Interesting PGA/TV Distances

[Rockford35]

Just browsing through the new Golf Digest, I was reading the Editor's section about the new Shotlink distance measuring tool.

Basically, it says that the next time you hear a commentator state that the shot is "220 yards and he has a 5 iron", it's totally way off base.

Here's the average distances a player on the PGA hits as measured accurately by Shotlink:

9 iron - 139 yards
8 iron - 152 yards
7 iron - 163 yards
6 iron - 172 yards
5 iron - 181 yards
4 iron - 189 yards
3 iron - 199 yards

Interesting. The short irons don't seem as long as they usually quote, and the long irons are particularily short to me. I don't hit my irons long by any means, but these don't seem like another ballpark when you hear of guys playing 235 yard 7 irons and 165 yard wedges.

And from browsing the magazine and watching today, I still hate Johnny Miller. The guy is just a jerk.

R35

 

[Loop]

They rarely make comments on the wind factor, and the elevation of the course. That can explain some of the distance.

Johnny is a jerk. I like some of the commentators on the Euro tour, like Renton. Nick Faldo is nice too.
One commentator I really liked was a guy who was on TGC, doing the LPGA coverage about 2-3 years ago. No idea what happened to him.

 

[Silver]

I decided today that I hate at least 90% of the NBC commentating. Miller is the greatest player in the world to ever play the game...in Miller's mind. Rolfing is a big doofus. Everyone else is forgettable at best, if they're not annoying the piss outta me.

Re shotlink...a lot of times, I've found they'll comment on the club selection if it's something abnormal, like the 220 5I...I'm sure it happens if the wind, elevation, and shot style calls for it, but it wouldn't be the "average".

 

[Bravo]

Very interesting. I will check out that article if I can find it. What do they attribute the crazy yardages we hear about on TV?

 

[Rockford35]

Stupidity of the on course commentators.

The Shotlink is supposedly much more accurate. But, i can't see that happening.

Good example today was Vijay bombed out a nice one on the back 9. About 314. Hole length was 427 (Probably from the tips of the pro tees, and they were playing up). By my math that's a 113 yard shot coming home. But according to the guy on the course, Vijay had a knockdown 7 iron from 164.....

Figure that math out.

I don't trust much of what those guys say. And a breeze into their faces? What the hell does that mean?

R35

 

[The master]

Still shorter than I thought but they are average carry and pros do hit lots of 3/4 shots you got to consider that.

Also when we hit irons full we usually have nothing in reserve pros would have probably 10 yards so really people will sya they hit it as far as tour pros but they don't.