The reason why balls go further when hit with a longer golf club is because it allows the ball to travel faster through the air, which reduces drag, and therefor slows down less as it travels towards its target. The ball has more time to travel through the air before it hits the ground Golf is one of the most popular sports in America.
Full Answer
How has the golf ball changed over the years?
As Nicklaus states, the ball has played a large role. Driving distances changed little over decades. IBM recorded driving distance data at 11 PGA Tour events in 1968. The top 10 players averaged 270.2 yards, the average was 264.0 yards and Nicklaus led the Tour at 276.0 yards.
Are golf clubs better now than 40 years ago?
On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today.
What's the difference between longer clubs and golf balls?
With golf balls, you had two choices – a ball that could go farther but not stop on the green, or you could get one that would spin more, but not carry as far with your longer clubs. Additionally, with irons, there wasn’t much variety. There were forged blades that offered little to no forgiveness, or enormous cast irons that were large and clunky.
Why do Tour players hit the ball so far?
The reason all of the tour players can hit the ball so far isn’t just about their swing speeds, and all of the technology they have working in their favor. It’s because they can hit the ball on the sweet spot of the club with amazing regularity. They should, they’ve been honing their craft their entire lives, and it is their day job after all.
Are today's golf clubs better than 10 years ago?
There is no evidence that golf clubs deteriorate over time. Well maintained clubs will last a lifetime. 10+ year old clubs should be checked for better options but clubs less than 5 years old do not need replacing except for wear and tear issues to which wedges and forged irons are most vulnerable.
Why do longer golf clubs go further?
To hit the ball further, clubs are designed to have a combination of both lower loft and more length. The lower loft will send the ball lower with less back spin, however to increase the distance, the club shaft needs to be longer, enabling more club head speed to be generated through the ball.
Do modern irons go further?
Here's another key point, not only are irons hotter today, it's easier to make them fly higher, too. In one of our recent tests, we found that not only did new 7-irons go farther than 6-irons from a decade ago, they flew as higher or higher than many of those old 7-irons, too.
Do golf clubs lose distance with age?
As we mentioned, truly worn out irons can be hard to come across, it would take me back to the days of using my dad's old clubs that were well past their sell by date. However, if you have truly worn your clubs out, you can lose about 7-10 yards on them.
At what height should you get longer golf clubs?
Your Height If you are taller than about 6'0”, you will likely need clubs that are a bit longer than normal. The standard golf clubs that come from the manufacturer are typically built to help golfers who are around 5'7” to 6'0”. If you are 6'4”, you can almost guarantee that you will need longer golf clubs.
Do pros use longer shafts?
Probably. Everyday players are not as skilled as tour pros, so a longer shaft, while perhaps generating some more speed, also can lead to inconsistencies with your swing and wayward shots. A shorter driver shaft could lead to more confidence and finding the center of the face more often.
Are older clubs harder to hit?
A stronger(lower) loft in newer irons will produce a higher ball flight than the weaker(higher) loft in older clubs. At least that is the marketing pitch. The intent is to make it easier to launch the ball higher and in the process easier to hit.
How often should you get new golf irons?
around every four to five yearsA good rule of thumb to follow is if you're a golfer with a low handicap or just a casual golfer is to replace your golf irons somewhere around every four to five years or after around three hundred rounds. This can prevent the golf clubs from wearing down to the point where it seriously impacts your golf game.
Do newer irons make a difference?
Also, new golf irons make a big difference because of two vital aspects: If the condition of your current set of irons is poor, a fresh set will help you improve height, reduce spin, and allow your shots to become more consistent.
How far does the average 60 year old hit a golf ball?
60-69: 204.5 yards.
Do new golf clubs really make a difference?
The simple truth is you need to honestly assess your iron performance and see if you think you can get more from a newer model. If you're a good player who's lost some speed and distance over the years, a new set of irons can make a big difference.
How far should an average golfer hit a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women)
Why do golfers open their clubs?
