The key to distance in the golf swing is the ability to make a full turn away from the ball and swing the club smoothly and swiftly back through. Older golfers lose the ability to do this, as their muscles become less flexible and they lose strength in their stomachs, arms, legs and shoulders.
Full Answer
Why do I have a hard time hitting the ball?
It could be because of a number of different factors, including: 1 Poor setup – ball too far forward, open clubface, weight on the back foot. 2 Swing faults – bad tempo, excessive hand/wrist action, improper swing path. 3 Equipment – golf shafts with too much flex, too much loft on the driver, playing the wrong kind of golf ball. More ...
Why can’t I hit the golf ball far?
The reason you’re not hitting the golf ball far is likely due to: The number one factor that separates most golfers ability to hit the golf ball far is swing speed. PGA Tour pro’s can swing a driver 120+ mph with guys like Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson reaching 125-130 mph.
How does age affect your golf swing?
The key to distance in the golf swing is the ability to make a full turn away from the ball and swing the club smoothly and swiftly back through. Older golfers lose the ability to do this, as their muscles become less flexible and they lose strength in their stomachs, arms, legs and shoulders.
How do you stop hitting the golf ball so high?
In order to stop hitting the golf ball so high, you need to first diagnose what is causing the problem. It could be because of a number of different factors, including: Poor setup – ball too far forward, open clubface, weight on the back foot. Swing faults – bad tempo, excessive hand/wrist action, improper swing path.
Why am I hitting the ball shorter?
I've been able to hit the golf ball 10 yards further with my irons and hit drives 20 yards further, which has helped make the game easier as holes become shorter. The reason you're not hitting the golf ball far is likely due to: Your swing speed (mph) Your ball speed.
How do you hit a golf ball further as you get older?
10 tricks to boost your driving distance as you get olderUse your hands and wrists. ... Close your stance. ... Turn early. ... Turn your hips, too. ... Make the club lighter on your backswing. ... Lighter clubs. ... Use more loft. ... Proper ball position.More items...•
Why do golfers lose distance with age?
As you age, you feel less stable in your golf swing. And when the body feels less stable, it instinctually slows its motion. This results in a slower clubhead speed.
Do golf balls lose distance with age?
A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.
How far should a 65 year old hit a golf ball?
As you get older, your swing speed normally decreases. That being said, there are still older golfers who have incredibly high swing speeds. If you're able to drive the ball somewhere close to 220 yards, you're pretty much average. I'd say anything lower than 210 yards and you're less than average.
How far should a 70 year old hit a driver?
A 70-year-old man should be hitting a driver anywhere from 180 to 190 yards. This number has grown a bit in the last few years with the introduction of improved driver and shaft technology. At 70 years old, some golfers are having no trouble getting the ball to fly 200 yards or more.
What is the average golf score for seniors?
The average score for someone over the age of 60 is 92 on a par 72 golf course. These people have a lot of time to play golf but they're getting older and their body doesn't work quite as well as it used to. Obviously, you'll have some golfers shoot much better and some that shoot much worse.
How far should a senior golfer hit a 7-iron?
On average, each bracket loses four yards, with those who are 60+ have a 140-yard Smart Distance with their 7-iron. Even though the older age brackets are hitting it shorter, their approach shot handicaps are actually improving.
How far should an average golfer hit a 7-iron?
At its core, the median driving distance is 219.55 yards. Other club distances of note: the median 3-wood goes 186.89 yards, 7-iron clocks in at 133.48 yards and pitching wedge at a 73.97 mark.
Do new golf balls go further than old ones?
Lab tests, including our own, show little or no loss in yardage compared to new balls, and most golfers report no appreciable difference in play. But most of this research is based on tests of mint-quality used golf balls pulled from water hazards with no understanding of how much time each ball spent underwater.
What is the average swing speed for a senior golfer?
between 72-86 mphWhat is the average swing speed of a senior golfer? According to a study done by My TPI, the average speed for 50-60 year old golfers is between 72-86 mph. For golfers above 60 years old, it's between 71-79mph.
What is the best golf ball for seniors?
