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Club distances

• tguerr16 33 Posts

  Wed, Feb 3 2016 4:11 PM

  If I pick a club that says 150 yards does that mean it's going to go 150 yards (assuming perfect conditions) then roll another 10 or so or is it telling me in perfect conditions it's going to be a 150 yards total from the time I hit the ball to the time it comes to a stop?

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Wed, Feb 3 2016 8:52 PM

  It varies. Depends what it lands on really. Trial and error is good.

• alosso 21,088 Posts

  Wed, Feb 3 2016 9:05 PM

  +1 Courteney.

  tguerr16:

  in perfect conditions it's going to be a 150 yards total from the time I hit the ball to the time it comes to a stop

  This, in general, for custom clubs. Use a tad of backspin to avoid excess roll on greens.

  Your Starters shoot very low, thus the trajectory is more disturbed by obstacles like water, bunker and elevation.

• hakman123 2,119 Posts

  Wed, Feb 3 2016 9:35 PM

  Given that you can buy balls that have different "distance" ratings, I'm sure you would be disappointed if you paid for the best balls to give the maximum distance (distance rating = 5.5) - and they went the exact same distance as the cheap balls (distance rating = 0).

  So the quality of your equipment combines with the backspin you apply to the ball - to give a distance profile for each club (excluding wind and assuming you hit the DING).

  The 150 yds you see the club rated at is only a guide. It's up to you to work out how far it goes with varying (wind, spin, power, and how close to the Ding you hit). Some people deliberately miss the Ding slightly into the wind to control the shape of the shot better.

  Take your clubs and ball out onto Congressional for a practice round, and hit the ball up and down Fairway #1 to get some distances dialled in.

  Good Luck & Happy Hacking

  Neil (The Hakman)

   

   

• tguerr16 33 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 6:25 AM

  Thanks for the tips...I'm noticing a +/- 5-7 yard distance in carry distance depending on wind/position etc.  Gonna go and play a practice round at Congressional and spend a good amount of time on Fairway #1!

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 10:35 AM

  tguerr16:

  If I pick a club that says 150 yards does that mean it's going to go 150 yards (assuming perfect conditions) then roll another 10 or so or is it telling me in perfect conditions it's going to be a 150 yards total from the time I hit the ball to the time it comes to a stop?

  Neither.

  There are no 'perfect conditions'.

  The published distance is an approximation. As mentioned which make/model ball you are using will effect the distance as will WGT's patented VEM (Virtual Equipment Model)

  How far a shot flies in the air and how far it will roll will vary even if you nail the Ding! (Excellent) on 20 shots with that club from the same spot on a course with the same ball, aim point, and no wind.

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 10:45 AM

  tguerr16:

  If I pick a club that says 150 yards does that mean it's going to go 150 yards

  Don't bother with that part, learn where it actually lands initially. This is the carry of the club and that's the number you need to know so you can plan what happens after it lands. Regardless of the clubs you have, this number is always going to let you manage a course effectively.

  Take hakman's good advice and when you do, hit the ball and then watch the yardage counter and listen for that thump on landing. That's how you'll get to know the critical numbers. Then your golf smarts take over because when you know where the ball is going to land you can figure how it will continue.

• hakman123 2,119 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 4:14 PM

  YankeeJim:

  learn where it actually lands initially. This is the carry of the club and that's the number you need to know so you can plan what happens after it lands.

  Yes - excellent point.   Pointless just knowing where the ball will finish if there is a bunker or water between you and the pin.  And this is the reason we all like the "High" trajectory clubs - they give the maximum carry to get over hazards, and have the shortest roll-out distances making them easier to control, and less subject to green slopes and roll distance variability.

• AndreasHelke 676 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 5:11 PM

  tguerr16:

  If I pick a club that says 150 yards does that mean it's going to go 150 yards (assuming perfect conditions) then roll another 10 or so or is it telling me in perfect conditions it's going to be a 150 yards total from the time I hit the ball to the time it comes to a stop?

  This is total distance including roll.

  But the spin 0.x clubs WGT saddles beginners with have very little relationship to the good clubs you can buy with enough experience points. If you have a short or mid iron with spin 4.5 or a wedge with spin 3 the ball rolls very little or not at all after landing. Unfortunately you need to collect experience points for 2 or more years before you get enough to buy a spin 4.5 iron set.

  If the ball lands on an uneven surface the ball usually ends up a lot longer or a bit shorter than its nominal length. Especially on St. Andrews a bounce on such a surface can easily lead to 50 or even 120 yard of extra length.

• MARKDMK 231 Posts

  Thu, Feb 4 2016 5:14 PM

  It will go 150yds if there is no tailwind or head wind, on a flat (no slope), when it hits regular fairway not some trampoline like spots, and all club distances are for dimplesless ball, the one you get for free from wgt.