That’s because, in order to not pull the ball with this type of swing, players must open the clubface. When they do this, it adds loft to the club and puts a lot of spin on the ball.
Why is my golf ball flying high?
One of the most common causes of a high ball flight is tempo. When people swing too fast, they struggle to make contact with the sweet spot of the club. Without doing this, it’s difficult to achieve a consistent trajectory.
Why is the clubface open?
An open clubface also adds more loft to the club, producing a higher ball flight. Of course, many players don’t even realize their clubface is open at address.
What causes a high ball flight?
There are a number of things that might be responsible for causing a high, weak ball flight, including: 1 Improper setup 2 Swing faults 3 Bad tempo 4 Improper equipment
How to stop hitting golf ball too high?
In order to stop hitting the golf ball too high, you need to ensure you have the proper setup position and equipment. You also need to correct any swing faults that are contributing to the issue.
What happens if the ball is too far forward?
The ball is too far forward in your stance. The more forward the ball is in your stance, the less lag the club will have at the point of impact. This means that extra loft is added to the club. Not only will less lag produce a high, weak ball flight, but it will also significantly reduce distance. The fix:
What is the loft of a golf driver?
However, when it comes to the driver, there’s some variability. You can buy a driver with a loft of anywhere between 8 and 12.5 degrees. Obviously, the higher the loft, the higher your ball flight will be.
Help reduce your risk of hitting it short
Many golfers find the question of why balls go further when hit with a longer golf club difficult to answer. However, as long as you keep in mind that there are two factors at play: momentum and energy transfer, it becomes much easier to understand.
The ball has more time to travel through the air before it hits the ground
Golf is one of the most popular sports in America. It’s also one of the hardest to master. Have you ever wondered why balls go farther when hit with a longer golf club? The answer is because the ball has more time to travel through the air before it hits the ground.
The club head is longer and the swing is more downward
When a golf club is swung, the head of the club will travel on an arc from high to low. The shorter clubs have a lower swing arc and require less force because they are easier to hit with. The longer clubs need more power or force because they have a higher swing arc and it takes more force to get them down below the ball for contact.
This also means that you have less chance of hitting something other than your target
This is a question that I often get asked. The answer is actually pretty simple, but the physics behind it are not so easy to understand. Golf clubs have been designed with different lengths in order to accommodate for varying heights of players.
Why does Jason Day tee his ball up?
Jason Day likes to tee his ball up in the center of the club face so if he happens to mishit it he knows where he mishit from and can adjust. When you start off teeing it in line with the toe or heel of the club it makes it more difficult to square up at impact. Day also mentioned swinging wide on the back swing where your hands get further away from the head. But on the downswing he brings the swing back in narrow with power, meaning the hands get closer to the body at impact.
What is Lauren Ochoa's advice for female golfers?
She stated in a Golf Digest interview that “Average golfers stop all their motion, all their momentum, at the ball. They hit and bounce back on their back foot. Everything should be going forward on the downswing.
Is the clubshaft in a perfect parallel position?
The clubshaft is in a perfect parallel position at the top.”. Overall, golf is an individual sport for a reason. We all have our own unique swings habits and many of the tips mentioned above may or may not work out for you. The best tip is to find what works for you through lots of trial and error.
How fast is the average golf clubhead?
The average clubhead speed increased from 104 mph in 1980 to 113 in 2016. Andrew Loupe led the PGA Tour with 125.5 average clubhead speed. He recorded a top measured speed of 130.9 mph. In all, 14 pros averaged 120 mph or better.
How many yards did Ben Hogan hit?
Ben Hogan hit his driver 265 yards, according to an article in the June 10, 1949 issue of Time Magazine. Even 15 years later he still hit drives that distance in a Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match against the equally long-hitting Sam Snead.
How fast is a 150 gram shaft?
