how far is a decent golf drive?

[325Ti]

wondering how far an average player - say low 20 handicap - should be able to drive a ball?

played for a while but never joined a club / took it too seriously

I could always hit the ball hard but had no control - so got myself a decent driver and learnt a proper swing - but seem to have lost bit of the distance - although they are alot straighter which is good

let me know your thoughts

[PetrolDriver]

13 handicap here. Quite a big hitter I'd say which helps the somewhat wayward nature of some of my shots. I'm the sort of player that will hit a long iron from the tee if the fairway is tight.

According to GPS on the golf carts I have used, I tend to hit around 220 with a good hit with the driver, when it goes straight.

Although if you allow for slice, some of mine may be a little longer, just in the wrong direction!!

[uk_vette]

Generally it's not how powerful you are, its technique
I am 95kg, and will hit 200 meters on a good swing

But the "Golf girl" like the trainer, she weighs about 55kg, she will hit the back nets at 250 meters every time she pleases.
And she is Chinese.

What a girl, it all looks too easy, she just steps up to the tee, swings back and the ball just flies true and strait.

She is very good

vette

[Cheib]

Not wishing to be rude but 220 with a driver isn't what I would expect from a big hitter.

With a driver you should be able to drive the ball 200 to 250 yards...I think and some people much further. But accuracy is more important that distance.

Question for the OP....how far do you hit say your 7 iron and 4 iron ?

I hit my 7 iron 155 yards, my 4 iron 200 yards and my driver 250 yards plus..if there are cross bunkers at 270 yards I'll be taking out my three wood.

Edited by Cheib on Friday 8th June 09:05

[Garym85]

I'm off of 16 just now.

My drive is around 220-240 yards. My slice is woeful though. If I straighten it Initially I'd lose maybe 20yards at first.

[325Ti]

thanks for the replies

hitting with the new driver - king Cobra with a stiff shaft - im currently just under 200 - but taking a while to get used to the stiff shaft

would want 250 with more practice - more like what I used to get - but only 1 in ten was straight - now im getting maybe 7 or 8

in terms of 4 and 7 irons - i couldnt give a distance - havent taken these to the range to measure them - also never use my 4 iron - would always go for a fairway wood / rescue club

[325Ti]

uk_vette said:

Generally it's not how powerful you are, its technique
I am 95kg, and will hit 200 meters on a good swing

But the "Golf girl" like the trainer, she weighs about 55kg, she will hit the back nets at 250 meters every time she pleases.
And she is Chinese.

What a girl, it all looks too easy, she just steps up to the tee, swings back and the ball just flies true and strait.

She is very good

vette

sounds impressive - please say she is hot?

[London424]

I play off 16 after taking up golf last year. You will hear lots of stories about "I drive it 300 yards blah blah" but the reality is if you are getting it out to 250 and accurate you will be able to play pretty much any course in the 6,500 yard length comfortably.

For now, my driver stays in the bag as i've lost faith in it, mainly hitting a 3 wood off the tee. With that I'm anywhere between 220 - 250 depending on the weather (sometimes shorter than that with the lovely wind that won't seem to stop at the moment!).

[PetrolDriver]

250 metres!?

Yards?

I thought 220 was OK, thats what I'd normally be hitting, further sometimes. Sometimes less. I tend to hit it quite high though so perhaps I need to look at trajectory.

[anonymous-user]

325Ti said:

thanks for the replies

hitting with the new driver - king Cobra with a stiff shaft - im currently just under 200 - but taking a while to get used to the stiff shaft

would want 250 with more practice - more like what I used to get - but only 1 in ten was straight - now im getting maybe 7 or 8

in terms of 4 and 7 irons - i couldnt give a distance - havent taken these to the range to measure them - also never use my 4 iron - would always go for a fairway wood / rescue club

Did you have your swing analysed or assessed prior to buying the club? I'd hazard a guess you don't need a stiff shaft if you cant hit it 200yards. Regular shaft with a lower kick point might be more suited.

