How far does the average guy hit it?

[Kenny B]

This is kinda splitting hairs, but ... in the GD article they refer to "median" which is a different measure (statistically) than "average". The article may have used the term interchangeably (like many people do) but .. fyi ..

 

* Median: is the number literally in the middle of a data set; ie. there are an equal number of data samples 'above' the median as the number of samples 'below' 

(think of the median in the middle of a divided multi-lane highway)

vs.

* Average: what we commonly understand; ie. add up all the numbers in the data set and divide that total by the count of the number of data points in the set

(and there may be a different number of samples 'above' the average value vs. the number of samples 'below' the average)

 

Often the median and the average may be arbitrarily close together but this one stat does not give you any info about "skewness" of the data set ... if you think of a "bell curve" graph with the apex of the curve indicating the median value (or, the average) and having the 'classic' bell shape then the data is "normally" distributed (no skew). But if you think of another graph where the curve leans out more to the right side of the median then would indicate that out of the samples 'above' the median a large portion of them tended towards the larger values in the set (positive skew). Similarly if the curve leaned out to the left more samples 'below' the median would be smaller (negative skew). 

 

The article didn't clarify what the percentage value of each data set was? So possibly it's the percent of players in each grouping whose median (or, average) drive was at the stated value. The lower percentage numbers - like for the highest handicap group or the youngest age group - indicate the distance numbers within that group are more spread out (ie. the bell curve is 'flatter' vs 'taller') and there are relatively more players at each distance value compared to a higher percentage group - eg. look at HCP 10-19 where almost 40% of the players hit their median drive about 215ish.

 

So intuitively this makes sense: the "worst" and the youngest players have drives all over the place....

 

Anyway, sorry guys for the math nerd ramble.....

 

* This is GREAT info and along the lines of what Rev said, I believe a good argument for many of us 'regular' golfers to Play It Forward :-) 

Aaaah!  Nerd-speak!  I love it!!  You are correct sir.  

 

Look at the percentages.  The 10-19 HCP is clearly the largest group, as I would expect.  I probably fall into that range, but I can play to a lower index because I mostly play at my home course.  But that range will likely cover all age groups, maybe an even distribution... who knows?  That range will have big hitters and short hitters, so the bell curve will likely be flatter.  Wide variety of capabilities here.  What I find very interesting is that the percentage of players in age groups 30-40, 40-50, and 50-60 are essentially the same.  Based on the concerns with "growing the game of golf" over the last several years, I would have expected the percentages to be skewed towards the higher age brackets.

[revkev]

Pretty reasoned posting here thanks guys. I think a part of that is that enough of us have played with one another that we know BS might be called.

"

Bones we've heard the stories. I've played with Theo, Rookie, Foz, Matt, Ken Jax beach and Barbajo, they've played with others, we are still a small enough community for that.

 

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[MattF]

You're a beast

 

Standing next to you on the tee box...I'm a mouse!

[evershady]

I seem to be right on the average for my age and handicap... if I use my 2 iron. I'm a decently long hitter and have only  ever played with a few guys who are consistently longer, but whenever talking with people I try to be realistic about my average distance and all kinds of guys claim to be longer, don't see it. These numbers do see a little low to me, but maybe I play mostly with guys who are above average.  I tend to forget that I am above average when it come to golf, think a 10 11 handicap isn't that great but according to some a bogey golfer is average or those with USGA handicaps  around a 15 is average and of all golfers average shoos around 100.  Is this sample of avid golfer or occasional golfers?

[hckymeyer]

I seem to be right on the average for my age and handicap... if I use my 2 iron. I'm a decently long hitter and have only  ever played with a few guys who are consistently longer, but whenever talking with people I try to be realistic about my average distance and all kinds of guys claim to be longer, don't see it. These numbers do see a little low to me, but maybe I play mostly with guys who are above average.  I tend to forget that I am above average when it come to golf, think a 10 11 handicap isn't that great but according to some a bogey golfer is average or those with USGA handicaps  around a 15 is average and of all golfers average shoos around 100.  Is this sample of avid golfer or occasional golfers?

I think as a rule if you cave in the face of a brand new driver you are no longer considered "average"

[evershady]

I think as a rule if you cave in the face of a brand new driver you are no longer considered "average"

To be fair to Cobra it wasn't the face it was the seem where the metal and carbon fiber came together. 

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

I think you nailed it Rev, it's so easy to forget that duck hook on 2 that went 180 and then the one that was bounced off the front of the tee box that went 130 on 8.  Guys will always go with the longest drive they've ever hit when asked how far they hit the driver.  

 

I'd like to think I'm longer than average (with the driver ) than my handicap and age brackets, but I'm also thinking that's when I hit it well.  On the flip side forgetting the bad shots is something I consider a good thing!