10 Best Golf Balls for SeniorsTop pick. Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls. ... Bridgestone Golf e12 Contact Golf Balls. $29.50. ... TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls. Buy on Amazon.Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls. $44.95. ... Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls. ... 2020 Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls. ... Srixon Q-Star Tour 3 Golf Balls. ... MG Golf Balls Senior.More items...
Why is a shorter swing length important?
As many golfers know, swing length is crucial for generating swing speed. And we find that length in the backswing. Once again, traditional advice does not help experienced and senior golfers get the length they need. This is why a shorter swing length is among the biggest distance killers for older golfers.
How to pack your driver shots with more power?
This is how you pack your driver shots with more power. As you take your driver setup, bump your lead hip towards the target. This allows you to access that side-to-side power source. You want about 60% of your weight on the lead foot, 40% on the trail foot. This should happen naturally with that hip bump.
How to get better hip rotation?
Rotate your toes outward slightly so that the red lines lead to the insides of your heels instead of the center of your toes. This simple flare helps you find better hip rotation. Then close your stance. To do this, you step your trail foot back away from the golf ball just slightly.
What is a golfer's foot?
The golfer’s feet are parallel to one another, pointed in the direction of the ball. If you drew a straight line from toe to toe, that line would run parallel to the target line. This is a beautiful driver setup. But if you’re an older golfer, it comes with some significant hazards.
What is a deep backswing?
We call this a “deep” backswing. It’s a maneuver that definitely achieves length and ensures solid drives.
Instructions
Change your golf ball. Years ago, balls designed for distance were hard as rocks and offered little in the way of feel around the greens. That's all changed. There's now a dizzying array of golf balls to choose from, and each choice is optimized for a particular type of golfer.
Tips & Warnings
Think about forgetting your ego and moving up a tee. Maybe you've always played from the blue tees (or even the black tournament tees). As you age, you can shorten the golf course and retain your distance by shifting to the white tees or the gold senior tees. Golf courses offer different teeing options for precisely this reason.
About the Author
Matthew DeBord has written about sports, cars, and wine since 1994 for a variety of publications. Formerly the golf columnist for the “Improper Hamptonian,” he has covered major championship tournaments and played some of the best courses in America. He graduated from Clemson University and has a master's degree from New York University.
The Clubs
Firstly, let’s look into driver distance. Technology in golf clubs continues to improve year on year. It amazes me how many golfers, particularly seniors, still use that trusty Driver from 20 years ago. I would encourage you to look at the clubhead on your Driver and then the shaft within the club.
The Swing
Having the correct equipment is essential. However, we need to move correctly to increase our distance.
The Ball
Our final factor for distance is using the correct golf ball. I see many senior golfers using an older golf ball or whatever they found on a round in 2005!
Next Article
An question that’s often asked in the club house on senior days is how far should a 70 year old hit a golf ball. So, we’re going to take a look at that next as we come to the end of our series.
Why do I hit my irons so short?
There are typically 1 of 3 reasons why a golfer hits their irons short. They include: poor contact, lack of swing speed or angle of attack.
BONUS TIP: Build A Distance Chart
Most golfers overestimate how far they hit each iron in their bag. This leads to often being in the bunker short of a green or hitting a well struck shot that leaves you with a 50 foot putt. Every golfer, regardless of current ability level, should create a distance chart that looks like the one below.
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
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.
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.
How to fix wrists in golf swing?
The fix: Instead of actively hinging your wrists in the swing, loosen your grip on the golf club. Then, swing back as though you are only using your hips, arms, and shoulders. Because you now have a lighter grip on the club with less tension, your wrists will hinge naturally as you swing the club back.
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
What is the loft of a golf club?
Golf Club Loft. Most iron sets will have a standard loft for each club. For example, the standard loft of a 9 iron is 41 degrees, the loft of an 8 iron is 37 degrees, and so on. 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.
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 happens if you put too much weight on your back foot?
If you place too much weight on your back foot, you risk hitting the golf ball too high. This is especially true when hitting driver off the tee. The fix: Instead, make sure your weight is a 50/50 split between your feet or slightly favoring your lead leg.
Why is my ball not rolling across the ground?
In simplest terms, in order to get the ball up into the air — and not rolling across the ground — is to hit down into the dirt. (GETTY) If that’s not happening, there may be a few reasons why. Here are some of the most common I see: 1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact.
