Credible on course drive measurement!

[BRDGOLFING]

What are some ideas for accurately measuring your tee shots with a driver while playing?

 

Lets see what is out there to where people can have credibility when saying what they average off the tee!

[Mr_Theoo]

Best way would be to find a relatively flat hole and have a buddy stay on the tee box and laser him where your ball ends up.

[Bogey in The Woods]

Well i dont think survey equipment is in my budget. So I will have to settle for GPS apps on the phone.

Supposedly, phones are accurate to within 5 yards right?

 

I can take a +/-5 yard margin of error.  

[Mike Z]

When I am curious, I either check yardage where the tees are and then yardage to the stick.  Of course there's some swag there, but if the drive and hole are relatively straight, then its at least close. 

 

The other one is to use my rangefinder and shoot back to the tee (ball washer, tree etc.) that I know the distance from the tee markers.

 

I don't do either often.  I just don't really care what that number is.

[Kenny B]

Doesn't matter to me.  It's either 220, 221 whatever it takes.  

[Mr_Theoo]

I've also lasered bunkers or trees on the hole I'm hitting and if my ball is next to them then I know I have hit it X far

[Bogey in The Woods]

Doesn't matter to me.  It's either 220, 221 whatever it takes.  

 

 

Excellent use of a Michael Keaton quote sir!   +1

[hckymeyer]

If you are looking for a way to prove to the internet that you average 300+ off the tee, I don't think there is one short of playing with someone.  I'm more than happy to take your word for it though.  I play with a guy who hits it that far and it's just plain fun to watch.

 

On the other side if this is a general discussion of good ways to measure shot length then everything mentioned above is a good start.  I'll add in that most GPS devices have a shot measuring feature if you happen to use one of those.  There are also a ton of both free and pay apps for your phone that can measure.  The GPS in phones should be plenty accurate enough to measure shot distances.

 

Game golf also has a free app you can use even without their tagging device.  Just take a few minutes to create an account and setup your clubs in the app.  Then before you hit tell it to tag and which club are hitting.  When you get to your ball just tag the next club and it will record the distances for the previous shot.  jdiddy did a nice review of the app over here http://forum.mygolfspy.com/topic/13697-game-golf-the-app/

[Mike Z]

I guess I will add here that I'm over the "I can hit it XX many yards" thing. 

 

Having said that it is useful to know how far I do hit it so that I can avoid hitting through a fairway on a dogleg or I know whether I can clear a trap, etc.  If in doubt I will go down to 3-wood.  Letting off the driver for me is an invitation for the ball to go left.

[revkev]

This isn't that difficult. GPS works and is accurate enough. Lots of free apps for the phone, get one, use it and you will be able to figure out you average driving distance soon enough. I have been fascinated lately because of the driver shaft test. My average driver on the launch monitor I've used for that test has varied between 231-236. I've had two rounds where I had easy access to GPS lately (I generally use a laser and it's more difficult to measure actual driving distance with that device, plus I know how far I can carry my driver and where my ball might end up if I max it out). I averaged 233 and 241. I'm thinking the LM was pretty accurate.

 

Generally speaking if you haven't done it before you will find that you are no where near as long as you think you are. There are always exceptions. Generally speaking the lower your handicap the more likely you are to accurately know how far you hit it. There are very few exceptions.

 

All that matters in the end is that you know how far you hit the ball for real, both carry and general run out, when you are planning your course strategy. Certainly don't worry about how far someone says they hit it on a golf forum. Worry about your game on the course when it counts.

[BRDGOLFING]

These are some great responses. I use my phone for GPS distance tracking. That is pretty much what I am able to use consistently when I play. It some times seems to go crazy and not track the correct position on the hole.I wasn't sure how accurate it actually was.So I started this thread to figure out what the best way to track your yardage is. The course that I play the most is inaccurate 100 yards in with the actual concrete marker. I have just set up golflogix app. I will try that also. I have been using swing by swing because it is free.

 

I do like to keep track of my drives when I play. I have been testing balls and a few new drivers to try out before making a purchase. It will be hard to part with my old faithful. This will help also.

 

Now I need to learn how to putt better to lower my handicap. A long drive is not worth anything unless you have a good short game.

