300Yards

I gotta disagree with one point in your post:

My RPMs are so low, that I can pretty much hit a 10.5, and a 9.5 driver the same carry, and roll distance. I have several different lofted drivrs I use, just not at once. Depending on how high I want my shots to go, I may pick a lower or higher lofted club, but the distance is still about the same for me. I've never hit anything lower than 8*, so I can't say much about that.

Lead Tape

Are they the same head from the same manufacturer? Center of gravity in a head can alter the results. One manufactures 9.5 degree can provide totally different results than another one. Even if they ARE from the same manufacturer, is the 10.5 and the 9.5 accurate in their measurement and what the "stamp" on the bottom says? For all you know, they could BOTH be off by a half degree and be 10's. They can definitely be off by a degree or so. What about the gram weight of the head or shaft...are THEY identical or you dealing in different gram weights? What result might you get from a slightly lighter or heavier weight than another?

Is it the EXACT same shaft with identical cpm's on a frequency machine? THAT can alter the flight pattern and launch angle.

Is the GRIP identical in size when measured with calipers? Even a grip size that's off a hair can and will cause you to release it just a little differently.

There is soooooo much sh!t that goes into this it's mind boggling!
At this point...you don't even know what you don't know and what there is to know. All you do is HIT, which is good.

white_tiger_137

It's amazing what you can do with 120 mph of clubhead speed if you catch it exactly on the sweet spot every time.

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jump15vc

drivers have a loft tolerance of .5* so theoretically they could both be 10's but its pretty unlikely.

also why are you coming at 300 like that anyway. i assume its probably a similar shaft with the same grips and clubheads today are pretty standard. low spin numbers would explain a more boring trajectory that isn't affected much by the loft of the club.

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DennisM

A few months ago, I bought one of those Swingstick gadgets. It's got a simple swing speed meter in it. Since I started using it, my swing speed has supposedly gone up 10 mph, to about 100 mph, but I honestly don't see a difference in how far I hit it off the tee.

I recently bought a set of irons with regular shafts and my initial experiments for the week I've had them indicate I can hit them as far as my stiff shafts, but with less effort. I also seem to hit them higher and the other day, landed some 6-7-8-9-PW shots softer than I felt like I was before. This is going to be interesting.

Too much goes into how we hit a ball. The swing speed is just one small part of it.

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JPsuff

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Precisely!

You know, 113 m.p.h. is not a bad clubhead speed and it is not an uncommonly low clubhead speed either.

Consider this: The rule of thumb with clubhead speed versus ball speed is that ball speed is generally one and one-half times the clubhead speed. So a clubhead speed of 113 m.p.h. should produce a ball speed of approx. 170 m.p.h.. Now, if you can consistently produce that ball speed, you should be able to consistently average about 270 - 280 yds. of carry. Carry distance such as that will keep you in the game on virtually any golf course.

Add to that a properly fitted shaft with enough impact "kick" to add, say, 6 m.p.h. more to your clubhead speed and couple that with a loft and shaft flex that suits your swing style and you're in the 300 yd. neighborhood.

It's all a numbers game.

Everyone in this country is so obsessed with distance and clubhead speed that we've all lost sight of simple physics. The pro's are not superhuman, nor do they possess some mysterious ability to swing a golf club in a manner which rivals the catapult launch speeds of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
They are simply human beings with whatever physical abilities typical humans possess.
What separates "us" from "them" is an understanding of the golf swing as it relates to timing, control, and technique which along with properly fitted equipment produce optimum results relative to their physical characteristics. They understand their physical limitations and they also understand the needs of a given situation on a golf course. They don't swing for the fences at every opportunity as most of us do (whether we care to admit it or not) nor do they take unnecessary risks.

There will always be the exceptions to the rule such as Tiger and a few others who seem to be able to draw on some unlimited well of swing power, but most are just basic standard-issue humans with basic standard-issue bodies. It's the old case of "It ain't whatcha got, it's how you use it".

And don't forget something else: When we see a group of pro's in contention on Sunday or even during an entire tournament, we are seeing the guys who are performing exceptionally well THAT WEEK or THAT DAY. What we don't see are the guys who are knocking the ball all over the lot - just like we do - and haven't a hope of finishing anywhere near the lead.
The trouble is that we see these contenders doing all sorts of wonderful things and we think that's normal or an everyday occurrence and then we try to emulate them. Of course, when we fail to even remotely produce the results that we're seeing on TV, we go nuts and start buying new clubs, new shafts, new balls and God knows what else instead of simply pausing for a moment to consider that what we've been shown is a group of exceptional performers who happen to have managed to pull it all together for a moment in time.

The pro's do this for a living. They hit more golf balls in a day than most of us will in a week or more. They have access to any means of practice, instruction and equipment guru's and they have the resources to have themselves outfitted with the finest equipment money (or the sponsor) can buy.

We, on the other hand, have Golfsmith and Mel's Mini-putt and Driving range.

Relax people. 300 yard drives should not be a "goal" but rather a bonus. 250 to 270 are far more realistic “high end” numbers and 210 to 240 are probably more typical for most. But the most significant thing about those numbers is that they’re much easier to keep under control. And with our limited access to this game, control should be what's most important.


-JP

JPsuff

Oops, hit the wrong key!

300Yards

Since I didn't build the thing, I can't really say..but it was built by long driving professionals so I'll have to say yes. The head is the same, and I have checked the loft..they are pretty much on the money. The grips are the same, and the shafts are the same as far as I can tell..

300Yards

I completely agree..and as I stated, I hardlt, if ever swing that hard on the course. Around 120, is my usual SS. + or - 5mph. The reason I swing as hard as I do, is becasue I have a good understanding of the golfswing, and in fact, I would reckon that my approach to the swing is different than most, but obviously, it works. Me being about 5' 7", about 160 pounds..I should not be able to hit that hard, but I do..why? Because I swing as hard as I can, and pray for contact..no! I work hard, I hit hundreds of balls a day..I spend hours at the driving range per week, and I train the important muscles so that I can perform this well. I know when to hold back, and swing it easy, or when to slice/hook the ball, and how far to spin it. I can control this, so i can afford to hit the ball harder. I too believe that distance is irrelevent to a good golfer, but I am blessed with the long ball, so I take advantage of that. There are times when extra power, and a little extra oomph in your swing can help. It all just knowing when to use it.

BrianMcG

You don't seem to understand the concept of average. Why would you think they would hold back on a 600 yd hole if there is no trouble? Hint, they don't. It is then you would see swing speed easily 130-150.

The next hole may have some fairway bunkers and O.B. down one side, they still may hit a driver, but they are not going to try to crank it out there 350yds. That would just be dumb. There is a reason these guys shoot such low scores and its not because they always try to hit it 350yds every hole.

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