[325Ti]

djstevec said:

325Ti said:

thanks for the replies

hitting with the new driver - king Cobra with a stiff shaft - im currently just under 200 - but taking a while to get used to the stiff shaft

would want 250 with more practice - more like what I used to get - but only 1 in ten was straight - now im getting maybe 7 or 8

in terms of 4 and 7 irons - i couldnt give a distance - havent taken these to the range to measure them - also never use my 4 iron - would always go for a fairway wood / rescue club

Did you have your swing analysed or assessed prior to buying the club? I'd hazard a guess you don't need a stiff shaft if you cant hit it 200yards. Regular shaft with a lower kick point might be more suited.

yeah I had it assessed by 2 different pro's - but nothing electronic - just them watching and giving their opinion

both said that as I was tall / broad / quite powerful a stiff shaft would be better as a regualr was flexing too much causing it to curve (that and the bad habits id picked up)

but as I said that is my current distance - used to be a good bit more - but am also recovering from injuring my back anf hamstring - so not fully fit at the minute - flexabilty has also decreased - but am sure it will return soon once the Physio is finished

[anonymous-user]

325Ti said:

yeah I had it assessed by 2 different pro's - but nothing electronic - just them watching and giving their opinion

both said that as I was tall / broad / quite powerful a stiff shaft would be better as a regualr was flexing too much causing it to curve (that and the bad habits id picked up)

but as I said that is my current distance - used to be a good bit more - but am also recovering from injuring my back anf hamstring - so not fully fit at the minute - flexabilty has also decreased - but am sure it will return soon once the Physio is finished

Cool. Best wishes with the recovery.

[325Ti]

djstevec said:

325Ti said:

yeah I had it assessed by 2 different pro's - but nothing electronic - just them watching and giving their opinion

both said that as I was tall / broad / quite powerful a stiff shaft would be better as a regualr was flexing too much causing it to curve (that and the bad habits id picked up)

but as I said that is my current distance - used to be a good bit more - but am also recovering from injuring my back anf hamstring - so not fully fit at the minute - flexabilty has also decreased - but am sure it will return soon once the Physio is finished

Cool. Best wishes with the recovery.

thanks

jsut wish the recovery would hurry up - had been starting to play a bit more regularly and was seeing an improvement - but not played in good few months now

[craggers]

Hit the ball 280+ yards - often ball go over 300 yards. It all about swing - a perfect swing rhythm (not too aggressive). It all about timing.

My driver - King Cobra SZ440.

My handicap is 5.

[325Ti]

craggers said:

Hit the ball 280+ yards - often ball go over 300 yards. It all about swing - a perfect swing rhythm (not too aggressive). It all about timing.

My driver - King Cobra SZ440.

My handicap is 5.

very nice - obviously shows in your 5 handicap

cant see me every getting that low - dont play often enough to show any great improvement

[Nom de ploom]

i nutted a drive 270 on sunday, perfect conditions at the local course. i hit it so well that it went 5 yards beyond the green on a short par 4. made birdie too which was nice.

i binned my graphite shafted driver as it was going right. steel shafted £9 from sports direct suits me fine.

i would say my average drive was c 250. i prefer my wild thing driving iron which goes about 230.

[anonymous-user]

You know what they say, right?

Drive for show, putt for dough.

Driving distance isn't anything to worry about unless playing some 7,000 yard plus course which I doubt many club golfers ever do.

Luke Donald, world number 1, is far from a big hitter and look at his stats!

Always worry about the short game before the big dog. It took me 6-7+ years to realise that and when I worked on those areas I went from 2 to +2 in a year.

[anonymous-user]

craggers said:

Hit the ball 280+ yards - often ball go over 300 yards. It all about swing - a perfect swing rhythm (not too aggressive). It all about timing.

My driver - King Cobra SZ440.

My handicap is 5.

Sounds like you've got a nice late hit going on there, not overswinging and 280+

[R1gtr]

Generally 250-290 yards with a natural Draw, sometimes more, sometimes less but on days I am struggling with the Driver I will revert to my 3 wood as will get about 240-250 with that and usually straight up the middle.
Stiff shaft sounds right from what you used to Drive and your build etc.
Try slowing things down, fully extend and don't lash at the ball.
It will come back gradually. However most of us would sacrifice 20 yards for accuracy.

[Bingo1976]

Garym85 said:

I'm off of 16 just now.

My drive is around 220-240 yards. My slice is woeful though. If I straighten it Initially I'd lose maybe 20yards at first.

If you are slicing the ball, it means that you are coming across the ball from out to in - to hit it straight you are coming from in to in so should be gaining distance, not losing it. As an example, I've been fighting a fade with the driver for a couple of years - my golf coach got me 30 yards extra carry just by changing my swing plane.

325Ti said:

thanks for the replies

hitting with the new driver - king Cobra with a stiff shaft - im currently just under 200 - but taking a while to get used to the stiff shaft

would want 250 with more practice - more like what I used to get - but only 1 in ten was straight - now im getting maybe 7 or 8

in terms of 4 and 7 irons - i couldnt give a distance - havent taken these to the range to measure them - also never use my 4 iron - would always go for a fairway wood / rescue club

Your swingspeed must be about 75-80mph with the driver. Sounds like you need a R flex and a 12 degree driver to maximise your carry.