, use old equipment. I don�t want to change any of the classic/great course either. If they are really great, they will be great no matter what the equipment. That is what makes them great. Today, the new courses are rightfully built with many tee set-ups to accommodate the average golf who is just as bad today as he was 20-30 years ago and the better golfers who do hit the ball further. The idea of reduced flight golf balls by rule changes in golf IS SO BAD. I have no problem with the USGA suggesting that golf ball companies make reduced flight balls. Let�s see how they do in the marketplace. The GCAers can play them if they like.
so the 4500 yard course of 1900 should not have been altered?
Every year certain great courses are either rendered antiques and are not considered for major events, or they are altered.
Myopia is the word that came to mind when I read your post, for more reassons than one 😉 ;D
Merion was abandoned for 30+ years, then bastardized, the used for what was called a «boutique Open»
Not a lot of courses looking for that label-dispite the fact I thought it was a fantastic open
Erin Hills, Chambers Bay, Kiawah and Trump National NJ are the future for US Championship golf.
That is incredibly bleak to me, but perhaps I’m the one with my head in the sand.
Paul Gray:
Russ,
Would you like to see a golf tournament played at Sunningdale? Do you think it would beneficial if golfers saw pros playing such courses? Would it be better or worse if the Ryder Cup could be held on the Kings Course at Gleneagles, rather than the Nicklaus monstrosity?
What percentage of golfers can hit 300 yards?
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How to Practice Golf: Master Your Wedge Distances for Guaranteed Lower Golf Scores in the New Year
By now if you’ve followed my blog entries for a while you would know that at Pro Tour Golf College we take the lowering of competitive golf score averages very seriously.
We believe that whether you’re an amateur or professional that your scoring ability is the most important golf skill to develop.
As we’re coming to the end of another year of golf it seems like the right time to share a simple idea with you to help you to change the direction of your golf game in the New Year.
You see you’re only as competitive on the golf course as you’re willing to keep finding ways to lower your golf scores in competition.
What we’ve discovered working with many elite golfers is that it is much easier for them to complain about the state of their existing game rather than devising a strategy that leads to lower golf scores. The trouble we constantly face is a mountain of golf swing instruction that although is helpful for many golfers, for others it is more like a debilitating virus.
This is particularly true of very advanced amateur and professional golfers. It almost seems like the only answer to better performances on the golf course is perfecting some aspect of their golf swing technique.
Sadly with most of the focus on golf swing, it is difficult to work on the more important areas of mental skills development and scoring ability from within 100 yards of the pin.
The primary influence of this swing focus mentality is major media. And can you really blame them when it sells magazines and keeps advertising revenue coming into their business.
Personally I have been purchasing golf magazines since I was 12 years old so I’ve seen my fare share of golf swing instruction and the trouble with golf tips is that it is just that; a tip.
As an elite golfer you need a lot more than a tip from a golf magazine, golf telecast, or from The Golf Channel. You need to take a very close look at your game and decide on which are your weakest-most important golf skills for lowering your golf scores in competition.
Here’s an insight. From within 100 yards of the green what percent of the time do you hit the ball close enough to the pin and one putt?
To be competitive you have to be able to do this more than 50 percent of the time. Would it help if you could? I bet it would, and that would be a useful way to think about the importance of lowering your golf scores by becoming deadly from less than 100 yards from the pin.
- Hit 10 sets of 10 golf balls (100) to 5 different distances.
- You will hit 20 golf shots to each of 5 target distances.
- Have a friend stand at the first distance which is 30 yards with 20 tees in his/her hand and they have the job of marking each distance where the ball lands (on the full) in relation to the chosen target distance.
Photo of Luke Donald taken by his coach Pat Goss
Part 2: Wedge Distance Proximity to Hole Check
OK now that you have some idea about the average distance of your wedge shots in relationship to a target on the range.
Now if you can, hit 10 shots to a pin at one of those distances and get one of your friends to mark the finish position in relation to the pin with ball markers, coins or tee’s.
Once you have hit all 10 shots onto the green, using a tape measure record each distance location to the edge of the hole carefully and write it down.
Once you have all the distances marked down, average it out by dividing the total distance by 10 to work out your proximity to the hole with that shot distance. Ideally you will want to do this procedures with every distance from 20 yards to 100 yards (in 5 yards increments) if you’re serious about improving your wedge game.
Yes it is a lot of work but think about it, you’re going to keep practicing in the New Year anyway, so by changing your improvement strategy and carefully assessing your ability with your wedge shots you will very quickly gain the upper hand on the golf course in tournaments.
And become a deadly weapon when you have a wedge in your hand which wouldn’t be a bad thing would it?
Lawrie Montague and David Milne — Pro Tour Golf College
Your Success On Tour is Our Business
Why Can I Only Drive Golf Ball 200 yards?
