trying to figure out golf

[indyfob2008]

i grew up playing (or trying to play) several different sports, including baseball and tennis. I understand what "kinetic chain" means and using your hips and core muscles to hit with max power. Does that background knowledge help in learning how to swing a golf club properly? Been trying to figure out for years how to hit a golf club, yet still struggling.

 

[optic yellow]

Yes it's the same core source of power, you just need to adjust for the differences in swing plane. Super common for baseball players to have a ton of distance but be prone to hitting low hooks because they are used to swinging more around themselves. Focus on the key points of takeback and drop into the slot.

 

[Bartelby]

A serve is a drive, a fairway shot is a baseline rally, a bunker shot is a lob, and a putt is a volley. Inside every tennis player, there is a golfer trying to get out ... as Nadal demonstrates.

 

[Larry Duff]

Not a sport

 

[Bartelby]

Golf is at the Olympics and chess is not.

 

[happyandbob]

i grew up playing (or trying to play) several different sports, including baseball and tennis. I understand what "kinetic chain" means and using your hips and core muscles to hit with max power. Does that background knowledge help in learning how to swing a golf club properly? Been trying to figure out for years how to hit a golf club, yet still struggling.

What problem are you having?

Making solid contact? Slice? Hook? Hitting fat? Topping the ball?

 

[indyfob2008]

Yes it's the same core source of power, you just need to adjust for the differences in swing plane. Super common for baseball players to have a ton of distance but be prone to hitting low hooks because they are used to swinging more around themselves. Focus on the key points of takeback and drop into the slot.

thanks. I think that's a pretty accurate diagnosis of my problem. The difference in swing plane is probably the big hurdle for me right now, (along with consistency).

 

[indyfob2008]

(delete)

 

[indyfob2008]

What problem are you having?

Making solid contact? Slice? Hook? Hitting fat? Topping the ball?

all of the above. Depends on the day. after spending some time watching videos of my swing, I think I need to work on setting my club at the top, w/o taking too big a backswing, and working on the downswing (coming from the inside more consistently).

 

[indyfob2008]

(delete)

 

[happyandbob]

all of the above. Depends on the day. after spending some time watching videos of my swing, I think I need to work on setting my club at the top, w/o taking too big a backswing, and working on the downswing (coming from the inside more consistently).

Coming outside in usually is a symptom. Try to see where your left wrist is at the top of your backswing. If your left wrist is cupped (in extension), your swing will naturally want to cast down at the ball (outside in). Try to have your wrist be slightly curled in (flexion), it will make it easier to swing inside out.

A lot of people think they slice the ball, when really they're leaving the clubface open at impact and pushing the ball. Your clubface should be a little closed at address because at impact your body won't be in the same position as address. Your hips will fire before your upper body, so your clubface with your hips turned toward the target more than your shoulders will be slightly open.

If you have good hand-eye coordination, then topping comes from two causes -- you're lifting up at impact (head or legs) but very common that you're using too much right hand and trying to push the club through impact with your right instead of pulling it through with your left. Hitting fat means you're aiming for the back of the ball instead of the front of the ball (you want to bottom your club under the front edge of the ball not the back edge of the ball).

Hang in there, it can be a frustrating game

 

[ollinger]

I know lots of people who figured out tennis on their own and play quite well, have yet to find someone who figured out golf without plenty of lessons.

 

[travlerajm]

I know lots of people who figured out tennis on their own and play quite well, have yet to find someone who figured out golf without plenty of lessons.

My father, a phd rocket scientist by trade, self-taught his way to a an 8 handicap.

He was fascinated with the technical aspects of scoring well in golf, and didn’t care what his swing looked like. He had a stiff looking swing without much wrist, and didn’t have much length off the tee and didn’t hit his irons that far, but somehow he figured out how to hit a golf ball very straight with no slice or hook. And he practiced his chips in the back yard religiously until he was ridiculously good in the short game. He was one of those guys that always seemed to overperform in tournaments and get accused of sandbagging.

