300 yards +.. drives

I’ve been having a little chit chat with that nice man Patrick Bourke on his statement “”“MOST golfers hit a 300 + yd drive.””” … I would if I may like to take a little straw pole of the members views…Do you subscribe to the premise or not? ,.. That Most golfers hit a 300 + yard drive.…Look forward to hearing your views.

Enjoy your golf

surely he was only talking about pros? if he meant amateurs then IMO he is very wrong, id say less that 20% of amateur golfers can hit a 300+.

Now Gilbert you little tinker. I said most golfers are capable of a 300 yd drive. I didn't say everytime and I certainly did not include people who are not capable of hitting 300 yds in the first place. What's the big deal? Don't take it out of context, especially when the original thread wasn't even about driving.

hi guys If only i could I found this it to be very close to the mark for me http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1327/How_far_should_you_hit_each_golf_club.html

Last week I managed 320 yard drive on par 5 7th hole at Oulton hall. Ok it is downhill and I hit it as well as I could with a bit of draw. Usually I hit between 240 and 260 but on this hole there is little danger so I can really smash it. Often though I will mishit that kind of shot but it shows what is possible given the right conditions. p.s. even if I mishit it I can still reach easily in regulation.

I've managed it twice in this country, once last week as it happens. The common factor has been that both have been downwind, as my normal is about 230. Last weeks steamed over the corner of the wall on the 15th at Stocksbridge leaving me about 60 to the green. As per normal with me it came to rest in an old divot so was almost unplayable without taking half of South Yorkshire with it...

300yds!!!! God I wish

I average between 230 and 250, with a top smash with a slight draw going out to 280ish max. Quite happy these days playing Par5's as 3 shot holes, especially as I usually get shots on them in the main.

I have hit plenty of 300yd drives but it wouldn't be the norm, probably 260-280 is normal.I am certainly capable of it though but not too fussed about distance with a driver more concerned with accuracy.

As Pat said, most are capable. I've only managed it twice, once at Chesterfield GC, downhill, wind behind and the second was on the Old Course at St Andrew's (fifth hole, 514 yards). Rock hard ground, wind behind, knew I'd hit a good one but got down to it, got out my yardage chart and GPS, 120 yards in! Couldn't believe it! Still pulled my wedge into a bunker, took 2 to get out and walked of with a 6 but such is life!

I've done it a couple of times but in the long distant past but most definitely not forgotten

Today's round sums it up nicely with drives anywhere from a slice induced 190yards to 250y

I generally hit about 200 to 230, but have recently hit 2 drives over 300yds on my home course. With a following breeze and dry, newly mown fairways, I managed to get nice drawing drives to run for ever (at least 300yds). With the recent dry spell I would say my drives were + 30yds up on average, provided I found the fairway.

Not sure I would agree with the statement that most golfers are capable of hitting the ball 300 yards. I would say most golfers think they can hit the ball 300 yards and in most cases, if their drives were measured they would be well short of the 300 yard mark, sure it is possible to catch a ball right out of the middle and fluke a big hit but I don't believe you can count that, I believe if you got most club golfers to hit 10 balls with their driver, probably only ten percent would hit the ball near or over over 300 yards, I have played many a time with people who tell me they can hit it well over 300 yards off the tee, but when we play together, they are lucky to hit it 250 yards, so when I here stories of golfers hitting it 300 yards plus I take it with a pinch of salt unless I have witnessed it myself, in the regular club comps and societies I play in, there are only a hand full of players capable of hitting over the 300 yard mark, and most of those are low handicap players.

Ive done it twice just recently as well one was about 320yds the other 375!!!! both massivley wind assisted and I do have a very high ball flight!!! I hit my drives a good way but I very rarly get anywhere near the 300 mark, its only when the wind is right the fairways are hard and the wind is being nice I get it over 300.

Most people although they think they hit it out there stand no chance even on a very good day, Alot of people I see out there have decent swing speeds but if you dont couple a good swing path and face angle with the speed your ball is going nowhere. That's the reason most can't and never will.

