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I really want to know

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Tue, Mar 28 2017 7:57 AM

  Sorry guys this is maybe a stupid question but here goes.. I have been playing for a while and asked WGT this question several times and never get a response, just a canned statement telling me there are several varying conditions that makes up a shot. WOW.. So today, playing a game on Royal St. George, par 3, club tourney so red T's, but still 184 to the hole, zero elevation change, 10 mph tailwind. Did the calculations came up with Off the T hit 175, yes I used 3/4 Backspin. Dinged the shot. Ball traveled 177 yards. WHY???? Is it WGT manipulation??? Is it the case of VEM telling me I am playing good and need a new challenge???? I have several other friends that have encountered the same issue, I guess I am the spokesmen for them as well.. I have even seen a couple of players that stream their play shake their heads at the same issue..

  Thanks

• fairground11 1,211 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 12:34 PM

  1mph tailwind roughly equals 1 foot extra distance so a 10 mph wind should equate to about 10 feet

  with the backspin 177 yards sounds about right for a 175 hit with no elevation change

   

• K7JBQ 1,469 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 12:52 PM

  The RZN Platinum ball you're using will give very different results based on the amount of spin. You need to be so precise with the spin that, frankly, the ball is more of a pain than it's worth.

  A little more backspin, and it would be gone 165. A little less, maybe 185.

  It's why I quit playing that ball and went back to the Volviks. Not as much performance, but way more manageable.

• 11BC2 555 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 3:48 PM

  RickRR:

  184 to the hole, zero elevation change, 10 mph tailwind. Did the calculations came up with Off the T hit 175, yes I used 3/4 Backspin.

  Paired with 81 balls your 6i off the tee with full b/s would travel 175 fly.  5i off tee with full b/s would travel 189 fly.  I'd imagine that's pretty equivalent to the Nike 90's with 3/4 b/s.

  I  use Headwind = Yardage * (1+Wind/180) = .061.  Tailwind = Yardage * (Wind/-260) = .039.  So 184* (10/-260) = -7;  or 177 adjusted.  Alternatively, for tail winds, at 100y simply multiply *.4;  125y *.5;  150y *.6;  175y *.7;  200y *.8, and 225y *.9.  Headwinds would be 100y * .6;  125y *.7;  150y *.9;  175y *1.1;  200y * 1.2;  225y * 1.3.

  Keep in mind courses and holes very greatly in said yardages.  Some par 5 approaches play 15+ yards shorter than listed and that's with irons in your hands (St. Andy's come to mind).  Most holes I end up subtracting between 1-5 yards!  Minus 1 from around 90-110, Minus 3 from around 160y, and up to minus 4/5 from 225-240.  So the longer the shot the greater the reduction.  It's always worked for me.

  Cheers.

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 4:12 PM

  What yardage was the club you used rated for?

  What ball?

  Full or partial swing?

  Did the ball land on an upgrade? On the green? On the fairway?

  But basically, and like real golf, sometimes conditions change while the ball is in the air.

  I was watching the American flag next door at the post office today as it moved in the wind.

  Not only did the wind direction change quite a bit, it was pretty obvious the wind speed was quite variable too.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 4:45 PM

  RickRR:

  Sorry guys this is maybe a stupid question

  It's not a stupid question and you got some great answers, if you're into the calculations. A better way would be to know what your clubs carry and then start thinking like a golfer. If you know what a club  carries-like where it will hit the ground-you can predict what will happen from there based on the other variables like the wind, green slope, etc.

  By way of example, in your scenario, I would hit my 165 7i with a little back spin to slow the roll down after landing. I know it's going to land at 165 PLUS the wind is going to help it so I want to land short and roll up. Without spin that 7i will roll out some, especially in that wind. The minor back spin controls that rollout. If I'm short, I'm in a good spot below the hole.

  The key is knowing what you have. Pick a ball you like and stick with it. Head out to BPB back 9, get in the fairway close, hit your iron and note the yardage at the thump you hear. 3 or 4 times with each iron will get you in the right church, practice finds the right pew.  ;-)

   

• 9,041 Posts

  Wed, Mar 29 2017 11:17 PM

  11BC2:

  I  use Headwind = Yardage * (1+Wind/180) = .061.  Tailwind = Yardage * (Wind/-260) = .039.  So 184* (10/-260) = -7;  or 177 adjusted.  Alternatively, for tail winds, at 100y simply multiply *.4;  125y *.5;  150y *.6;  175y *.7;  200y *.8, and 225y *.9.  Headwinds would be 100y * .6;  125y *.7;  150y *.9;  175y *1.1;  200y * 1.2;  225y * 1.3.

  what does all that even mean..clear as mud !!

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Thu, Mar 30 2017 11:40 AM

  Thank you for your advice

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Thu, Mar 30 2017 11:50 AM

  I used a 6 iron (99%) with a Nike 90 ball.  My 6 iron is rated at 180, but off the T with no backspin the ball will travel approx. 190. If I remember correctly it did land on the green the lower terrace of the green,  just a long uphill putt.

   

  Thank you for your assistance.

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Thu, Mar 30 2017 11:57 AM

  Thank you for your advise. I have charted all my irons (both sets) using no spin, 1/2 backspin, and full backspin from both the T box and fairway.. Not much else for an old retired guy to do sometimes..   I can only assume the calculation is a little off. Looks like I am going back to church..

  Thanks