 

[optic yellow]

My father, a phd rocket scientist by trade, self-taught his way to a an 8 handicap.

He was fascinated with the technical aspects of scoring well in golf, and didn’t care what his swing looked like. He had a stiff looking swing without much wrist, and didn’t have much length off the tee and didn’t hit his irons that far, but somehow he figured out how to hit a golf ball very straight with no slice or hook. And he practiced his chips in the back yard religiously until he was ridiculously good in the short game. He was one of those guys that always seemed to overperform in tournaments and get accused of sandbagging.

7I + 7I + 7I + 2 putt = ez par

 

[tennis3]

Yes it's the same core source of power, you just need to adjust for the differences in swing plane. Super common for baseball players to have a ton of distance but be prone to hitting low hooks because they are used to swinging more around themselves. Focus on the key points of takeback and drop into the slot.

If you have a baseball background, I'd use a 1-Plane swing. So called "baseball off the ground". It's usually easier to learn for a casual, rec golfer.

 

[travlerajm]

I haven’t really golfed much since I was 14 years old (when my dad took our family on a golf vacation).

My golf swing was the diametrical opposite of my dad’s. I could reliably bomb my tee shots 300 yards, but had to aim 20 degrees left of the fairway because my stroke pushed the ball off to the right at 20 degree angle.

I had a lot of confidence in my lengthy bombs with draw with my 9 iron and pitching wedge.

I preferred not to keep track of my score.

 

[tennis3]

I haven’t really golfed much since I was 14 years old (when my dad took our family on a golf vacation).

My golf swing was the diametrical opposite of my dad’s. I could reliably bomb my tee shots 300 yards,

That's amazing even for today, not to mention doing this in circa 1985 - 1990. Back then the PGA Tour average was only 262 yard. Today it's only 295.

How Driving Distance has Changed Over the Past 40 years on the PGA Tour

PGA Tour players are driving the ball farther than ever. Check out the average distances over the last 40 years.

www.pga.com

 

[sureshs]

Golf is far more difficult than tennis. The hitting surface area/ball cross section area ratio is much smaller. Only pool has a smaller ratio than that.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

i grew up playing (or trying to play) several different sports, including baseball and tennis. I understand what "kinetic chain" means and using your hips and core muscles to hit with max power. Does that background knowledge help in learning how to swing a golf club properly? Been trying to figure out for years how to hit a golf club, yet still struggling.

To swing a club well, take all your natural inclinations - and do the opposite. I'm a 2 hdcp. and was an asst. club pro at one time. I think Jim Venetos on youtube teaches the easiest way to play well and hit solid shots.

 

[happyandbob]

That's amazing even for today, not to mention doing this in circa 1990. Back then the PGA Tour average was only 262 yard. Today it's only 295.

How Driving Distance has Changed Over the Past 40 years on the PGA Tour

PGA Tour players are driving the ball farther than ever. Check out the average distances over the last 40 years.

www.pga.com

Tour players are rarely hitting max effort drives in tournaments. When I was in HS, a group of us baseball pitchers used to go to the driving range together. Most of us threw 75+ mph fastballs and we could all bomb drives. The back fence was about 300 yards, we could all regularly hit drives over that fence on the fly.

 

[travlerajm]

That's amazing even for today, not to mention doing this in circa 1985 - 1990. Back then the PGA Tour average was only 262 yard. Today it's only 295.

How Driving Distance has Changed Over the Past 40 years on the PGA Tour

PGA Tour players are driving the ball farther than ever. Check out the average distances over the last 40 years.

www.pga.com

I could hit it far. But I spent a lot of time in the woods looking for my ball. Preferred courses without trees so that I could hit my second shot from nice clean lie on the next fairway over, or even 2 fairways over.

 

[tennis3]

The back fence was about 300 yards, we could all regularly hit drives over that fence on the fly.