Good point Gary. I only ever count 300 yd drives if I think its gone a long way and then ill pop out the gps and measure it. Obviously not in competition

i think most golfers can hit a drive 300 yards or more in the right conditions but the main factor is can they do it and keep it within the fairway or semi rough etc. Ive had a few monster drives before on a course near me beadlow manor and 11th hole par 4, 395yards (off the yellows) is on the hill driving downhill to a massive open fairway, hard fairways n wind fully behind. Ive arrived at the ball on a few occasions on this hole and had to check it was actually my ball!!! must have been around 350 360 yards as i was left with a 40 odd yard shot to the hole. Ive done that on a few occasions but usually driving acurately around the 270 mark.

My "normal" drives are around the 250-260 mark. I regularly hit one or two 300+ drives per round. I can't do it every time because I'm not consistent enough. It does come in useful on some of our very long par 4's (several 440+) as it makes par much more possible and brings the par 5's in range in two

In case you are wondering, last time I played it had 170 left on the 493 yard par 5 13th after my tee shot. The ball was in the middle of the fairway on a slightly uphill hole. I hit a soft draw and there was no wind to speak of. I made birdie after I put my 5 iron through the back of the green and had to chip back on

I think most people just think they hit it way further than they do I very rarley hit my ball over 300yards and there is zero chance I carry the ball anywhere near that far when I do. These are the PGA tour stats for anyone who is interested and thinks they regulary bomb 300 yds drives.

http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/stats/stat.02409.html

Thanks for the link Gary. Looking at other stats I see Tiger is still way in front in career earnings at over 100m (doesn't mention £ $ but.....) . I also note that placed 197 a more 'moderate' entry. 195 Chris Perry 6,866,671. Kept that quiet Chris.

One doesn't like to brag Patrick....

Patrick , Chris you must thank your coach

Glad I've made enough money to be able to pay for one Dave

Mod busted as a rich bandit. Like it.

Before digression, yes most people have probably managed a 300yd drive in certain conditions, and some have probably gone 400+. But on a flat track, no wind I would offer 20% could.

I disagree that even 10% of players in a golf club can hit the ball 300 yards consistently. I am the longest hitter at my club by some way and i can't hit 300 yard drives in winter! (unless conditions are perfect). In summer, yes with wind behind and firm fairways I have driven holes that are 375 yards. Just to add, my carry distance is 275 yards (summer warmth conditions and a perfect strike).

You will be amazed when you own a skycaddie and mark out peoples drives just how short they actually are. I have played with people who think they drive 240 and its barely making 200, and people who say they drive 280 and its really about 240. One of the problems with measuring drives against the hole yardage is that this is often incorrect yardage marked out. Get a Skycaddie or GPS measuring app on your iphone if you have one and you will see your true yardage. If you don't believe me on the yardages go to a driving range and see how many people can carry the ball past the 250 marker... if you can then with a wind behind and firm fairways you might be able to drive 300 yards.

The only way to know your accurate yardages is going onto a laser launch scope like you get at some club fittings and see your yardage for yourself, which is how I know my carry distance by the way.

Does that mean you think you do ?????

Excuse me for asking but where is 300 yds ????? I can't see that far. It would have to be a lost ball.

Gilbert are you still going on about this? We'll be singing happy birthday to it soon. Let it go.

Oh dear Giblet. Take Patrick's advice and let it go! If not for yourself, then for the rest of us. PLEASE!!

"I said most golfers are capable of a 300 yd drive. ... I certainly did not include people who are not capable of hitting 300 yds" -- Patrick Bourke

I'm not sure any further discussion is necessary.

Ode to Gilby. Oh Gilby, true happiness you will not know, until you finally learn to let go I feel your pain, I empathise, though your english is hard to analyse. Turn back now, don't be that lost soul, wandering through Golfshake with your 'straw pole'

Soooo tempted to delete this thread to put us all out of our misery

Gilbert, perhaps I was being too subtle. I was pointing out the obvious contradiction in what Patrick said. To paraphrase: "Most golfers can hit a drive 300 yards so long as you don't include golfers who can't."