[RoverRick]

I use GPS and push the button and go to the ball.

[BRDGOLFING]

If you are looking for a way to prove to the internet that you average 300+ off the tee, I don't think there is one short of playing with someone. I'm more than happy to take your word for it though. I play with a guy who hits it that far and it's just plain fun to watch.

 

On the other side if this is a general discussion of good ways to measure shot length then everything mentioned above is a good start. I'll add in that most GPS devices have a shot measuring feature if you happen to use one of those. There are also a ton of both free and pay apps for your phone that can measure. The GPS in phones should be plenty accurate enough to measure shot distances.

 

Game golf also has a free app you can use even without their tagging device. Just take a few minutes to create an account and setup your clubs in the app. Then before you hit tell it to tag and which club are hitting. When you get to your ball just tag the next club and it will record the distances for the previous shot. jdiddy did a nice review of the app over here http://forum.mygolfspy.com/topic/13697-game-golf-the-app/

[BRDGOLFING]

I appreciate the reply! I understand what you are saying.

 

That app you shared is the best that I have seen on the phone. I will try that one also. I like the real picture view. Some of the other ones have it like that but are dark.

 

Thank you!

[Baseballfrk8998]

My only suggestion with the GPS apps is to make sure it "zeros" out when you mark it on the tee box. I use Golfshot on my phone to measure my shots and I've noticed from time to time that I need to mark my ball and take a step or 2 just to ensure that its not starting off at 6 or 8 yards or something like that.

 

I guess it's harder to explain than it sounds.. Just make sure that when you take a few steps from the tee box that it only says 2-3 yards and not 8-10!

 

In my experiences, theoo has provided the most accurate way to measure your tee shot. If you have folks behind you and they're playing the same tees, just laser them from where your ball is once they are standing on the tee box. This obviously requires that you have a rangefinder, but it's as accurate of a measurement as you're going to get.

[BK in TEXAS]

GPS are usually pretty good, but do flake out from time to time.  Probably UFO's blocking the satellites or something.

 

Lasering the guys on the tee waiting to hit is the most accurate in my opinion.

Picking out a tree or ball washer or bench works too if it's right next to the tee for the day.

[fozcycle]

Generally, I use my GPS device as it appears to be pretty accurate.  I also use math, the distance to the hole minus the distance to the hole where the ball stops.  The first comes from the scorecard, and the second is based upon where how far away the 150 marker is.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

This is one of the things I'm liking about Game Golf -- it will give you a pretty darned good idea of how far you just smacked it.  Was using a 3 wood off the tee a couple of weeks ago and found that I nailed one about 260 yards (carry + roll) and another a shade over 200 yards (no roll).  

 

What does it tell me? That I'm a schizophrenic golfer.

[alfriday101]

I use my laser.  On the tee, I note where the ball washer is in relation to the tee markers.  When I get to the ball, I laser the ball washer and add or subtract the yardage between the washer and the tee markers.  

[BRDGOLFING]

This is one of the things I'm liking about Game Golf -- it will give you a pretty darned good idea of how far you just smacked it.  Was using a 3 wood off the tee a couple of weeks ago and found that I nailed one about 260 yards (carry + roll) and another a shade over 200 yards (no roll).  

 

What does it tell me? That I'm a schizophrenic golfer.

LOL! Do not feel bad about the 3 wood. I have yet to master one.

[The Dansome]

I like to manually pace off my drives and just to ensure accuracy re-pace back to the tee. Often the group behind me is not to appreciative of this, but that's fine I need to know this data. When I return to my ball I will then use a laser and hit an object or person back on the tee box. After that I'll check my GPS for final verification. I will then take the average of the three methods and go with that final number.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

I like to manually pace off my drives and just to ensure accuracy re-pace back to the tee. Often the group behind me is not to appreciative of this, but that's fine I need to know this data. When I return to my ball I will then use a laser and hit an object or person back on the tee box. After that I'll check my GPS for final verification. I will then take the average of the three methods and go with that final number.

 

That's a very interesting method.  Do you use strides that are roughly the equivalent of a yard or do you pace it off heal-toe-heal-toe and then adjust for shoe size?  I prefer the heal-toe method myself, but being a size 11 I have to add another step every 11 steps or I'll short-change myself.  

