Internet length jealousy

[dave.]

Sometimes,guys who post their length with irons or woods get rounded on in forums,WRX,BS,GO,wherever,they can get bullied into leaving as liers,charlatans and 'not real golfers because they lie online'.So I want to tell you a story.

I got through to the last 10 of a long driving contest at a golf store,using their simulator.I got a 300 yarder by wounding one up and I eventually finished 7th of those 10.But all my five attempts were on the fairway,all between 290 and 310,and all in play,but hey,I am not bitter,only counts.

So basically for a 2 handicapper I am on the shorty side,about 265 through the air off the tee,5 iron at 185 and 52 degree 100 yards.I can be flattered in summer and a 6600 yarder is easy,mid irons mostly.To high handicappers I look long,but I aint.You get the picture,average in every sense,and short like Fred Funk in pro terms,maybe a bit longer than Fred,but not much.

Anyway,back to the tale.The guy that won it went after me.He is 5'7 but strong,he is a plasterer,big forearms,good muscle defintion and good fitness (I also use weight s 3 times a week just for golf).He got it 343 on the monitor.As it happens,I was in a 4 ball am/am 2 days later and my mate who organised it introduced me to his mate,who turns out to be this dwarf like gorilla man.

Now you HAVE to believe me when I tell you the monitor was half a story.I have NEVER seen a ball hit like this.I have sttod behind Grge Norman,Watson,Nicklaus many,many others and I play with a few local pros regularly,one of whom is a 300 yard hitter (in the air,genuine,905R V2 x-stiff) and yet these guys still do not come close to this guys power.

Par 5,560 yards,October weather North of England,drive 5 iron.INTO A BREEZE.The 5 iron flew 200.

3 wood 280,uphill,and so it goes on.But he plays off 7 and isn;t accurate and my short game makes him look like a duffer,and he is only a fair putter.I am simply a more boring steady player,drive, 5 iron 2 putts to his 3 wood,wedge and god knows what then.

But my point is this guy would never be believed online.The guy will be up there with the JB Bubba Wubber watsits of the world,he can get a lob wegde 130.

So next time someone claims a 230 yard 5 iron,which in summer is what this guy can hit,remember,these things ARE possible.Its taken me 25 yrs of playing golf to finally see this at first hand.I have seen big hitters,but nothing like this.

[warbirdlover]

I didn't believe all the 300 yard claims in here either until I actually popped a couple myself. I even put a thread up on it. I've had to eat those words almost daily. Then I've played with the guy at work who never is under 300 yards. I've seen him drive a 340 yard hole. Pretty impressive how some of these guys can crush the ball.

[JEFF4i]

Oh I think it's quite possible, and try not to be so skeptical.

But was this same guy using a driver with less then a years experience?

[obagain]

You said yourself it is the first time in 25 years you have seen it.
Is it possible, yes. Does it happen as often as everyone claims, no.
Most guys that hit like that don't come on message boards bragging.

[JEFF4i]

Very true. I hit it 360 all the time! Haha, just kidding, it's only 300

[Dannykos]

i played with a supplier who was on the european challenge tour for a while - anyhow, suffice to say that on 2 consecutive holes at the old course at Goodwood - he drove 380+ - one hole was a par 4 - 419yds, and he was in the front bunker just short of the green off the tee. Okay, so the ground was pretty firm, and there might have been a 5-10mph tailwind, but OMG.

It IS possible to be scarily long - but scarily long + accurate + average or better short game = PRO.

[dave.]

Originally Posted by obagain

You said yourself it is the first time in 25 years you have seen it.
Is it possible, yes. Does it happen as often as everyone claims, no.
Most guys that hit like that don't come on message boards bragging.

They don't need to brag,they only need to reply to a post like 'how long is your 6 iron' and once they say 200+ they get rounded on like a pack of wolves braying for blood.

Today,this guy popped 3 range balls 200 yards uphill into a breeze,all within 3 feet of the tire.3 went 60 yards right though and 3 60 yards left,thats his problem.I have never seen a 5 iron go as high,I can't hit my lob wedge that high.

[SiberianDVM]

I don't doubt that some people can hit it crazy long; the pros at the Hooters Tour Pro-Am I played in were driving it over the end of the range. How do you think I felt standing amongst them hitting my puny shots?

Especially when I chili dipped an iron and put a big glob of wet turf on one guys pants.

But most of us mere mortals can't achieve this, because we lose power with swing faults and we don't hit the sweetspot. Even with these melons on a stick we have now, to get the max ball velocity you have to hit the sweetspot. For me to do that, I have to swing easy, and I get maybe 240-250 yards.

Yesterday I played with a guy who is 15 years younger than I am, and I outdrove him by 40 yards on a few holes. Only because he was swinging too hard and hitting big banana balls or popping them up.

You've got to admit that it's pretty easy to lie on the Internet.

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by dave.

They don't need to brag,they only need to reply to a post like 'how long is your 6 iron' and once they say 200+ they get rounded on like a pack of wolves braying for blood.

Today,this guy popped 3 range balls 200 yards uphill into a breeze,all within 3 feet of the tire.3 went 60 yards right though and 3 60 yards left,thats his problem.I have never seen a 5 iron go as high,I can't hit my lob wedge that high.

Does this guy just throw himself at everything, or is he just naturally long? Has he any level of control? What sort of technique (grip, posture, alignment)? I understand the bit about the short game, but this guy could work at that I guess.

I play occasionally with my brother (6'3" very athletic). Now he can crush a ball but he has a Babe Ruth type swing. When it's going for him he is unbeatable, when he's off our granny could beat him. But he has natural ability to hit a long ball. If he ever sorted out his technique with a few lessons he could be a great player, but he's a busy dude and only plays 15 games a year for fun. Still pretty handy off an 11 index though.

[dave.]

Naturally long.By that I mean he just generates incredible clubhead speed ALL from his upper body strength,no big hacking swipe,just pure unadulterated raw power.Huge forearms,he looks like a mini-Popeye

[warbirdlover]

The friend of mine I have been referring to that hits them super far has a very smooth fluid, nice "textbook" swing and not what you'd expect (gorilla breathing fire). These guys get their power from perfect timing and their swingspeed is much faster then it appears. I'm just learning this.

[JEFF4i]

What Warbird said. In fact I used to be quite happy hitting my 7 a solid 150, just recently things have extended. Can I hit my 6 iron 200? Yes, but only off the tee, more around 190 from the deck, but it's from a nice fluid swing which is what matters.

[gwlee7]

This is me hitting my driver. All y'all can chase that.

[ezra76]

Just watched a segment on the golf channel about this driver distance thing. 18500 golfers were surveyed. Average distance claim- 230yds. Actual average distance- 192yds. PGA Tour average 290yds.

I guess the fact that the average golfer overestimates their driving distance by 38yds. makes 300+ yd. claims very unbelievable. Not to mention these claims are longer than the best golfers in the world, who are playing 8.5 degree drivers with X flex shafts and perfect launch angles.

Jealous, no. Tired of hearing it, a little.

[gold nugget]

Dave,

Do you know what they call a Limey that likes plastering things?

Give up???????????

A long ballin' Popeye

GN