Jump to content
Testers Wanted: RUNNER Golf and Byrdie Golf Design ×

Dialing in Distance


Recommended Posts

I'm curious - has anyone on here truly dialed in their distances?  I ask because I swung by the local PGA Superstore today to borrow a launch monitor and felt a bit embarrassed.  

 

I understand there's a few variables in play on the course, and I also understand you always want to believe you hit your clubs farther than you actually do. But I certainly didn't expect the carry gap I saw.  Granted, I was hitting clubs that were harder to hit than my J38s (yes, an almost blade like club), and I wasn't hitting the center every time...but it certainly wasn't what I expected.  

 

So, has anyone actually rented a launch monitor for an extended period, or gone through a fitting, or used a rangefinder on the range to get accurate distances for all their irons? Am I the only one flying blind, off feel?  Either way, it's crazy how big of a difference there is on the course as opposed to hitting in a vacuum.  

Driver: Taylormade SLDR, Diamana Kai'li 70 

3 Wood: Callaway X Tour 15*

Hybrid: Bobby Jones 21* (Original)

Irons: Bridgestone J38 DPC 4-PW

Wedges: Scor 4161 52*, 57*

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm curious - has anyone on here truly dialed in their distances?  I ask because I swung by the local PGA Superstore today to borrow a launch monitor and felt a bit embarrassed.  

 

I understand there's a few variables in play on the course, and I also understand you always want to believe you hit your clubs farther than you actually do. But I certainly didn't expect the carry gap I saw.  Granted, I was hitting clubs that were harder to hit than my J38s (yes, an almost blade like club), and I wasn't hitting the center every time...but it certainly wasn't what I expected.  

 

So, has anyone actually rented a launch monitor for an extended period, or gone through a fitting, or used a rangefinder on the range to get accurate distances for all their irons? Am I the only one flying blind, off feel?  Either way, it's crazy how big of a difference there is on the course as opposed to hitting in a vacuum.

 

Perhaps the vacuum is correct and if you used the distances that you got there you would shoot lower scores. There's some truth to that with a couple of words of warning. So here goes:

 

1. What balls were you using? If you've conciously chosen a ball after some careful testing and then are using a generic range ball on a monitor you will lose a few yards of carry. 117 to 120 with a wedge may not sound like a lot but it's 10 feet.

 

2. Adrenaline when playing will cause you to hit the ball slightly farther perhaps another few yards so now you've gone from 120 to 122 or close to half a club from your launch monitor session.

 

3. Carry distance is very important but so is total distance. Course conditions can play a huge role in total distance and so can your ball flight. I'm a low spin player and the conditions on my greens are firm. No very much have to be aware of how far the ball will run out even with short irons if I'm down wind even in the wet conditions that we face in Florida this time of year.

 

To answer your question I hit through my bag about once a year on a launch monitor and my gapping is very consistent. Like you I've learned that I don't carry the ball as far as I'd like to but there is a very nice even spread between my clubs through the bag.

 

Testing on the course is trickier but I've found a way. There is a par 3 course near me that is not crowded in the off season. I walk it late in the day on occasion using a GPS and range finder. I can set my own distances to the pin that way and measure my shots to the ball mark and the run out or sometimes even the back up. :). It's very helpful and way more fun than a launch monitor or range session.

 

Nice thread idea, thanks for starting it!

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just use a range finder and my regular balls. Hitting in area where I can recover them of course lol.

And I use the distance where the ball first hits the ground, not where it finishes to get my distance range.

I did it earlier this year, but now that I've had surgery, once I'm able to play again I'll have to do it again.

Good luck

 

Tazz

         Grip n Rip it

Chicks dig the LONG ball

In my :callaway-small: staff bag

:cobra-small: King F7+ Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 60 - Graphite Tour X-Stiff

:755178188_TourEdge:  CBX 13.5 3 Wood

:1332069271_TommyArmour:  Atomic Irons 4-AW (reviewing)

:cleveland-small: CG16 Satin 52*

:cleveland-small: 588 RTX 2.0 56* and 60*

Sentio Sierra 101-M Putter

 

Proud tester of the Tommy Armour ATOMIC Irons 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did it on an open course a couple of years ago; hitting balls and measuring.  At least I know my gaps.  I am going for total distance on anything longer than 5-6i because I don't hit the ball all that far; on shorter clubs I only go by carry distance.  From my play this year, I think it is still fairly accurate for carry distance.  However, there are so many conditions that affect distance that I go by feel most of the time.  The biggest issue for me is wind.  Most of the time I play in some wind; it can be light or blowing pretty hard.  It also moves direction at least 90* during the play of a hole, so it's hard to pull the right club.  

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perhaps the vacuum is correct and if you used the distances that you got there you would shoot lower scores. There's some truth to that with a couple of words of warning. So here goes:

 

1. What balls were you using? If you've conciously chosen a ball after some careful testing and then are using a generic range ball on a monitor you will lose a few yards of carry. 117 to 120 with a wedge may not sound like a lot but it's 10 feet.

