One of golf’s long standing debates is whether distance or accuracy is important off the tee. Depending on the level of a player’s golf skill the answer will vary. I have always been an accuracy advocate because being in play off the tee more often than not has led to many low golf scores. On the days I am shooting around par, I hit the ball straight and relatively long. I was in play with all my shots especially off the tee. Having said this, being able to hit the ball long is important on some courses and having that skill in my bag is very important. Which do you think fits your game the most?
One important factor about this debate is having the ability to consistently hit the ball. No golfer is working about either topic if they cannot make okay contact. Regardless, I found this video that explains many aspects of today’s topic. On a side note, I think it is AI generated – the information is correct as far as I can tell using my 45+ years experience as a golfer.
I appears to me that today’s theory of teaching golf is to hit the ball as long as you can and work on accuracy afterwards. This convention is completely different from when I started golfing in the 1970s. Because the technology was so different being accurate meant hitting the center of the small clubface. The evolution of golf club technology has helped shift the pendulum towards hitting the ball long. As we watch the professional game evolve, distance is definitely king for their game. Here is a quick video about the evolution of golf technology:
Regardless of which side of the fence you fall, being able to hit the ball long and accurate is the key to golf game. The distance is relative due to many factors and accuracy is universal for all players. I believe that hitting the ball in play off the tee is more important the distance, however being able to do both is the real key to low golf scores.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
I’d love to have both, but if I have to settle for just one I’m still asking for both. lol There is a point where we just aren’t going to find the middle of the face and when that happens, our fastest swings are wasted and cause strokes to be lost. My vote goes to accuracy unless maybe you have the potential for 320+ yard drives. That is if you want to actually score.
There is certainly nothing wrong about training to provide speed in the swing. But I know quite a few guys that can hit 300 yard drives that can’t win against 70 year old’s who can’t hit past 180.
Speed is great if you have enough. It’s not going to bring you wins alone for sure but if you’re new to the game, I’m not so sure it’s a bad way to start. Just try not to hit my car.
I do some speed training. I’m not hitting balls, just swinging trying to make each successive swing faster. Listening to the sound of the club cutting through the air and judging speed from it’s pitch. Often I start with a weight on the club. An old fashioned rubberized donut. But not always with the weight. It’s not needed really though a few swings with it helps this old man to limber up before I swing without the weight. I always take some without to get the feel of the clubhead. It’s needed. That weight while useful to help start me off, also throws me off if I don’t take some swings without it before I go to the tee.
That’s it. Once on the tee box though I’m not thinking about swinging my fastest. I just take what I get. My concern is contact, line, and sometimes flight when step up to the ball. Thinking speed then is a swing killer for me at least.
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Kevin,
We are thinking the same way. I love hitting the ball far, however not at the expense of being in the long rough or worse. The situation will dictate my approach to each hole.
Cheers Jim
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