Determining the distance you hit each club in your bag should not be a guess or done by comparing to your buddy. Every month I look at the What’s in the Bag article in Golf Digest and see a PGA Tour Pro featured. They always list carry distance for each club in the bag. I can guarantee they can relay these carry distances off the tip of their tongues.
Why is then that the average golfer struggles to know how far they hit each club in their bag?
1. The assumption that there is 10 yards of distance between each iron in their set. This is rarely exactly the case.
2. Very few players have actually measured the distances they hit their clubs. Why it’s so important to use a GPS or range finder to determine the exact distance to the pin or front of the green, but not know exactly how far you hit your clubs is really a head scratcher.
3. Until recently there has not been an easy accurate way to measure this accurately.
4. Most players go by their best ever shot to determine what iron to use, grossly over-estimating how far they hit the ball. That is why so many PGA pros say they would recommend the average player use more club into the green.
5. Carry distance and total distance are not determined. Carry distance is more important, but most players rely on total distance, because that’s what they see when they get to the green.
6. It takes too long to do this outside with a range finder or by walking it off.
We are starting a Club-Gapping program at Totally Driven. This is how we are going to do it:
1. Use an accurate Launch Monitor. In this case we chose the Foresight Golf GC2, because many industry experts have told us this is the most accurate indoor launch monitor, and it has club gapping software built into it.
GC2 Software
2. Do the Club-Gapping in a controlled environment. Outdoors is not controlled, as elevation and wind come into play. Setting up the Launch Monitor for no wind and a level shot allows for accurate numbers.
3. Use the golf ball you use on the course to measure. Using range balls at a driving range is not going to give you accurate numbers. These balls spin and launch differently than the balls you play and many of them are in poor condition.
4. Measure carry distance. This is difficult to do outside. Many years ago the PGA Pro would have their caddy out in a field so they could measure where the ball landed.
5. Take a good statistical representation of each club. We do ours in an hour and ask that the player hit at least 5 and preferably 10 shots with each club. NOTE: It’s best to measure every club, as it’s quite common to have loft variances between clubs.
What to do with the results?
1. Know and use the carry distance for each club. How far the ball rolls out is important, but that is more variable and is effected by tilt of the green, wind direction, hardness of the green and elevation changes. Carry distance is effected by elevation and wind direction, but not tilt of the green or hardness of the green. Knowing what club you need to carry a trap or hit to land in the middle of the green is much more reliable and should be more pertinent to your golf game.
2. If your gaps are too close together or too far apart, consult your local Professional Club-fitter for a loft/lie assessment and/or to look at your set make-up.
3. Determine how wind effects your shots when outside. Rule of thumb has been for every 10 MPH of wind (when into the wind) you need one more club. Is that accurate for you? How about downwind and sidewind?
4. Are you playing the right golf ball? Again, consult your PGA Professional or Club-fitter if you are unsure if the ball you are playing is best for you.
5. Use the information, don’t rely on what your playing partner is hitting. Check your ego at the door. It’s more important to hit the right club, not to hit a seven iron because everyone else is. The bottom line is shooting the lowest score possible and if you’re not hitting the correct club for the distance, you are only hurting yourself.
Andy Thompson,
Totally Driven
651-578-0501