 

2. Adrenaline when playing will cause you to hit the ball slightly farther perhaps another few yards so now you've gone from 120 to 122 or close to half a club from your launch monitor session.

 

3. Carry distance is very important but so is total distance. Course conditions can play a huge role in total distance and so can your ball flight. I'm a low spin player and the conditions on my greens are firm. No very much have to be aware of how far the ball will run out even with short irons if I'm down wind even in the wet conditions that we face in Florida this time of year.

 

To answer your question I hit through my bag about once a year on a launch monitor and my gapping is very consistent. Like you I've learned that I don't carry the ball as far as I'd like to but there is a very nice even spread between my clubs through the bag.

 

Testing on the course is trickier but I've found a way. There is a par 3 course near me that is not crowded in the off season. I walk it late in the day on occasion using a GPS and range finder. I can set my own distances to the pin that way and measure my shots to the ball mark and the run out or sometimes even the back up. :). It's very helpful and way more fun than a launch monitor or range session.

 

Nice thread idea, thanks for starting it!

Thanks for the insight! Ego is a horrible thing on the course, isn't it? I would imagine the vacuum is correct, but it's much nicer to think that that 155-160 yard PW eagle approach, uphill into an elevated green, is the norm rather than adrenaline...hit with a distance ball.

 

Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed I haven't taken the time to get true distances for all my clubs. Thanks for the GPS/rangefinder idea. I'll give that a shot next time I've got an open course in front of me.

Driver: Taylormade SLDR, Diamana Kai'li 70 

3 Wood: Callaway X Tour 15*

Hybrid: Bobby Jones 21* (Original)

Irons: Bridgestone J38 DPC 4-PW

Wedges: Scor 4161 52*, 57*

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started playing lots more competitive golf in my late 30's. That's when I realized that I was not a power player. I learned to rely on concistency, accuracy and my short game. I still do over 20's later. To be consistent you have to know how far you hit the ball.

 

Sent from my VS986 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started playing lots more competitive golf in my late 30's. That's when I realized that I was not a power player. I learned to rely on concistency, accuracy and my short game. I still do over 20's later. To be consistent you have to know how far you hit the ball.

 

Sent from my VS986 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

I'd like to get into competitive golf, but I'm pretty sure I'd need a steady handicap below 15 to compete, wouldn't I? I agree, consistency is the key. Shooting 84 one day and 101 the next on the same course is infuriating.

Driver: Taylormade SLDR, Diamana Kai'li 70 

3 Wood: Callaway X Tour 15*

Hybrid: Bobby Jones 21* (Original)

Irons: Bridgestone J38 DPC 4-PW

Wedges: Scor 4161 52*, 57*

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to get into competitive golf, but I'm pretty sure I'd need a steady handicap below 15 to compete, wouldn't I? I agree, consistency is the key. Shooting 84 one day and 101 the next on the same course is infuriating.

There's competitive golf to be played at every level. Lots o clubs have weekly games that incorporate players of varying skill levels. A great way for a mid capper to improve is to watch a low capper play.

 

You can also learn from playing different formats. My league is modified stableford. A bogey (net) is worth a point while a double is worth nothing. It teaches you the value of a stroke.

 

Ego gets all of us. For me it's wanting to bag a 5 iron. That's a double whammy because when I hit it I'm a half club longer than the hybrid so suddenly my gaps are off.

 

It just needs to stay in my closet.

 

Sent from my VS986 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me it's easy to keep track of my distances because I take my lessons and practice on a LM.

 

So whenever I feel I'm starting to lose a grasp on what I should be hitting at certain yardage a I will go in and hit my game balls and see what the new distances are.

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using Gamegolf for the last year to gauge all my distances on the actual course and it's helped me tremendously. It's really helped me learn how far I'm really hitting it and not just want some launch monitor is trying to calculate. Now, when I'm hitting a shot on the course I can feel confident I'm picking the right club, dependent on the wind of course.

Titleist TS3 9.5* w/Accra TZ5 65 X-Stiff
Titleist TS3 15* w/Fujikura Ventus 7X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 20* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 23* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Titleist 718 CB 5 iron w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist 718 MB 6-PW w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist SM7 Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Bettinardi Queen B 10 34.5"
Titleist Pro V1 or Snell MTB-X

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using Gamegolf for the last year to gauge all my distances on the actual course and it's helped me tremendously. It's really helped me learn how far I'm really hitting it and not just want some launch monitor is trying to calculate. Now, when I'm hitting a shot on the course I can feel confident I'm picking the right club, dependent on the wind of course.

Does it tell you distance with or without roll? I've thought about trying it but haven't talked myself into it yet.