He swung the 150-gram steel shaft in the persimmon at 106 miles per hour. He swung the 75-gram graphite shaft in his driver at 113 miles per hour. A driver two inches longer and two ounces lighter enabled Campbell to generate more speed. According to golf club designer Tom Wishon in a post on GolfWRX.com, each mile-per-hour of clubhead speed equals 2.8 yards of carry. He wrote that advancements in golf equipment account for at best, 25 percent of the distance increase.
How far are golf fairways mown?
While the distance a golf ball carries is important, Wishon also makes another key point. Fairways are mown at roughly ½ inch on the PGA Tour now, significantly lower than in the past, although courses benefit from extensive irrigation.
How many players were on the PGA Tour in 2015-16?
Only 27 players on the PGA Tour in 2015-16 had a faster average. It’s reasonable to assume Jones, who was one of the longer hitters of the day and the game’s greatest amateur, would have no trouble keeping up if given modern equipment.
What to do if playback doesn't begin?
If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
How fast was Bobby Jones in the 1930s?
Using high-speed film analysis, experts estimate legendary amateur Bobby Jones had a swing speed of 117 miles per hour in the 1930s - using hickory shafts. Only 27 players on the PGA Tour in 2015-16 had a faster average. It’s reasonable to assume Jones, who was one of the longer hitters of the day and the game’s greatest amateur, would have no trouble keeping up if given modern equipment.
Why does my golf ball knuckle off the club?
Too much spin rate can reduce your total carry and hurt your overall driving distance. Too little of spin can cause the ball to actually knuckle off the club. The spin rate is often a function of your angle of attack and your golf equipment.
How far can a golf ball go in a 100 mile per hour swing?
The greater the swing speed, naturally the ball is going to travel further. You can’t make a ball go 300 yards with a 100 mile per hour swing unless you are golfing on a runway or there is a 40 mile per hour wind to your break.
How much does SuperSpeed golf increase swing speed?
You can see a 5-8% increase in swing speed as soon as the first time you train with the system. Maintaining your training over time will help this increase become more permanent. If you want to train with SuperSpeed golf, make sure you use Golfjourney365 as a discount code to save 10%. Use the link here and enter the code. Here is a complete review on the SuperSpeed golf system – My SuperSpeed Golf Results.
How to get better spin rate in golf?
Invest in a launch monitor or visit a local golf professional who has access to a system such a Trackman or a less expensive system that provides spin rate.
What is the spin rate of a golf driver?
You will find their spin rates anywhere as low as 1500 to 2500. A lower spin rate allows the ball to fly further. Too much spin rate can reduce your total carry and hurt your overall driving distance. Too little of spin can cause the ball to actually knuckle off the club. The spin rate is often a function of your angle of attack and your golf equipment.
What is the only swing designed specifically for seniors?
One other option very similar to Shawn Clement is the Art of Simple Golf . This is the only swing designed specially for Seniors. Check out the Art of Simple Golf, here.
How fast can you swing with neurologic training?
When I first started with this system, I was swinging my driver around 98-100 miles per hour. I am now in the 103-105 range and have seen a 5-6% increase in swing speed, resulting in great distance.
Why do tour players hit the ball so far?
The reason all of the tour players can hit the ball so far isn’t just about their swing speeds, and all of the technology they have working in their favor. It’s because they can hit the ball on the sweet spot of the club with amazing regularity.
Why do golfers use their arms more than their body?
They will use their arms more than their body, and it just leads to inconsistent ball striking without much distance.
How to hit your driver farther?
There are a million tips out there that tell you how to hit your driver farther. Widen your stance, strengthen your grip, create lag in your swing, make a full shoulder turn, widen your swing arc. Blah blah blah blah.
What to do if you feel like you are struggling with golf?
If you feel like you are struggling with that, then perhaps it is time to take a lesson or two, and have a qualified professional look at your overall swing. Please tell them you want small changes only!
Do two golfers hit the same ball closer to the sweet spot?
