Golf : Advantage of a longer drive ?

[eldrick]

I'd be interested in some input on a question asked by a friend.

Suppose you are a golf pro & train harder ( weight-training ) & increase your maximum driving ability from 300 yards to 310 yard with same accuracy.

What theoretical advantage is this likely to offer you on the course ?

Say for instance we have a straight par-4 of 500y ( 500y from pin to hole ), with say a circular green of 50y radius with hole in the middle & the guy has increased his driving from 300y to 310y.

For some instinctive reason I think the theoretical improvement is likely to be the square root of the ratio improvement in driving ( because the hole, which is an area, of squared nature, is nearer & I get gut feeling that it's related to a squared function ) e.g.

(300/310)^0.5

Which applied to a par-4 would indicate :

3.93.

I would like some ideas on where to go, because instinct isn't a viable argument.

 

[khemist]

If you can drive it 310 instead of 300, and a bunker is at 300 yards, you will be able to go over it.

You can use a club lower than you normally would use.

With more power, one can most likely put more draw on their shot if needed.

There are plenty of reasons...

 

[turbo]

Every 10 or so yards you can get closer for your approach shot allows you to select a shorter club with more back-spin on the green. That's a big deal.

 

[khemist]

And if you hit your drive longer, you can hit every other club longer.

 

[kthayes]

If you hit a ball with a p wedge harder than you did yesterday, wouldn't the ball just go higher not longer, thus less accuracy?

 

[khemist]

It depends on the shot. I can hit a wedge 15 yards or 50 yards depending on how I swing.

I COULD make it go higher, or I could make it go a bit further.

 

[kthayes]

then where is the advantage of a longer shot? if it just depends on your swing/shot?

 

[khemist]

then where is the advantage of a longer shot? if it just depends on your swing/shot?

Well if I am 50 yards out, and I can only hit my wedge 40 yards, it means i have to use a 9 iron, where i won't get the same backspin, so it might roll off the green.

if i can hit my wedge 50 yards, i can get better backspin for the same distance, and not have it roll off.

And one is able to avoid/ go over obstacles that previously one would have to lay up on.

A longer shot means you can hit it further (obviously), higher, and with more spin.

There are some cases though where I might be 40 yards out, but I need to hit it low to get under trees, so I might use a 7 iron and just punch it low. it does really depend on the shot, the course, and the conditions on the course.

 

[kthayes]

point taken...what about putting...just kidding, thanx

 

[khemist]

lol there was actually a guy who used his putter for everything, including driving. don't remember his name though...

 

[eldrick]

This is all very nice chat, but I'm not any closer to an answer.

Forget bunkers, lakes & Bill Murray's gopher ( ! )

I'm just thinking how driving 310 instead of 300 subtends a bigger angle of shot to a straight-ahead 4.25" diameter hole on a 500y straight hole & increased chance of beating par-4 :

The hole appears "bigger"

Actually, now, thinking about it a lot more, it may not be such a hard problem, but I'd like some sober input

 

[turbo]

Hard question to address, eldrick without knowing your skill level and your propensity to slice or pull shots when trying to drive that last few extra yards.

I was never very consistent with the driver (though I had good moments), but I could manage 200+ yards with the roll with a 5-iron. I'd place the ball back in my stance to de-loft the club and swing normally. I was a LOT more accurate with that iron, and that was a big deal. Putting the ball where you want it in the fairway for your approach is pretty important. Yeah, I could often be much longer with the driver or 3-wood or a longer iron, but it doesn't take too much of an off-target shot to put you in the rough, and cost you an extra stroke or two to compensate.

5-iron was kind of the sweet spot for me. I studied with two guys (co-worker and a friend) who could have turned pro, and they both had the same advice. Use the longest club that you have confidence in and never sacrifice accuracy for a few yards of distance. After about a year, I could shoot pretty reliable Bogey golf, and that's not bad for a newbie who is short and has a bad back.

Getting close is really important if you are a pro. Staying out of trouble is far more important if you are an amateur who wants to improve your score.

 

[turbo]

BTW, as pros manage to drive longer and longer, course designers move trees, bunker, traps, etc to negate the extra length and make the course more technical.

 

[eldrick]

I'm still not being offered an answer to the question proferred

I 'd like some refuatations to simple 3.93 suggested