I'm just assuming you're not being serious (and meme-ing "Uncle Rico" in you avatar?).

This guy "only" carried the ball 308, so he'd have trouble getting it over a fence that is 300 yards away. (Just skip to 2:10 to see him hit the driver). And he's using current clubs and balls. Not stuff from the 80's or early 90's.

To carry a 300 yard fence, you'd need a swing speed in excess of 120 mph (and get everything else right too).

How far you can actually hit your driver

This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015! For 22 years I have taught golf full time, and the one thing that has NEVER changed is the unrealistic expectations golfers have of how far they think they can drive the ball with their current swing speed. When I ask...

www.golfwrx.com

For 22 years I have taught golf full time, and the one thing that has NEVER changed is the unrealistic expectations golfers have of how far they think they can drive the ball with their current swing speed.

When I ask students how far they carry the ball and what their average total distance is, the answer is usually grossly inaccurate and overstated 99 percent of the time. It has taken technology such as Trackman and FlightScope, the most popular Doppler Radar systems, to help people truly understand how far they can hit their drives.

 

[optic yellow]

7I + 7I + 7I + 2 putt = ez par

It's such a boring way to play golf though let's be real. Only truly useful when you need a moment of self-affirmation or for trolling dumbasses overly obsessed by power.

 

[optic yellow]

Golf is far more difficult than tennis. The hitting surface area/ball cross section area ratio is much smaller. Only pool has a smaller ratio than that.

Except when the ratio goes too far the other way it makes it easy again.

 

[tennis3]

7I + 7I + 7I + 2 putt = ez par

It's such a boring way to play golf though let's be real.

Just so I understand you correctly, you're saying that you could get an "ez par" on most / all holes just by playing conservative (so you'd be a scratch golfer), but that wouldn't be any fun. Instead you choose to take unnessary risk and shoot a (much) higher score? And that this is more fun?

 

[ollinger]

Golf is far more difficult than tennis. The hitting surface area/ball cross section area ratio is much smaller. Only pool has a smaller ratio than that.

deviate a few degrees in either direction and you are, literally and figuratively, in the weeds......or water

 

[sureshs]

deviate a few degrees in either direction and you are, literally and figuratively, in the weeds......or water

or sand bunkers

 

[optic yellow]

Just so I understand you correctly, you're saying that you could get an "ez par" on most / all holes just by playing conservative (so you'd be a scratch golfer), but that wouldn't be any fun. Instead you choose to take unnessary risk and shoot a (much) higher score? And that this is more fun?

Yeah because golf is a recreational activity so playing like a ***** min-maxing for your safe middle management job is boring.

 

[tennis3]

Yeah because golf is a recreational activity so playing like a ***** min-maxing for your safe middle management job is boring.

I just wanted to see if you'd double down on your claim.

 

[optic yellow]

I just wanted to see if you'd double down on your claim.

I will take it you consider that not doubling down

 

[Grafil Injection]

I'm just assuming you're not being serious (and meme-ing "Uncle Rico" in you avatar?).

This guy "only" carried the ball 308, so he'd have trouble getting it over a fence that is 300 yards away. (Just skip to 2:10 to see him hit the driver). And he's using current clubs and balls. Not stuff from the 80's or early 90's.

To carry a 300 yard fence, you'd need a swing speed in excess of 120 mph (and get everything else right too).

How far you can actually hit your driver

This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015! For 22 years I have taught golf full time, and the one thing that has NEVER changed is the unrealistic expectations golfers have of how far they think they can drive the ball with their current swing speed. When I ask...

www.golfwrx.com

For 22 years I have taught golf full time, and the one thing that has NEVER changed is the unrealistic expectations golfers have of how far they think they can drive the ball with their current swing speed.

When I ask students how far they carry the ball and what their average total distance is, the answer is usually grossly inaccurate and overstated 99 percent of the time. It has taken technology such as Trackman and FlightScope, the most popular Doppler Radar systems, to help people truly understand how far they can hit their drives.