What ruins a golf swing?
Nothing ruins a great golf swing like a loss of balance. Assuming you’re in a good set up to start, it only takes a small loss of balance to cause you to top the ball. A good check of balance is holding your finish until your golf ball lands.
How to throw a golf club toward the ground?
It can be helpful to practice this by placing a ball in your right hand, from your golf posture. Allow the elbow to fold as it would in your backswing and then throw the ball so that it hits the ground.
How to get the ball down to the ground?
1. Bad Posture. Good posture is the basis for solid contact. Bowing forward from your hips so that your hands can hang below your shoulders can put you in balance and also get the club down to the ground. Too much knee flex or squatting can often make it extremely difficult to get the club down into the turf, and therefore get the ball into the air.
How to brush grass without a club?
Keeping your hands away from your sternum can help to maintain the width of your backswing, making it easier to brush the grass. One of my favorite drills for feeling this is to hold your lead wrist with your trail hand. From here, make your backswing without a club and feel your trail arm pull your lead arm wide.
Why is it so hard to keep your head down?
The problem with keeping your head down is that it limits your body’s ability to move athletically. If you attempt to keep your head down, it’s very difficult to allow your body to rotate properly on your downswing to get the club down to the ground and the ball into the air. 7. Tension in hands and arms.
What happens if you stand too far away from the ball?
If you stand too far away from the ball at address, it’s almost difficult not to top the ball without a heroic move. Reaching for the ball — where your arms often get into a diagonal position — will often lead to a thin shot or a top.
Why is my golf ball not hitting the ball?
One reason you might not be hitting the ball very far is that you have too high of a spin rate with your driver and irons. An easy way to spot this is watching how high your shots go in the air. Golf shots that get hit with high back spin rates tend to climb higher into the air.
How fast can a golfer hit a golf ball?
The number one factor that separates most golfers ability to hit the golf ball far is swing speed. PGA Tour pro’s can swing a driver 120+ mph with guys like Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson reaching 125-130 mph. Compare this to the average golfer who has a swing speed of 90 mph. Adding an extra 10 mph can make a huge difference ...
Why use wedges on golf greens?
This is why we use our wedges to chip around greens instead of 4 irons. The wedge will put more spin on the ball , giving us more control and helping the ball stop quicker on the green. But with tee shots, the goal is to hit the golf ball as far as you can down the fairway. Driver’s should ideally have lower spin rates to allow ...
How fast can a golf club swing?
You could have your club swinging super fast, producing 115-120 mph swing speed but if you don’t hit the ball very square, all that energy will be lost during the transfer. Ball speed is often judged by “smash factor” which is a metric you get access to when you swing on a simulator like the Trackman.
Why is swinging harder better?
Swinging harder isn’t always the best answer because it can lead to out of control shots. You also have to improve your ball striking contact to maximize energy transfer from the clubhead speed to the golf ball, launching it into the air with fast ball speed.
What happens when a golf club makes contact with the ball?
Every golf club in your bag has a different loft angle on the club face. As the club makes contact with the ball, it imparts spin on the golf ball.
What happens if you hit a banana slice in the rough?
If you tend to hit a hard banana slice into the rough, you’re probably losing distance from the golf ball curving off line. Same can be said for those who hit a duck hook that curves hard into the rough. Once you’re able to straighten out your swing, you should notice an increase in club distances as a result.
How fast is a golf ball?
Many golfers fail to understand the importance of having the right golf ball for their game. If your swing speed is above 100 miles per hour and you are playing a low compression ball, chances are the golf ball is flying too high and taking away distance from you.
What are the most common swing faults in high handicap golf?
The casting of the golf club might be the single most common swing faults among high handicap golfers. The inability to maintain any lag, lead s to a loss of speed and extra loft added to the swing prior to impact. This leads to poor contract and when the ball is well struck, potentially a ball flight that is too high for your liking.
What happens if you hit the wrong shaft in your driver?
If you have the wrong shaft in your driver for your swing speed, not only are you going to lose distance, have trouble with accuracy, but chances are you will hit the ball too high. This is especially true of those that have a shift that has the wrong kick point for your swing. This will result in extra loft being added at impact, resulting in higher shots and a difficult to control driver in the wind.