A 200-yard golf drive is a good distance for an amateur golf player. The distance report presented by R&A and USGA (United States Golf Association) displays golfers’ distance numbers. This report depicts that an amateur male golf player’s average hit is 215 yards. For a male golfer, a long drive would be between 280-300 yards. But practically, very few golfers reach that number. According to the same report, a female golf player hits an average distance of 148 yards. All club golf players find it difficult or do not reach close to the 300-yardstick.
Reasons the average golfer can’t hit 200 yards
- Poor technique
- Rapid swing
- Insufficient knowledge
- Lack of practice
Insufficient technique
Several golfers lack proper technique in striking the ball. It is a very important aspect of the game of Golf.
A golfer can strike the ball beyond 200 yards with enhanced technique.
The correct technique is to use the right body position for swinging. For a backswing, you should turn your shoulders to the side when you swing the golf club.
For a downswing, the hips and the legs should be the base and should stay throughout the swing and during the follow-through.
Rapid swing
The average golfer swings way too fast or more than what’s required in an attempt to strike the golf ball harder. If the golfer’s arms move quicker during the body’s circular movement, then the player would be far from replicating the same swing once again, thereby rendering inconsistency.
The swings will be much more consistent if the player pays more attention to the rotational speed of his/her body and start striking 200 and above drives regularly.
Insufficient knowledge
Lack of knowledge about the game is another reason why most golfers struggle to strike the ball 200 yards and beyond. Average golfers are more engrossed in purchasing the latest tools and equipment under the false impression that these will drastically enhance their game.
It’s recommended to learn the game from a qualified professional or a golf coach.
Lack of practice
A poor practice schedule is another reason for not being able to hit 200 yards or beyond. To become a professional golfer, you must practice the game for at least five days a week for six hours every day. This may not be practically possible for every player. However, having a mindful approach towards the right and wrong aspects of the game will go a long way.
Why can I only hit my driver 200 yards?
The average golfer will be more likely to hit beyond 200 yards without any problem if he has a reasonable swing speed.
You will be able to hit only 200 yards if your technique is the problem. Striking a ball properly depends on your posture, technique, and power.
You will require less power but more technique and skill to hit beyond 200 yards. Your swing speed will determine the power that is required for hitting the ball.
What is the swing speed for a 200-yard drive?
A swing speed for a 200-yard drive is 80mph. A golfer needs to understand that the swing speed controls the distance of the ball.
The table below gives the maximum distance that a golfer can achieve with his driver based on his swing speed:
Swing speed
Distance
The average distance is 95 mph and 100 mph for an LPGA (The Ladies Professional Golf Association) golf player and 115 mph and 120 mph for a PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour golf player.
If a club head’s speed is improved by 1 mph, it will help to strike the ball 2.5 yards farther.
A 10-mph speed increase will result in giving a distance of additional 25 yards.
How to hit a 200-yard drive?
To hit a 200-yard drive, one must hit the ball accurately, focus on striking the center of the driver and maintain a strong grip on the ball.
Hit the ball accurately
Accuracy in hitting the ball is of utmost importance for reaching the 200-yard mark. Attack angle also plays a role in achieving this distance. It is an upright angle (up-down) at which the clubhead moves on impact.
A positive attack angle results from striking up on the ball, while a negative attack angle results from striking down. This means the angle completely relies on the erectness of the swing.
The below table from Trackman depicts the impact on distance due to positive and negative attack angle using a driver.
Club Speed
Attack Angle
Ball Speed
Launch Angle
Spin Rate (rpm)
Distance
A golfer with a 90-mph swing speed can extend the carry distance from 191 yards to 214 yards just by altering the attack angle from -5 degrees to 5 degrees. It clearly shows that anything this small has a huge impact on the swing.
If you want to strike the driver farther than usual without purchasing an expensive driver or a wild swing, the best way to increase the carry distance is to change your attack angle.
Focus on striking the center of the driver
The ideal place to hit the ball would be from the center of the clubhead, also known as the sweet spot. This is an excellent alternative to achieving maximum distance instead of increasing the clubhead speed. It is imperative to hit at the center.
For instance, if it is assumed that your average drive is 180 yards off the tee, missing or failing to hit the center of the clubhead by even one inch could result in a loss of approximately 1 percent of the distance.
Instead, if the golfer strikes the ball right at the center, then that would translate to an instant gain of a distance of 20-25 yards.
Maintain a strong grip on the ball
One error that golfers typically make is that they do not have a powerful grip on the ball. A powerful grip enables the correct release of the clubface, which further results in increased distance.
Additionally, the most common issue faced by amateur players is slicing the golf ball. This is a result of an open clubface on impact.
The ideal way of managing the clubface properly is to ascertain that your hands are placed firmly on the club. It is also beneficial to place yourself in a strong position by ensuring that 2-3 of your knuckles on your left hand are visible at the point of address.
Continue Reading.
- Average Golf Ball Driver Spin Rate (is your RPM High or Low)
- Average Clubhead Speed (3 Best Ways to Increase your MPH)
- Golf Club Distances Guide; Averages | Charts | Cheat Sheet