If you take two golfers who have similar swing speeds, and one is hitting the ball more solidly at impact than the other, in almost all cases the player hitting the ball closer to the sweet spot will hit it farther on average .
Is golf a male dominated sport?
There is no question that golf is a male-dominated sport, so it’s no surprise everyone is concerned with how to hit the golf ball farther. The new lingo with the club manufacturers is club speed. Everyone wants to swing faster to hit the ball farther. Increased club head speed is certainly an important element of hitting the ball further, ...
Is it better to hit your clubs with a sand wedge or a 5 iron?
The game is much easier with a sand wedge in your hands in the fairway than it is with a 5 iron.
How has golf equipment changed over the years?
Golf equipment has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for your particular golf swing.
Why do golfers use drivers?
Modern drivers offer much larger faces , which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and distance) on off-center strikes . Additionally, the lighter weight of the head and shaft makes it easier to generate more swing speed .
What Changed?
A lot of advancements have been made over the past several decades. The golf world has attracted top-level engineering talent from places like aerospace industry. These brilliant minds have been able to design, manufacture, and measure club performance better than ever. Every manufacturer is investing major dollars each year trying to push things forwards in order to capture market share.
How fast is a Titleist golf ball?
Additionally, the ball speeds were very different – 139mph versus 151 mph.
When did Woody start building clubs?
He first started building clubs in the 1980s and since then has seen massive changes in technology and club design. Back in the early 80s when Woody first started in the industry, there were no means of measuring club performance – it was mostly about how the equipment looked.
Is golf harder than playing the wrong club?
As you know golf is a very challenging game, and playing the wrong equipment will make it that much harder for you. On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today. How much of a difference exists will always be up for debate.
Who owns Pete's Golf?
I have spoken at length about the advancements in equipment with Woody Lashen, the co-owner of Pete’s Golf. His custom fitting business is considered one of the best in the entire industry by Golf Digest and almost every major OEM. He first started building clubs in the 1980s and since then has seen massive changes in technology and club design.
What do less experienced golfers not know about golfers?
I think one of the things that less experienced golfers don’t know about good golfers is that while they are probably going to make good contact, they also don’t know exactly where the ball is going. Often, they care less about a missed shot or a shot that goes off line. Rather than being upset, better players often just go and get the ball and make the best of that situation.
How to set a golf club to the ball?
An example of this might be to place your hands onto the club, bow from your hips to set the club to the ball and then adjust your feet to get into good ball position and posture.
Why do you put alignment sticks on the outside of your golf ball?
Taking an extra moment to add an alignment stick on the outside of your ball to avoid interfering with the proper swing path can pay dividends on the course. If you know where you’re aiming when you’re on the range, then you will know how to adjust when you go to the course.
How to stay relaxed on the golf course?
You can learn to stay more relaxed on the golf course by being aware of your breathing, and using this to keep yourself calm and relaxed can be a big deal. If you can be aware of when you get nervous or tense, then you may be able to relax yourself by slowing down your movements and your breath. Long, deep breaths can help to lower your heart rate and help oxygen get to your brain to help make better decisions.
How to be a better golfer?
Rather than being upset, better players often just go and get the ball and make the best of that situation. Learn the lesson from better players and do the best you can. Take a good practice swing. Understand your game as well as you can. Enjoy your good shots.
Can you hit a good shot on the range if you have a fundamental mistake?
When you have a fundamental mistake in your swing, if you practice enough, you will most likely develop a compensating error that can at times produce really great shots. An example of this might be if your posture is not balanced and in good position, you may practice enough to slow your swing down to make some contact. By hitting ball after ball you can time these adjustments enough to hit really good shots on the range because of the repetition.
Is it better to swing on the range or to be more relaxed?
You are more relaxed on the range. There is certainly something to be said about the value of being more relaxed. Free swinging on the range and letting it go will allow you to stay more relaxed in your hands and arms and even your entire body, helping with better contact and distance.