After we did our 2024 greatest golf membership testing, we strongly emphasised accuracy within the irons and wedges. Nevertheless, relating to the motive force, distance is king. Only a few golfers are prepared to surrender 10 and even 5 yards to get the ball a bit of nearer to the middle of the golf green. We checked out some stats from Shot Scope to see what is healthier on your sport: distance or accuracy. The outcomes could shock a few of you.
A have a look at fairways hit
The common golfer hits round 47 % of fairways with their driver. The upper the handicap, the extra seemingly the drive will miss to the suitable of the golf green (for a right-handed golfer).
Common driver distance is about 70 yards longer for the zero handicap golfer than the 25 handicap.
Let’s say, as an entire, golfers hit the golf green about half the time.
Fairway Hit and Miss Percentages by Handicap
An correct golfer versus an inaccurate golfer
To find out if distance or accuracy is extra vital, we took stats on a 15-handicap golfer hitting from the tough and the golf green. We analyzed at a distance of 150 yards from the pin in a clear lie after which at 120 yards within the tough.
These statistics are calculated solely utilizing strategy pictures on par-4 holes to offer a centered evaluation of this state of affairs. You possibly can see that the common 15-handicap golfer is simply as more likely to par the opening from 150 yards out within the fairway as from 120 yards within the tough.
Nevertheless, a very powerful takeaway is the statistic from 120 yards within the fairway. You’ll see that hitting your tee shot 30 yards additional and being within the fairway saves a few quarter of a shot.
Common Golfer (15 Handicap) – Strategy Shot Statistics
What does this imply on your sport?
When you attempt to hit the ball additional, buy the membership that goes longer or spend a while velocity coaching to realize these additional yards: you’re giving your self a greater probability of scoring decrease.
Sure, you could lose some accuracy if you begin hitting longer drives.
Nevertheless, in case you are getting additional distance (30 yards or extra), it mustn’t value you further strokes. When you can be taught to include some accuracy and get that longer drive within the fairway, it can save you at the very least 1 / 4 of a shot.
Thirty yards, nevertheless, is the important thing quantity.
When you can hit 30 yards additional, you gained’t lose strokes even when you find yourself within the tough .
What if you happen to can’t hit it 30 yards additional?
Shot Scope discovered 30 yards to be the candy spot for making these much less correct drives value going for. When you can’t fairly get that a lot additional distance, a ball within the fairway is healthier.
When you have 150 yards to the inexperienced from the golf green or 145 yards from the tough, you’ll end the opening in fewer pictures when hitting from the golf green. The purpose is to get to 120 yards. If you will get to 120 yards, then you definately’ll discover the distinction.
How you can add these additional 30 yards
If you’re already an extended hitter and have spent a while gaining swing velocity via numerous strategies, you’ll know that including 30 yards is rather a lot.
Listed below are some ideas to assist add distance if you happen to assume it’s at present holding you again.
Put the suitable driver in play
Our 2024 testing confirmed that there are greater than 15 yards of distance between the perfect driver for distance and the worst. When you haven’t gone for a golf membership becoming or are enjoying a driver identified for having weaker distance efficiency, it might value you yards. Listed below are the highest 37 Greatest Golf Drivers ranked by Distance.
Test your golf ball
One other simple approach so as to add just a few additional yards is to play a golf ball that helps with distance. After we examined golf balls in 2023, the Titleist Professional V1x Left Sprint and Titleist Professional V1x have been the perfect for distance. Not far behind was the Vice Professional Plus.
Work with an expert
The final perception is that including one mile per hour of clubhead velocity can translate to 2 to 3 yards of additional distance off the tee. Due to this fact, in case you are searching for an additional 20 to 30 yards of distance, you could want near 10 extra mph of swing velocity.
That’s a giant change.
Nevertheless, the precise achieve from including velocity depends upon your present swing velocity and your effectivity. Some gamers with quicker and extra environment friendly swings could discover two to 3 yards of additional distance per each mile per hour improve.
Discuss to a golf health coach about your objectives after which use a launch monitor to make sure that your launch angle and spin charges are working for you.
Remaining ideas
A 15-handicap golfer has a few 50/50 probability of hitting the golf green off the tee. Take the possibility and attempt to get 30 yards nearer to the opening. When you can, it gained’t value you any pictures.
When you do discover the golf green, you’ll achieve 1 / 4 of a shot and it solely takes just a few of these to drop your handicap. To reply the preliminary query (distance or accuracy?), distance is the reply on this state of affairs.
The publish What’s Higher—Distance or Accuracy? Understanding the Greatest Path to Decrease Scores appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