I would think that it is appropriate to exclude the outliers when guesstimating one's average. MGS does that in its testing. I'm thinking its average distance on the let's say "normal" shots for one's ability, excluding the terrible and clear mishits. If I balloon or slice one 170, count it, but the heeled 130 grounder or unplayable snap hook, don't. Much more representative of what we're trying to measure.

[Bags]

I should hit it farther but rather be in play at 240-250 than woods at 280+ - I prob avg 240-250 but we all have to remember if we hit one in woods left or right say enters woods 50yards off the tee that will Really skews our distance avg pulling it way down so that avg distance chart can be deceiving. If we throw out any driver swings not in play either rough or fairway throw out 50 yarder into woods everyones avg would be better.

 

 

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[chershey]

I read this study too and it's really interesting to me because I track everything with game golf. My average drive according to their system is 14 yards longer than the scratch golfer average which makes me happy being a 41 year old 8 handicap. It is interesting to me when I play with people who think they hit it 300 and I'll be right next to them in the fairway on one they "crushed" and we only hit 270 according to game golf.

 

 

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[revkev]

@Jax, what if the 190 yard shot isn't an outlier? What if it's twice or three times a round?

 

I consider an outlier something that happens once in blue moon. For example I may hit a ground ball off the tee once in 50 rounds. That's an outlier.

 

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[kingcscott]

There it is. Last 20 rounds. 46 years old, 9.5 handicap according to my gamegolf.

 

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[chershey]

IMG_0394.JPG

There it is. Last 20 rounds. 46 years old, 9.5 handicap according to my gamegolf.

 

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Solid driving stats.

 

 

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[Mr_Theoo]

@Jax, what if the 190 yard shot isn't an outlier? What if it's twice or three times a round?

 

I consider an outlier something that happens once in blue moon. For example I may hit a ground ball off the tee once in 50 rounds. That's an outlier.

 

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I think 1 in 50 would be considered an anomaly.

[revkev]

That's once in 50 rounds so 50 times 14 more or less. 

 

Further it will only happen when my back is barking at me.  My normal miss is thin.  My normal miss when my back hurts or when I get tired is to over hook the ball.

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

@Jax, what if the 190 yard shot isn't an outlier? What if it's twice or three times a round?

 

I consider an outlier something that happens once in blue moon. For example I may hit a ground ball off the tee once in 50 rounds. That's an outlier.

 

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Ok, rephrase that. First of all, my outlier example was 130, not 190. And, two or three times a round is not an outlier. What I'm referring to is the one that is infrequent and, I guess, so bad that its inclusion skews the stats and makes them meaningless. Extreme example, I hit 13 drives that average 210 and top one every round that goes 10 yds. If I include that, my average goes down to 194, over 16 yds less. For the purposes that one would be interested in one's average drive, that inclusion to me makes that average now meaningless or unrepresentative. Like, in what tees one should play. If my 210 yd drive gets me to a second shot of 130 to 175, probably good tees to play from. If I'm using the 194 average, now I'm saying my second shot would be 145 to 190, probably a stretch for those tees. But it wouldn't really be.

 

MHO

[Mr_Theoo]

Ok, rephrase that. First of all, my outlier example was 130, not 190. And, two or three times a round is not an outlier. What I'm referring to is the one that is infrequent and, I guess, so bad that its inclusion skews the stats and makes them meaningless. Extreme example, I hit 13 drives that average 210 and top one every round that goes 10 yds. If I include that, my average goes down to 194, over 16 yds less. For the purposes that one would be interested in one's average drive, that inclusion to me makes that average now meaningless or unrepresentative. Like, in what tees one should play. If my 210 yd drive gets me to a second shot of 130 to 175, probably good tees to play from. If I'm using the 194 average, now I'm saying my second shot would be 145 to 190, probably a stretch for those tees. But it wouldn't really be.

 

MHO

That's the way I look at it as well. I think most people know when they hit one so out of the norm it can't be used as a representation of ones ability.

[Orange Hog]

Based on my Game Golf stats I'm "above average" for both my age and handicap, so I guess that's a good thing.

[Boricuagolf]

According to Golf Pad GPS:

 

Driver Longest: 316y

Driver Median: 275y

Driver Average: 295.5y

 

I think I am closer to the 285-290 range on average, last fitting numbers with the SLDR and the Rogue Silver:

 

SS: 109

AoA: +1.3

Launch: 13.2

Spin: 2035-2200

Carry: 278

Total: 297.3

 

I think the average player is between 240 and 260...