Correct. Driving distances are quoted with the run on the ground too, so if someone carries a fence 300 yds away, they would be hitting around 340yds total, which no one did in the 1980s, not even top Pros. The club and ball technology wasn't there. Top Pros like Faldo and Norman were carrying about 240yds with their drivers for around 270yds total. If they got it out to 300yds total, it would be downhill or with a helpful wind. It would be very impressive to carry 250yds in the 1980s.

 

[optic yellow]

Correct. Driving distances are quoted with the run on the ground too, so if someone carries a fence 300 yds away, they would be hitting around 340yds total, which no one did in the 1980s, not even top Pros. The club and ball technology wasn't there. Top Pros like Faldo and Norman were carrying about 240yds with their drivers for around 270yds total. If they got it out to 300yds total, it would be downhill or with a helpful wind. It would be very impressive to carry 250yds in the 1980s.

As far as I understand it a big reason Jack Nicklaus dominated in that era was because he was able to reach 300yds regularly on his drives when most of his closest skill competitors weren't capable of anything close. I'll let the actually old people here confirm that one for me though

 

[Grafil Injection]

As far as I understand it a big reason Jack Nicklaus dominated in that era was because he was able to reach 300yds regularly on his drives when most of his closest skill competitors weren't capable of anything close. I'll let the actually old people here confirm that one for me though

Average 276yds. Which means about 250yds carry.

 

[optic yellow]

Average 276yds. Which means about 250yds carry.

Interesting. Is that because he couldn't or because he chose not to? His average is still pretty much near the top of the tour.

 

[optic yellow]

I haven’t really golfed much since I was 14 years old (when my dad took our family on a golf vacation).

My golf swing was the diametrical opposite of my dad’s. I could reliably bomb my tee shots 300 yards, but had to aim 20 degrees left of the fairway because my stroke pushed the ball off to the right at 20 degree angle.

I had a lot of confidence in my lengthy bombs with draw with my 9 iron and pitching wedge.

I preferred not to keep track of my score.

classic

 

[Grafil Injection]

Interesting. Is that because he couldn't or because he chose not to? His average is still pretty much near the top of the tour.

In the 1970s and 80s, drivers were actual woods (mainly persimmon) and then steel headed, with steel shafts and of smaller size. Additionally, the golf ball construction and dimple patterns weren't so technologically advanced, so the maximum distance achievable was at least 20% lower than today with equal length equipment. This was not a problem however, as courses were shorter too.

Over the last 30 years with carbon shafted and heads in drivers, larger heads, and in particular the improved aerodynamics and construction of the ball, courses have had to be lengthened with the average drive of all Pros rising from about 250yds in the 80s to 300yds today. As I mentioned above that is the total distance which is typically 90% carry and 10% run. The necessity to lengthen courses over the last twenty years has now led to the rules being changed so the ball compression has to be lower to reduce distances, which I believe comes in next year.

With his average of 276yds, similar to other big hitters like Greg Norman, Nicklaus would certainly have hit some shots over 300yds when you include run which tour averages do. Especially on fast links fairways in favourable weather conditions. But to carry a ball 300yds through the air is quite an achievement even today.

 

[optic yellow]

In the 1970s and 80s, drivers were actual woods (mainly persimmon) and then steel headed, with steel shafts and of smaller size. Additionally, the golf ball construction and dimple patterns weren't so technologically advanced, so the maximum distance achievable was at least 20% lower than today with equal length equipment. This was not a problem however, as courses were shorter too.

Over the last 30 years with carbon shafted and heads in drivers, larger heads, and in particular the improved aerodynamics and construction of the ball, courses have had to be lengthened with the average drive of all Pros rising from about 250yds in the 80s to 300yds today. As I mentioned above that is the total distance which is typically 90% carry and 10% run. The necessity to lengthen courses over the last twenty years has now led to the rules being changed so the ball compression has to be lower to reduce distances, which I believe comes in next year.