 

Tazz

         Grip n Rip it

Chicks dig the LONG ball

In my :callaway-small: staff bag

:cobra-small: King F7+ Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 60 - Graphite Tour X-Stiff

:755178188_TourEdge:  CBX 13.5 3 Wood

:1332069271_TommyArmour:  Atomic Irons 4-AW (reviewing)

:cleveland-small: CG16 Satin 52*

:cleveland-small: 588 RTX 2.0 56* and 60*

Sentio Sierra 101-M Putter

 

Proud tester of the Tommy Armour ATOMIC Irons 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It doesn't give you the distance without roll but I've been able to figure out most of my carry distances based on where my pitch marks are. I can even figure out my driver carry because some of the wet courses give me no carry. It takes time to figure everything out but it has definitely helped my golf game.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Titleist TS3 9.5* w/Accra TZ5 65 X-Stiff
Titleist TS3 15* w/Fujikura Ventus 7X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 20* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 23* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Titleist 718 CB 5 iron w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist 718 MB 6-PW w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist SM7 Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Bettinardi Queen B 10 34.5"
Titleist Pro V1 or Snell MTB-X

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me it's easy to keep track of my distances because I take my lessons and practice on a LM.

 

So whenever I feel I'm starting to lose a grasp on what I should be hitting at certain yardage a I will go in and hit my game balls and see what the new distances are.

That sounds like a nice setup. I need to take advantage of a launch monitor more often, especially with my game balls.

Driver: Taylormade SLDR, Diamana Kai'li 70 

3 Wood: Callaway X Tour 15*

Hybrid: Bobby Jones 21* (Original)

Irons: Bridgestone J38 DPC 4-PW

Wedges: Scor 4161 52*, 57*

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use feel. I don't care what a monitor says on distance I will use the on course experience, or on course data that I retain throughout the round, so I will let course conditions to help determine what to use, I normally play on hard fast greens, so I have to account for some bounce and run, the last few weeks though we're played just after aeration so the greens were receptive, so I could use an extra club and fly it to the number, so if I know that I can fly my 8 iron to 160, and I have a 155 shot I can go ahead and fly it there it will stop, but under normal conditions the ball won't stop, so I would use my 9 iron that I can carry to 150 and let it roll out, and likely have a putt from 10-15 feet back to the hole so the run out is 10 yards or so. I have a good idea how far I can carry each club, so it's really about determining how much run I will get on the green.

Lefties are always in their Right Mind

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using a swing caddie personal launch monitor and it's been helpful to practice 'hitting the number'. Helps a lot especially when I'm trying to gauge how much a draw/fade adds to a shot and it even picks it up when you adjust the trajectory

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just know my distances or max distances for most clubs. I usually figure it out by getting on a course and measuring the pin distance. The only question I have is more or less between 5 and 6 iron off the tee and right around 155-165. Which is between 8 and 7. Most of them are feel shots though.

 Driver:   :callaway-small:  Epic Flash 12 Degree

Wood: :callaway-small:  GBB 3 Wood
Hybrid: :callaway-small: Razr 4 hybriid stiff stock shaft.
Irons: :callaway-small: X2 Hot 4 iron (pro version) 5 iron - Gap Wedge (non pro version).  KBS 120g Shaft stiff cut 1/2  inch bent 1°upright
Wedges: :vokey-small: 52° 56° and 60°.
All grips are Golf pride grips midsized
Putter (lefty):  Odyssey Metal-X #8 34", stock shaft bent 2° Superstroke grip
Golf Balls:   :titelist-small: 2018-9 Pro-V1x and Prov1s
Shoes:  :footjoy-small:  Dryjoy tours

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I check them every 3 months or so, maybe sooner if I feel somethings changed. Just like Rev said I use the same ball as I play with and I also keep track of carry and total. I have a little note pad I carry that has all my yardages and other info I need

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Right Handed

4.5 handicap

Driver: Nike Vapor Flex with Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki ZT60x5ct S-flex shaft and stock grip.

3-Metal: Nike VRS 15 degree with Mitsubishi Rayon tour issue Diamana S73x5ct X-flex shaft and GolfPride MCC midsize Black/White grip.

Irons: Ben Hogan PTx 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46 degrees standard length and lie with KBS Tour-V stiff shafts and GolfPride MCC midsize Black/White grips.

Wedges: Ben Hogan TK15 54, 58 degrees with KBS Tour-V X-flex shafts and GolfPride MCC midsize Black/White grips.

Putter: Nike Method Converge B1|01 with Superstroke Flatso 2.0 grip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is knowing exact yardage that you hit each club really necessary?

I know or have an approximation of how far I can hit my clubs, but just because I know doesn't mean that's the club I choose, say for example, 8 iron I can roughly hit it 165, if I have a back pin that is 168 and no room or rather dead off the back of the green I'm going to club down and not take on the flag, but if I have 165 and the flag is up, I may take 8 or I may take 7 depending on what's in front of the green, playing on hard Bermuda sometimes forces short shots and hope for a bounce to be good, otherwise you may get bayou'd as Rev would say. I think for is weekenders knowing approximate distances can be okay.

Lefties are always in their Right Mind

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I check them every 3 months or so, maybe sooner if I feel somethings changed. Just like Rev said I use the same ball as I play with and I also keep track of carry and total. I have a little note pad I carry that has all my yardages and other info I need

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy mobile app

 

Practicing with the same golf ball makes a huge difference, especially when you're figuring out how the ball reacts after it hits the green. 

 

Also, it's worth it to make the investment of buying and practicing with the same golf ball when the wind picks up and you're hitting into crosswinds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...