Watching professional golfers is great fun. The results from the elite players is something that amateurs can only dream about accomplishing. The crisp sound of contact with their driver is pure. I have heard that sound once or twice in my career, but not at the level of a professional golfer. Their amazing results off the tee drive many golfers to spend more time hitting the big stick vice working on their game and lowering their score. That, however, is a discussion for another day. I wonder, how far do amateurs actually hit their drives on a regular basis?

I recently asked golfers what was the longest drive they ever hit. I was a bit surprised until I realized that the respondents were more likely to be lower handicap players. So, the results is a bit a off, yet worth reviewing:

What is the longest you have ever hit your driver? #golfchat

— The Grateful Golfer (@TheGratefulGolf) October 28, 2023

The results of 80% of players hitting the ball over 250 yards with a smaller subset of 53% hitting over 300 yards is amazing. Considering that Rory McIlroy averaged 326 yards off the tee in 2023, hitting the ball a few times over 300 yards does not seem overly impossible. However, the average for PGA Tour professionals for all their drives is 292 yards. The lowest average on Tour is 270 yards. That is some pretty strong shots off the tee.

I am an aging golfer with a lower than normal handicap. On average I hit the ball around 240 yards off the tee. Sometimes I can boom a shot out to 270 or 280 (this is rare) however, it is unlikely to happen often. Knowing this, I am still able to keep up with or beat the young players who hit the ball farther than I do because of accuracy. Hitting the ball long is fun, but not being in play afterwards is a challenge for many players.

So, why am I talking about hitting booming drives. Partly because it is fun, but mostly to demonstrate that most golfers over estimate how far they hit their ball on average. Because I have hit the ball over 300 yards a few times in my life (this is a true fact) does not mean I hit the ball that far. I know I hit the ball on average 240 yards off the tee and that is the number I use to set up my course management strategy. Checking my ego when using the driver allows me to play better golf; shoot lower scores; and lower my frustration from wayward shots. I am confident that if you understand what yardage your average drive produces, you too will shoot lower scores.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!