Driving Distance

I am struggling with distance on my driver. I have had my swing speed measured and it is 108-110 mph. My average distance is around 235-240 yards. My question is for the people who are great in math. If my swing speed is 110 how far should I drive the ball?

235 - 240 yards would be quite a good distance.

Distance is due to a number of factors and swing speed is but one of them. More to the point if your 235/240 drives hit the fairway most of the time then maybe a little more distance would be worth trying for. If not then get your swing fixed as a priority so that they do.

Thanks Brian!! Is it a safe calculation when they say 1mph equals 2.5 - 3 yards?

Hi golfman,

Here is a graph, which indicates you are in the low end of the zone for your swing speed.

http://www.swingspeedradar.com/distan...wingspeed.html

As Brian says swing speed is but one of the factors relative to ball distance carried.

Other factors are pureness (or lack thereof) of contact, choice of ball (relative to ball speed and spin), launch angle, COR and loft of club, flex of shaft. These are interrelated to result in optimum distance. You might research "smash factor".

Ted

I disagree with Brian.
If your swing speed is nearly 110, you should be driving the ball at least 275 given the right equipment and spin rate around 2600-2800. IF your ss is that high, your lack of distance is due to poor equipment and/or too high a spin rate or poor mechanics.

I wonder if you would clarify if the distances you state are total runout distances or carries.

Ted

Golfman, to re-iterate, I think Brian has it wrong. There are alot of tour players who are in the 110mph range and some others who would like to be. For someone to tell you 235-240 is the right distance for someone swinging 110mph. is only sheer folly on the part of someone who does not know what he is talking about.
In forums, you have to take all opinions into consideration and certainly Brian has a right to his even if it is patently wrong.

Try reading my previous post and thinking it through before replying.

I have pointed out that hitting fairways at 245 yards is much better than hitting trees at 280. I have also indicated that to maximise your driving potential you have to consider more factors than swing speed, as Ted has rightly commented, smash factor has to be taken into account. Almost anyone can stand up to a speed monitor and swing the club fast but the ball flight results can be a different story.

Take a look at the chart in the link 'Rotator' posted, it shows clearly that a swing speed of around 110 mph results in an average carry distance of around 245 yards.

Regarding your personal comments: I have been playing golf for a very long time now and at a high standard, I do have some idea what I am talking about. I assume your rude attitude is due to your immaturity will and do my best to ignore it.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

In passing perhaps, as a short hitter, I could mention that I have recently added some 20-30 yards of (reasonably) straight distance by slowing down my swing, concentrating on my rhythm and timing and (as a consequence?) improving my ball striking. For some, improving SS may be the way to go but, as Brian et al have said, for others there may be a better payback from looking at different factors.

Hold on Keiko old son, 12 posts in and you've already been appallingly rude to two (Mox & Brian) respected forum members. If you want us to take your opinions into consideration then perhaps a little more respect for others might be in order.

I appreciate everyone's reply and it really is helpful. MY total distance averages about 235-240. In rare instances I was able to reach 275-290, but again very rare. I wish I could rely on that distance more often. I have gone so far as get on a launch monitor, bought one of the most expensive shafts, Diamono Whiteboard (sp). This is supposed to reduce my spin rate. Since the purchase I have increased my distance 15 yards, previously I was driving the ball 220. The sad thing is in a previous post I asked for help, because I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver. I just need to know if my swing speed is 110 mph, what can I realistically expect to hit my driver. Is it too much to expect to hit 300 yards with a 110 mph swing speed? Or should I expect something my less, say a maximum of 275?

I believe when you are saying "total" you are saying that your distances are not carry distances, but with roll out.

In that case, the graph I sent earlier and all the distances reported for the tour stats are carry distances, so your 110 ss distance of 235-240 cannot be compared to the distances in the graph for that ss.

As we have stated there are other factors you may have to look into.

I'm personally not strong enough to bother with the "boards", blue or white, however, these are ultra stiff high bend point shafts.

You have to look at the right combination of head, shaft, ball, swing (quick and aggresive or smooth, angle of attack), launch angle, ball spin, etc which factor into optimizing distance. The other aspect is perhaps, you are not hitting the ball "on the sweet spot". You did not mention, if you hit solid shots, or perhaps you did in a previous thread.

Ted

From my personal experience. It sounds like your spin rate is too high causing you to lack distance. I know for a fact my GF swing speed is just over 100 mph and she hit a 315 yard drive in competition 2 years ago at the remax. I have hit right next to her on a launch monitor and her balls go farther than my 275 and 110 mph swing speed due to the higher ball spin I create. This of course is due to many factors of the swing and the fact that she has a very solid swing. If I were you, I would seek out your local pro and have him get your swing corrected and you should see a significant increase in distance.

Id also like to add, What is your ballflight like. If its low you might not be swinging up and through the ball, if its ballooning then you are certainly creating to much spin. Lower the spin and the drives will boom...

__________________
There are two types of criticism. They type you agree with, and the type you wont let yourself believe.

Whether either are helpfull is up to our own stubborness

I have been measured at 120 swing speed and on the course I see carry of 280. I'm struggling with lack of roll on drives (my 3 wood rolls and I get 260 total, my driver often checks up and I get 280). This agrees with the chart that Brian linked.

If you are hitting your 3W farther than your driver, you are probably shutting down your face angle and getting a poor launch angle with the driver. It sounds like a mechanics issue to me, though you may want to try a higher angled driver just to test this theory (it should go farther). Make sure that your arms and hands are not leading the clubface at impact. This may be good for your irons, but definitely not your driver. Also, you may be playing the ball too far back in you stance. See if setting up off your left toe helps. I do think that if you have a 110 SS, and good equipment, you are at least 10% short on distance and probably more.