With his average of 276yds, similar to other big hitters like Greg Norman, Nicklaus would certainly have hit some shots over 300yds when you include run which tour averages do. Especially on fast links fairways in favourable weather conditions. But to carry a ball 300yds through the air is quite an achievement even today.

Yes I was viewing 270 carry ~300 roll for Nicklaus mirroring the 300 carry ~330 roll you see with top drivers today, but I guess that is more favorable conditions and him getting after it than the norm.

 

[dannyslicer]

I know lots of people who figured out tennis on their own and play quite well, have yet to find someone who figured out golf without plenty of lessons.

Funny, the exact opposite is the reality I've seen

 

[dannyslicer]

 

[Sentinel]

Golf is far more difficult than tennis. The hitting surface area/ball cross section area ratio is much smaller. Only pool has a smaller ratio than that.

You don't have to use a 125" racket, bud.

You should use a Wilson T2000.

 

[happyandbob]

Correct. Driving distances are quoted with the run on the ground too, so if someone carries a fence 300 yds away, they would be hitting around 340yds total, which no one did in the 1980s, not even top Pros. The club and ball technology wasn't there. Top Pros like Faldo and Norman were carrying about 240yds with their drivers for around 270yds total. If they got it out to 300yds total, it would be downhill or with a helpful wind. It would be very impressive to carry 250yds in the 1980s.

Tour average drive distances are not a good barometer for what’s possible. Those are only calculated for drives that end up in the fairway. Average drive distances are effectively based on rally balls.

That’s like saying no pro tennis player can hit a 100+ mph forehand because the average forehand is in the 75 mph range.

Plenty of people could hit the ball 300 yards in the air, especially when the Big Bertha came out. They didn’t necessarily know where it was going, but physically it was possible.

This guy is getting 254 yards of carry with a 25 year old club and he’s not swinging max effort at all.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Tour average drive distances are not a good barometer for what’s possible. Those are only calculated for drives that end up in the fairway. Average drive distances are effectively based on rally balls.

That’s like saying no pro tennis player can hit a 100+ mph forehand because the average forehand is in the 75 mph range.

Plenty of people could hit the ball 300 yards in the air, especially when the Big Bertha came out. They didn’t necessarily know where it was going, but physically it was possible.

This guy is getting 254 yards of carry with a 25 year old club and he’s not swinging max effort at all.

The big change in tech occurred at the end of the 80s through the 90s, first with Titanium then Carbon drivers, and the Pro V1 ball. In the 1970s and 1980s driving figures were about 10-20% lower than that as persimmon and small steel-heads were the norm. The stats are out there and clear. The vlogs comparing late 90s and current drives are correct, because by the end of the 90s the Titanium and carbon crown drivers were quite similar to today's with 460cc heads, but in the 80s they were more like 330cc.

No, I don't think 'plenty of people could carry 300yds' back then, because hardly anyone can even do that today. Carrying 300yds means running out to 330-340yds. I could do that with a 7 iron, if I was aiming 100 yds downhill with a tail wind on a bone dry links course, but on the flat in still conditions, no. Not even most top tour Pros can do that today at 100% effort. Big hitters like McIlroy or Ram can carry about 300yds in normal conditions, rolling out to 340yds on the flat, but they are the top 0.0000001% of golfers, not 'most people'. When you see bigger drives than that on tour there is usually an elevation change of favourable the wind conditions, or you are looking at 'long drive competitions', where longer than legal drivers are allowed.

