After we did our 2024 greatest golf membership testing, we strongly emphasised accuracy within the irons and wedges. Nevertheless, on the subject of the motive force, distance is king. Only a few golfers are keen to surrender 10 and even 5 yards to get the ball just a little nearer to the middle of the golf green. We checked out some stats from Shot Scope to see what is healthier to your recreation: distance or accuracy. The outcomes might shock a few of you.
A have a look at fairways hit
The typical golfer hits round 47 p.c of fairways with their driver. The upper the handicap, the extra doubtless the drive will miss to the proper 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 a complete, golfers hit the golf green about half the time.
Fairway Hit and Miss Percentages by Handicap
| Handicap | Left Miss % | Fairway Hit % | Proper Miss % | Bunker % | Penalty % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 hcp | 23% | 50% | 23% | 3% | 1% |
| 5 hcp | 22% | 51% | 24% | 2% | 1% |
| 10 hcp | 25% | 48% | 24% | 2% | 1% |
| 15 hcp | 24% | 47% | 25% | 2% | 2% |
| 20 hcp | 26% | 45% | 26% | 1% | 2% |
| 25 hcp | 19% | 46% | 27% | 4% | 4% |
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 situation. You’ll be able to see that the typical 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, an important 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) – Method Shot Statistics
| Distance to Pin | Lie Kind | Proximity (ft) | Photographs to End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 yds | Fairway | 75.4 | 3.7 |
| 120 yds | Tough | 84.3 | 3.7 |
| 120 yds | Fairway | 53.5 | 3.45 |
What does this imply to your recreation?
For those who attempt to hit the ball additional, buy the membership that goes longer or spend a while velocity coaching to achieve these further yards: you might be giving your self a greater likelihood of scoring decrease.
Sure, you might lose some accuracy once you begin hitting longer drives.
Nevertheless, in case you are getting further distance (30 yards or extra), it shouldn’t value you extra strokes. For those who can be taught to include some accuracy and get that longer drive within the fairway, it can save you not less than 1 / 4 of a shot.
Thirty yards, nonetheless, is the important thing quantity.
For those who can hit 30 yards additional, you received’t lose strokes even when you find yourself within the tough .
What in case you 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. For those who can’t fairly get that a lot further distance, a ball within the fairway is healthier.
When you’ve got 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 objective is to get to 120 yards. If you will get to 120 yards, you then’ll discover the distinction.
Find out how to add these further 30 yards
In case you are already an extended hitter and have spent a while gaining swing velocity by varied strategies, you’ll know that including 30 yards is so much.
Listed here are some suggestions to assist add distance in case you suppose it’s at the moment holding you again.
Put the proper driver in play
Our 2024 testing confirmed that there are greater than 15 yards of distance between the very best driver for distance and the worst. For those who haven’t gone for a golf membership becoming or are enjoying a driver recognized for having weaker distance efficiency, it might value you yards. Listed here are the highest 37 Finest Golf Drivers ranked by Distance.
Test your golf ball
One other simple method so as to add just a few further 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 very best 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 a few yards of additional distance off the tee. Due to this fact, in case you are in search of an additional 20 to 30 yards of distance, you might want near 10 extra mph of swing velocity.
That’s a giant change.
Nevertheless, the precise acquire from including velocity relies on your present swing velocity and your effectivity. Some gamers with sooner and extra environment friendly swings might discover two to a few yards of additional distance per each mile per hour improve.
Discuss to a golf health coach about your targets after which use a launch monitor to make sure that your launch angle and spin charges are working for you.
Closing ideas
A 15-handicap golfer has a few 50/50 likelihood of hitting the golf green off the tee. Take the prospect and attempt to get 30 yards nearer to the opening. For those who can, it received’t value you any pictures.
For those who do discover the golf green, you’ll acquire 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 situation.
The put up What’s Higher—Distance or Accuracy? Understanding the Finest Path to Decrease Scores appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
