For years, I have talked about understanding how far we hit our clubs in order to shoot lower golf scores. There are many different reasons for having this knowledge and I am sure you can deduce them without too much trouble. The one aspect we did not discuss is how to use this information. It is not a pure binary equation because of the simple variables we need to apply in order to maximize the effectiveness of our club distances. The variables are not difficult, but should be considered when hitting an approach shot to the green or setting up your next shot from your favourite distance.
Continue readingknowing club distances
A Solid Practice Day With My Hickory Sticks
With only three days to go before the Golf Historical Society Of Canada hosts the 2024 Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship at Whirlpool Golf Course, I am happy to say that I am prepared. I will hit the links at least once more (likely today) for I make the trek down south and I could not be happier with my preparation to date. And yesterday was my best day so far!
Continue readingKnowing Your Carry Distance Is Very Important
Every golfer hits the ball differently and to different distances. We may be grouped in relation to our handicap, however rarely are any two golfers exactly the same. Regardless of performance, all golfers should understand and know how far they hit their clubs. It might surprise you to know that many of us do not hit the ball as far as we think! This oversight in our knowledge is costing us strokes every time we tee it up. Well, today we are going to change all of that!
I have touched on this topic in the past and hopefully you found the information helpful. I am revisiting this topic today because I found a video that is all encompassing on this topic. It is about 10 minutes long and if you are looking for some distance answers, I recommend you watch it all.
As a 5 handicapper (most days), my distances match what was stated in the video. I hit my driver about 240 and my 7 iron about 150 yards on average. On my good days, these distances are farther, but on my bad….well, you get the point. Fortunately I am able to adjust my club selection decisions based on what is happening on any given day.
I realized a long time ago that my distance knowledge would improve my golf game. It opens the opportunities on shot and club selection. This in turn allows increased scramble abilities, avoiding addition strokes from under/over yardage decisions and strengthens my overall tee to green game. Lastly, when I finally learned my club distances, my course management skills improved drastically. As you can see, this bit of knowledge has many applications in our game.
If you do not know your distances, I recommend you take the time to figure them out. It will be helpful in all areas of your game.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
How Far Do You Hit Your Seven Iron?
My go-to club is my 7 iron. It is the club (along with my driver) that I have the most confidence hitting in all situations. I practice with it often. With all the usage, I understand how to produce the ball flight I need in any situation. Having said that, the only drawback of my 7-iron is distance. I generally hit it comfortably between 150 and 160 yards. Not very far, but my consistency outweighs its shortish distance. Having said that I posed the distance question on X (Twitter) and I was surprised by the dichotomy of responses.
Continue readingSharing Golf Knowledge – Part 1
After golfing for 45+ years, I have gained a bit of knowledge. Most of my understanding of golf was gleaned from my own experiences, plus a helping hand for far more seasoned players. I accepted their help because at the time my need was great to get over a hurdle or two. It all worked out and I was fortunate to be able to use this information to catapult my game to the next level. Recently, I was asked to share my golf knowledge with some aspiring players. I happily agreed to help, but it is important to note that I went in with my eyes wide open.
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The Grateful Golfer 