Tour driving statistics are for Par 4 and 5s, where Pros are swinging around 85-90%, which is they max they can do whilst still maintaining control. They are not hitting 'rally balls', which would be more like a 50-60% shot which no one ever does in golf, because you just use a shorter club at 85% if you want a shorter distance, as shorter clubs give you more control. No one ever hits a driver (or 3-wood) at much less than 80%, they would just take a 5-wood or long iron.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Here are the historical Tour Driving Distance Leaders since 1980. These are the top of the Professionals' ranks. I estimated carry as 90% of total distance. You can see the figures were fairly stable through the 80s around 260yds carry, then saw large increases as I mention above towards the end of the 90s to about 280yds carry, with the club and ball improvements. This has continued to increase steadily to average about 290yds carry for the leading player in recent years. Note, this is the top of the charts for the Pro Tour. The average professional golfer would carry about 15yds less (275yds) and the shortest Pros about 30yds less still today (260yds). Even factoring in that this includes some 3w drives, there are few Pros today that regularly carry 300yds with their driver, let alone in the 1980s. That would be like serving at 140mph. Possible, but not something that many players could do.

Leading Tour Average	Carry Estimate
1981: Dan Pohl, 280.1	255yds
1982: Bill Calfee, 275.3
1983: John McComish, 277.3
1984: Bill Glasson, 276.5
1985: Andy Bean, 278.2
1986: Davis Love III, 285.7	260yds
1987: John McComish, 283.9
1988: Steve Thomas, 284.6
1989: Ed Humenik, 280.9
1990: Tom Purtzer, 279.6
1991: John Daly, 288.9	265yds
1992: John Daly, 283.4
1993: John Daly, 288.9
1994: Davis Love III, 283.8
1995: John Daly, 289	265yds
1996: John Daly, 288.8
1997: John Daly, 302
1998: John Daly, 299.4
1999: John Daly, 305.6	270yds
2000: John Daly, 301.4
2001: John Daly, 306.7
2002: John Daly, 306.8	275yds
2003: Hank Kuehne, 321.4	290yds
2004: Hank Kuehne, 314.4
2005: Scott Hend, 318.9
2006: Bubba Watson, 319.6	290yds
2007: Bubba Watson, 315.2
2008: Bubba Watson, 315.1
2009: Robert Garrigus – 312
2010: Robert Garrigus, 315.5
2011: J.B Holmes, 318.4	290yds
2012: Bubba Watson, 315.5
2013: Luke List, 306.3
2014: Bubba Watson, 314.3
2015: Dustin Johnson, 317.7	290yds
2016: J.B Holmes, 314.5
2017: Rory McIlroy, 317.2
2018: Rory McIlroy, 319.7
2019: Cameron Champ, 317.9	290yds

 

[happyandbob]

The big change in tech occurred at the end of the 80s through the 90s, first with Titanium then Carbon drivers, and the Pro V1 ball. In the 1970s and 1980s driving figures were about 10-20% lower than that as persimmon and small steel-heads were the norm. The stats are out there and clear. The vlogs comparing late 90s and current drives are correct, because by the end of the 90s the Titanium and carbon crown drivers were quite similar to today's with 460cc heads, but in the 80s they were more like 330cc.

No, I don't think 'plenty of people could carry 300yds' back then, because hardly anyone can even do that today. Carrying 300yds means running out to 330-340yds. I could do that with a 7 iron, if I was aiming 100 yds downhill with a tail wind on a bone dry links course, but on the flat in still conditions, no. Not even most top tour Pros can do that today at 100% effort. Big hitters like McIlroy or Ram can carry about 300yds in normal conditions, rolling out to 340yds on the flat, but they are the top 0.0000001% of golfers, not 'most people'. When you see bigger drives than that on tour there is usually an elevation change of favourable the wind conditions, or you are looking at 'long drive competitions', where longer than legal drivers are allowed.

Tour driving statistics are for Par 4 and 5s, where Pros are swinging around 85-90%, which is they max they can do whilst still maintaining control. They are not hitting 'rally balls', which would be more like a 50-60% shot which no one ever does in golf, because you just use a shorter club at 85% if you want a shorter distance, as shorter clubs give you more control. No one ever hits a driver (or 3-wood) at much less than 80%, they would just take a 5-wood or long iron.