[Severtheties]

I like to manually pace off my drives and just to ensure accuracy re-pace back to the tee. Often the group behind me is not to appreciative of this, but that's fine I need to know this data. When I return to my ball I will then use a laser and hit an object or person back on the tee box. After that I'll check my GPS for final verification. I will then take the average of the three methods and go with that final number.

 

Seems legit.....

[The Dansome]

That's a very interesting method.  Do you use strides that are roughly the equivalent of a yard or do you pace it off heal-toe-heal-toe and then adjust for shoe size?  I prefer the heal-toe method myself, but being a size 11 I have to add another step every 11 steps or I'll short-change myself.  

 

After many years of hardened practice I have developed the ability the step the perfect yard repetitively. I find that pacing is more accurate as atmospheric pressure, weather, magnetic distortions, most cellular waves, certain animal anal gasses, extreme sun glare, and battery strength interrupt lasers and most GPS devices. I also do not like to have my GPS on most of the time since higher powers can track your location easily and I prefer to be off the grid.

[Kenny B]

Seems like overkill to me.  If you can step off the perfect yard, why go back?  Unless you have obstructions between the ball and tee, the laser is more accurate anyway, especially if you are walking up and down slopes in the fairway.  I don't need to know any better than GPS and/or laser measurements.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

After many years of hardened practice I have developed the ability the step the perfect yard repetitively. I find that pacing is more accurate as atmospheric pressure, weather, magnetic distortions, most cellular waves, certain animal anal gasses, extreme sun glare, and battery strength interrupt lasers and most GPS devices. I also do not like to have my GPS on most of the time since higher powers can track your location easily and I prefer to be off the grid.

 

 

Actually, now that I've checked my course measurement notes, I can see I've made a mathematical error.  What I should be doing is adding another heal-toe step ever 12 steps, then add an inch, and then start over.  12 steps with a size 11 shoe is 132 inches - that puts me 12 inches short of 12 feet, or 4 yards.  So the drives I've been counting as 252 yards (62 sets of 12 steps), have really been nearly 272 yards, since I have to add roughly 62 feet to each drive.  And 62 feet is 20.66 yards...

 

Maybe I'm not such a short knocker after all.  It's all been trouble with math....

[revkev]

You guys are too funny.

 

Actually Barbajo's game golf experience illustrates why it's unlikely that a player averages 300. His normal drive may well be 300 but he's going to miss hit a few or encounter lush into the wind conditions that don't allow for roll out.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

You guys are too funny.

 

Actually Barbajo's game golf experience illustrates why it's unlikely that a player averages 300. His normal drive may well be 300 but he's going to miss hit a few or encounter lush into the wind conditions that don't allow for roll out.

 

I think you're correct Rev -- in addition, there may be times when you don't want to hit it 300 yards.  For instance, my 203 yard 3-wood was, for the hole I played, almost exactly the right distance.  The 260 yard 3-wood was actually the wrong distance -- it was 3 yards too long and wound up in a pond.  I needed my 257 yard club.

 

Also - with tongue firmly planted in cheek - my math above is off.  Based on thinking that 11 feet was really 12 feet, I'd be averaging only 232 yards, not 252, and certainly not 272.  My feets failed me now....

[JBones]

I like to manually pace off my drives and just to ensure accuracy re-pace back to the tee. Often the group behind me is not to appreciative of this, but that's fine I need to know this data. When I return to my ball I will then use a laser and hit an object or person back on the tee box. After that I'll check my GPS for final verification. I will then take the average of the three methods and go with that final number.

I like to REALLY piss people off. I hit it so far though that it's easier to pace it off to the center of the green and back. Then I look back at the tee and the pick person that looks the most annoyed to shoot the laser right off of their face.

[JBones]

You guys are too funny.

 

Actually Barbajo's game golf experience illustrates why it's unlikely that a player averages 300. His normal drive may well be 300 but he's going to miss hit a few or encounter lush into the wind conditions that don't allow for roll out.

This is correct and why I don't claim to average 300. I hit a tree off the first tee the other day and it went 206. That's a big hit to the average.