[DawgDaddy]

At age 69 and having a very bad back the distance for >60 of 196.40 is pretty much spot on now, possibly even a little high.  I never play tees over 6000 anymore and have quit playing in anything that demands I do so.  I can't practice because of my back so trying to swing hard is a tempo killer as well as accuracy killer.  I would rather play the senior tees and enjoy shooting in the 80's with an occasional trip into the 70s and less occasional 90s than play at the members tees and shoot in the high 80s low 90s with an occasional trip into the 100s.

 

I will never be able to over power a course again, and plan to check out senior flex shafts for all of my clubs soon. It's about having fun at my age,

[revkev]

According to Golf Pad GPS:

 

Driver Longest: 316y

Driver Median: 275y

Driver Average: 295.5y

 

I think I am closer to the 285-290 range on average, last fitting numbers with the SLDR and the Rogue Silver:

 

SS: 109

AoA: +1.3

Launch: 13.2

Spin: 2035-2200

Carry: 278

Total: 297.3

 

I think the average player is between 240 and 260...

Sorry to disappoint but there are no numbers to support that other than the average player on the LPGA. They average between 240 and 260.

 

Your numbers are your numbers. I'm not disputing those but the numbers on this thread are pretty much spot on to a tad high for any honest assesment of driving distances that I've ever seen.

 

Back at Jax Beach I do agree with you there. I think that programs like game golf allow you to delete the type of outlier you are referring to.

 

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[chershey]

I think that programs like game golf allow you to delete the type of outlier you are referring to.

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I wish they would then I could really bump the average up! Seriously though Gamegolf doesn't allow you do that. You can choose not to have entire rounds included in your stats but you can't take out outlier shots. I think the numbers may be a little high because most of the people that spend money on something like gamegolf are a little more serious about the game so it doesn't include statistics from guys that only play a few times a year.

 

 

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[ChristopherKee]

 

These are winter numbers. Add 10% for spring/summer. I also play into wind a lot so I have a good range of distances.

 

 

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[Sluggo42]

Huh.

Well, I hit it a country mile, and as long or longer than most everyone I play. I probably avg 230-240. But in summertime, it's probably 10 yds more.

But I'm almost 61, and I don't play with many people under 40

 

But I have days with a few 280-300, when dry and windy

[Kenny B]

Huh.

Well, I hit it a country mile, and as long or longer than most everyone I play. I probably avg 230-240. But in summertime, it's probably 10 yds more.

But I'm almost 61, and I don't play with many people under 40

 

But I have days with a few 280-300, when dry and windy

So you are average for your handicap, and much better than average for your age.  Good job!

 

When you get to be my age, you'll hit it as far as I do.   

[EthanSterlingPrice]

Distance chart from my notebook. Sometimes I'll hit a tad longer or shorter but normally these are the numbers I play to.

 

 

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[Sluggo42]

Distance chart from my notebook. Sometimes I'll hit a tad longer or shorter but normally these are the numbers I play to.IMG_1402.JPG

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This to me is how to play and select your club, based on a laser rangefinder.

 

I don't like the concept of recording every shot taken, and accruing an "average" length, because it's not a true distance of how far a purely struck ball goes.

Because I plan on striking every shot right in the sweet spot, because when I do, I'm dancing.

Playing to your average shot will fly over the green when you hit it well.

 

It's like planning on semi-failure...

[Kenny B]

This to me is how to play and select your club, based on a laser rangefinder.

 

I don't like the concept of recording every shot taken, and accruing an "average" length, because it's not a true distance of how far a purely struck ball goes.

Because I plan on striking every shot right in the sweet spot, because when I do, I'm dancing.

Playing to your average shot will fly over the green when you hit it well.

 

It's like planning on semi-failure...

Agree and disagree.  I like to think that I flush a shot more often than not, but if I know that there are no problems off the back or if the pin is in front and it's a big green, I will go with a club that does not leave me short if I mishit it a little.  This is especially true if there is trouble in front.  However, if the green is open in front, I will play to the purely struck yardage.  

[drewneddy]

80% as far as they say they hit it! That's the answer to the question in the title

 

 

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[EthanSterlingPrice]

This to me is how to play and select your club, based on a laser rangefinder.

 

I don't like the concept of recording every shot taken, and accruing an "average" length, because it's not a true distance of how far a purely struck ball goes.

Because I plan on striking every shot right in the sweet spot, because when I do, I'm dancing.

Playing to your average shot will fly over the green when you hit it well.

 

It's like planning on semi-failure...

all my distances are based on good strikes, with standard being an 80% swing and max being roughly 90% I can control and alternate distances pretty well but these are just my two full swing distances.

 

 

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[Bags]

IMG_0394.JPG

There it is. Last 20 rounds. 46 years old, 9.5 handicap according to my gamegolf.

 

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Im 50 yrs old 9.8 cap I would say same distance 240-250 range I think my average should go up some this year better approach into ball. Greatest Game EVER

 

 

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