Tour pros are not swinging at 85-90% in tournaments. Take a look at Bryson Dechambeau swinging at this long drive competition:

Tell me you ever saw him swing at 90% of that in any tournament. He has no idea where the ball is going off the tee, but he's hitting it 400+ yards. Tour pros are never swinging it at more than 75% of max effort in tournaments, because they need to be hitting fairways.

Dechambeau CAN hit the ball well over 400 yards, but his tour average driving distance is 310-320 yards. If it was a linear relationship, you might infer that he's swinging 80% effort on the tour (320/400), but since wind resistance increases exponentially with velocity the reality is that he's actually swinging considerably less than 80% max effort in tournaments.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Long driving tournaments allow longer drivers than those that are legal on tour and nothing like those available in the 1980s, which were shorter still (around 43.5' Vs 48' long driving tournaments)

If you think the original commenter could regularly carry a 300yd fence in the 1980s, that's great. It would be about 40yds longer than Jack Nicklaus could carry and 60yds longer than Nick Faldo ever could carry. I highly doubt it, but it is feasible if he was extremely strong and talented.

 

[happyandbob]

Long driving tournaments allow longer drivers than those that are legal on tour and nothing like those available in the 1980s, which were shorter still (around 43.5' Vs 48' long driving tournaments)

If you think the original commenter could regularly carry a 300yd fence in the 1980s, that's great. It would be about 40yds longer than Jack Nicklaus could carry and 60yds longer than Nick Faldo ever could carry. I highly doubt it, but it is feasible if he was extremely strong and talented.

I'm not saying everyone can do it. I'm just pointing out that using average driving distances is not a good barometer for how far a strong athletic guy can hit a golf ball if they don't need it to land in a narrow fairway. Jack Nicklaus at max effort could easily carry 330 yards using the equipment of his day, because he was never swinging at more than 75% in any tournement. He couldn't afford the uncertainty of where the ball was going to land. Nick Faldo's game was so controlled he probably never swung the club at more than 60% of true max effort in any tournament.

Guys were winning long drive contests in the 1970s hitting 350 yards with persimmon heads and regular shafts. Once the Big Bertha came out, it changed the game completely and yeah, there were guys swinging out of their shoes trying to hit golf balls over fences.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I'm not saying everyone can do it, or that the OP can do it. I'm just pointing out that using average driving distances is not a good barometer for how far a strong athletic guy can hit a golf ball if they don't need it to land in a narrow fairway.

Guys were winning long drive contests in the 1970s hitting 350 yards with persimmon heads and regular shafts. Once the Big Bertha came out, it changed the game completely.

Right, but commenter was saying it was a normal thing. In fact if you look at most driving ranges today they are only 275yds long, and that includes run out. Virtually no amateurs could carry 275yds with normal golf swing and equipment, let alone 300yds, in the 80s. Since laser range finders didn't exist in the 1980s, I suspect the fence was not 300yds.

 

[dannyslicer]

Complete and total delusion in this thread

 

[tennis3]

..

 

[tennis3]

These are swing speeds needed for distances using modern equipment. I'd suggest that greater swing speeds would have been needed to achieve the same distances with older equipment.

To carry a 300 fence (how tall?) today, you'd probably need 130 MPH swing speed. If we assume 15% more is needed with older equipment, a 150 MPH swing speed would be necessary. And that 150 MPH swing speed would have to be "pretty perfect" to impart that power to the ball.

Jack Nicklaus at max effort could easily carry 330 yards using the equipment of his day,

To carry 330 yards (not hit over a fence at that distance) would probably have needed a swing speed of (140 * 1.15) 160 MPH. The fastest swing speed ever recorded is 169.6 by Seb Twaddell, who is 6' 6". I don't know his weight, but I'd assume around 240 lbs.