Driver distance?

[TeachingPro]

I wonder if I can get some input? I have some idea of what the answer is but I'd like to get some 'outside agency' advice too.

I have a student who really plays SO well with irons and fairway woods but just can't get any distance from his driver and it's proventing him to scoring to his true ability. Really, this guy is a potential scracth player but his inability to get drives out there another 20/30m is stopping him. From 150m in, he's as good as anybody!

I've put his swing on V1 software and everything looks great, good turn, nice hold on the release and good through the ball. But, his driver only goes 210m or so - as far as his 3-wood.

My quesiton is: given he hits PW 110m and a 6-iron 155m, 3-wood 200/210, what do you think his driver distance could / should be?

His swing speed is around 88-95mph and his average swing path is a around 1 degree inside with square/1-degree closed club face.

[Mizunoman]

Re: Driver distance?

My first thought would be that he isnt using the right driver. 85-95 mph clubhead speed isnt the stuff from which 300 yard drives are made. But if he's knocking the 3 wood about 230 he's doing ok. I would hope to see at least 265-270 out of the driver from him. I think i hit my 4 wood about 250 and my 6 wood about 230 (its a seven head with a five shaft i just call it a six) and my driver is about 285 average ranging from 265-300 depending on my creaking bones. I think my clubhead speed is about 105 or thereabouts I know my ball speed off the 3 wood is about 150mph. and I hit the three about the same as the four maybe a few yards more (its a strong 4). So he needs to generate a little more clubhead speed with the driver. Now his three wood goes well enough so maybe check what type of shaft is on it. I would suggest lightening the shaft on the driver to maybe a 60 gram shaft. And maybe lightening the flex (a callaway system 60 firm maybe?) Try him with one of the smaller headed titanium drivers as well, lightening the club further. I assume you dont want to make any changes to the swing since he is solid everywhere else? The only change I would suggest is trying to widen his arc a little with the driver to generate a bit more leverage and trying to get him to pull the hips through a little faster. But those changes can take months to get right, I should know...I did it a few seasons ago.

I wouldn't let him get too fixated on distance as the be all and end all. I know a guy who never moves the ball any further than 240-250 yards who plays quite easily to 4 or 5 and is similarly short with the rest of the clubs, but if your student is ok with the irons he should be able to better that.

Good Luck.

[LowPost42]

Re: Driver distance?

I would think +20m beyond his 3w would do.

I've changed my swing to a more upright swing, and have lost 25 yds with my driver, but my swing used to be a 4 knuckles strong left hand grip - giving me crazy distance with no accuracy (280-300 yd drives)... it looks like a good LD swing, actually.

I would say that if his driver isn't any longer than his 3w, drop the big dog, and add a wedge!

[gord962]

Re: Driver distance?

I have a few points to add.

1 - with a slow swing speed, your student is probably not getting the optimal launch angle on the ball. As you know, the launch angle should be able 15*. The driver should be about 10 - 13* for slower swingers.

2 - shaft stiffness - once again with the swing speed, it sounds like your student should be swinging a regular or maybe even a senior flex shaft.

3 - club head - the driver could be 'spent' and has nothing left in it. Have you hit this club yourself? I have had drivers that have just went dead and there was nothing else to do but replace it.

4 - re: lowpost's suggestion on dropping the driver - not a bad idea. Add another inch onto the shaft which will add about 10 -20 yards. Obviously your student hits the 3W well and the 3W will produce a optimum launch angle (typical 3W is 15*).

[TeachingPro]

Re: Driver distance?

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I think he should be hitting a driver around 235/240m. I know his swing speed is on the low side but he always stays in control and ALWAYS hits the fairway. He averages 12 or 13 fairways with his 3-wood. His swing is as good as I've seen.

He currently plays off a 2 and a seriously good 2 as well. Where he struggles is the long par 4's, say 380-400m. Given he hits a 3 wood 210, he's left an almighty distance left. Currently he plays the smart way, he takes a club to hit short of the green and any trouble around there and takes hit 64 degree wedge and chips and putts!

If he could hit 2 clubs less on par 4's, I'd put money on that he'd make 3 or 4 birdies a round and get under scratch.

Thanks guys for the assurance! I love this forum.

[Mr_Change]

Re: Driver distance?

His distance sound very close to mine, 110metre for pw, 155 for 6 iron, 210 for my 3 wood. I usally am getting 245, with my driver.