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Average Drive Distance below even LPGA marks

• Curtis818 24 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 10:16 AM

  I know things have been said regarding the improvement of driving distance. While it is possible to get those long drives every once in a while with hitting it on the screws and a good tailwind, the average driving distance for a round is less than LPGA averages.

  I think that upping the average drive to 250-260 with starter clubs would be more realistic. At least for Pros and Masters who have exceptionally longer holes than Average and Hacks.

  If you want wind to be a factor in drives, I think having a drive go 225-230 yards into a strong headwind would be reasonable. It also should not be out of the question for someone to hit a drive 300 yards with a tailwind.

  The average drive distance for a round for me is generally around 220-230 yards. That would be good enough for dead last even on the LPGA.

• marioh 1,055 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 10:33 AM

  Once again, it's a tradeoff between accuracy and distance.

   

  How many PGA and LPGA players have 90% driving accuracy?   I'll tell you how many, ZERO.

   

  The last time WGT released a much more sensitive swing meter that substantially decreased accuracy, there was a near riot on these forums.

• tibbets 1,043 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 10:51 AM

  True Marioh, but not being able to reach 410yd par 4's in 2 shots with certain wind conditions is dumb.  So is never being able to putt for Eagle. Last time I checked, the pros do that all the time, sometimes on Par 4's even.  The only way you get Eagles in this game is a luck hole-out.  It's comical that they even have an award for a Double-Eagle, since in the history of the game there has only been one, and that was back when things were far different here.  How many rounds does that counter of the homepage say have been played so far?  Over 14 million?

• marioh 1,055 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 11:06 AM

  I've only had 1 putt for eagle in all of my games here, which I subsequently shanked, lol.

  It would be nice if the drives went further, but it would need to be offset with less driving accuracy.   And then we'll end up with threads like this one where people are complaining they can't hit the fairway without hitting it perfect on the swing meter (we already see those threads when it comes to putting).

• tibbets 1,043 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 11:09 AM

  I don't think it has to be offset at all.  Adding 20-30 yds to our distances doesn't improve someones ability to putt, chip, or pitch.  It merely gives those who execute well the chance.  Right now we don't even have that.

  It's a video game, scores are going to be lower, stats better, etc.  You offset some of that by changing conditions and flag positions, not blindfolding and hog-tying the player.

• nivlac 2,188 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 11:11 AM

  I suppose it could go either way.  Having longer driving distance might actually make a few holes play tougher, especially doglegs where the proper distance off the tee is paramount.  #6 on Bethpage immediately springs to mind.

  I'd like to see a small decrease in overall accuracy, but it would have to be accompanied by slightly more distance as well as the near complete taming of the beast.

• Curtis818 24 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 11:12 AM

  Just to be clear, I'm not complaining, just trying to offer up some suggestions because this is the forum for it. I happened to notice some of those numbers and felt like a comparison would be valid. I have no troubles playing the game. My average score is at 70.1 but that is likely as good as I will get it. If the accuracy dropped 20% while distance increased 20%, I think most people would be happy with that trade off.

  On hole #5 of The Ocean Course, with a headwind of 18 mph, I hit my drive at full power on the screws and the drive went 198 yards. I would like to see some changes that would allow more dynamic gameplay.

  Short game and putting is still necessary to do well. I just don't think that your short game and putting should need to be perfect in order to hit a round at Even par on Bethpage.

• marioh 1,055 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 12:12 PM

  I agree with what you're saying Tibbs with everything besides the driving accuracy.

  And I agree it is ridiculous that there are certain Par 4's where it's impossible to get a GIR (even with the best clubs offered in the game).

• mosherkl 110 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 2:28 PM

  The increased accuracy sensitivity they released a few months ago didn't NOT correspond with any increase in distances. That was the reason I rioted. :-)

  Putting, I think, has the accuracy thing pretty much spot on. Give the driver the highest sensitivity and slightly decrease it as you move down to your wedges (pros take 3 woods off the tee for better accuracy all the time) and increase club distances by 20-30 yards and I think you'd have a very similar balance as now, but with long drive complainers somewhat satisfied.

• southsideduc 22 Posts

  Tue, Jun 30 2009 7:42 PM

  I'm in the minority not bothered by the drive distances.  It makes the game more challenging and, as long as every player has the same limitations, I don't have an issue.