In other words, I am agreeing with you that Patrick's claim is nonsense. Even if I weren't I'm not sure that I really deserve to be patronised.

I think it's time to hit the delete button Chris! He's never going away on this one....

Gilby, what about the ode? I thought it was rather good. I got that lovely feeling (a bit like when I hit a 300+ yard drive) which inspired me to go on. I can make it longer if you like the style...I've just got to think of words that rhyme with psuedo intellectual, self opinionated old gimmer and t*at. Sorry, I thought I'd get that in before it gets deleted.

Rather put your foot in it with Steve there Gilby! I'd ask you just to look back at some of your posts and your quote that it is the act of a moron to criticise someone's spelling or grammar is rather hypocritical of you . You have done it before !!

Point One - I have not deleted this thread and will not unless it breaches the AUP. I understand the site rules and my role as a moderator and do not abuse it. My comment about deleting was in support of the comments made by Michael and Patrick. Just because I'm a moderator doesn't mean I'm not entitled to an opinion

Point Two - Gilbert, I have edited one of your posts as it was in breach of the AUP. I have only removed the offending section. Please take note and fair warning

Most golfers are not capable of hitting a 300 yard drive in my opinion. There are obviously some that can do it regularly and those that do it occasionally but all those that replied that they have done it are missing the point. With no wind and on the flat, I would hazard a guess that considerably less the 10 % of non pro golfers would "be capable of driving the ball 300+ yards" Just because you don't like the way a thread was set up or subsequent posts by the author, please don't lose sight of the fact that in this case he is completely correct. I don't have any statistical evidence to actually prove this but come on be real ....... Most golfers simply cannot hit the ball 300+ yards.

As you so rightly point out Tim, it was never the original message I took umbrage with, but the attitude of the messenger. His initial reply to Steve, who also supported him was patronising. I am about to embark on a cruise to sunnier climes, so perhaps this will be dead and buried when I return in a few weeks. I do hope so! Good golfing to all....

i have on occasion hit 300+, needless to say, everything has to fall into place perfectly

This seems to be getting rather stupid and personal. Should it now stop? I can see "Putters at Dawn" very soon. No-one has bothered to reply to my post as to where is 300 yards? To me it seems somewhere in Space and I bet there are many other Readers who think the same.

I agree. Even though I have been misunderstood by those intent on looking for an argument or keeping the 300 yd drivers down to as small a group as possible, let me put the record straight. Most people cannot drive 300 yds. Those who do are probably wrong and must remain with the people who cannot, will not, never have or are no longer able to hit the ball 300 yards. Let those who think they have done be told that they have 'done a Gilby'. I hope this can now enable the matter to be closed.

Right this is a little bit unscientific but I made notes of my drives today using my Golfbuddy GPS.

It isn't the height of summer now and the fairways were softish so not that much roll.

Majority of holes I used a driver were either against the wind or the wind was blowing sideways across the fairway, about 10mph I reckon, my course is a bit open in places.

Most of my normal drives are all carry with little roll and can be draw,little fade or straight.

So the figures; 1st 270yds 3rd 214yds 4th 200yds 5th 243yds 7th 204yds 9th205yds 10th 230yds 12th 250yds 13th 220yds 14th 292yds 16th 216yds 18th 200yds

the 2 longest drives were with a draw. most were on the fairway or just off. used a Titleist nxt tour ball and TM R7 driver.

Interesting variety of distances, the only drive I would have been confident of reaching 300yds if it was still summer was the 14th

I once hit a 420 yd drive in competition, on the flat but hurricane assisted at Bowood GC, does that count?

I average 250-270, and am considered quite long among those I play with. Yes I give it a good thump, but my centre of the face consistency is just nowhere near where I want it to be.

I cannot agree that there are many 300yd drivers out there. Acid test, no wind, if the tee shot was dogleg long or tiger line over water and the carry was 250yds to dry land, how many would take it on? Not I Sir, tried that and learnt the lesson.