We've launched the new forums! Read more here

NEWS The USGA Distance Insights Project

mjkladis said:
Training most definitely has helped increase distances at the Tour level.
Everyone remembers Jack's size during his younger days, that's almost every guy on the Korn Ferry tour.

The equipment has helped as well but that's from years of learning about real ball flight laws, launch monitors, and much better manufacturing.

All I've learned from this USGA report is that they aren't happy that technology and golf education/fitness has gotten much better in recent years.
Click to expand...
Name one Tour player who added significant distance from strength training that he wasn't doing previously.
 
JMB3 said:
Literally Bryson DeChambeau this past offseason?
Click to expand...
Too early to tell. We will see at the end of the season how his distance numbers compare to last year. I'm guessing it won't be much different.
 
JMB3 said:
Literally Bryson DeChambeau this past offseason?
Click to expand...
He definitely did. He will be a good case study to see if his distance gains help improve his overall performance.
 
LICC said:
Name one Tour player who added significant distance from strength training that he wasn't doing previously.
Click to expand...
They grew up training. They've been prepping for this level of play their entire lives. There is a reason that these younger guys are swinging faster. Pre-Tiger era, very little was done in terms of strength training.
 
radiman said:
They grew up training. They've been prepping for this level of play their entire lives. There is a reason that these younger guys are swinging faster. Pre-Tiger era, very little was done in terms of strength training.
Click to expand...
So you can't name any. Or explain the Champions Tour players hitting it greater distances. Or LPGA too.
 
LICC said:
So you can't name any. Or explain the Champions Tour players hitting it greater distances. Or LPGA too.
Click to expand...


**cough cough**.....Korn Ferry.....**cough cough**
 
LICC said:
So you can't name any. Or explain the Champions Tour players hitting it greater distances. Or LPGA too.
Click to expand...
Why do I have to. Look at them. They are a lot more in shape than golfers of years past. Swing faster too. Average swing speed is up. But, I suppose those hot faces are causing that too...
 
Question about players like Tiger and Phil. Did their swing speed increase after they started started strength training or did strength training help them sustain swing speed? The other part of the swing speed (and thus distance) is whether or not the equipment could play at higher swing speeds. In other words, did new equipment facilitate players to increase speed?
 
LICC said:
So you can't name any. Or explain the Champions Tour players hitting it greater distances. Or LPGA too.
Click to expand...

I mean, Scott McCarron is pretty famous for his workout regimen, which started once he hit the Champions Tour. So many of these older players have changed their bodies and claim to be in the best shape they've ever been in.
 
Canadan said:
Golf is unlike many sports though, right? In other sports, you're in top physical conditioning by the time you're in your third year, whereas in golf, guys in Couples' era were not exactly on fitness or diet regimens. For those guys, it was more about maximizing swing potential with what they had.
Click to expand...
I agree that golf is unlike most other sports, but not when it comes to driving the golf ball. Driving, especially in regards to distance, is solely an athletic achievement. Specifically regarding Couples, its important to take note that he was ranked 20th in the world in January 2000. That puts him right in the middle of the golf ball revolution when the Pro V1 was introduced and directly coincides with his rise in driving distance. You can also look at him as a person, he is in worse shape now than when he was ranked #1. He has never been a gym rat, especially considering his constant back issues. The only logical explanation you can draw is that the introduction of new equipment specifically the solid core golf ball and the improvements of that ball considerably changed his driving distances. The ball flies farther now than it ever has, the ball spins less now than it ever has, the clubs are more forgiving than they have ever been. This is incredibly good for the amateur game, but I don't think it bodes well for the pro tour which is the main draw of new golfers.
 
GoldenBuff said:
Question about players like Tiger and Phil. Did their swing speed increase after they started started strength training or did strength training help them sustain swing speed? The other part of the swing speed (and thus distance) is whether or not the equipment could play at higher swing speeds. In other words, did new equipment facilitate players to increase speed?
Click to expand...
Equipment 100% changes how you play. If you have a ball that doesn't spin the penalty for a miss-hit shot is significantly reduced. This allows you to swing harder with less fear of hitting it out of bounds, not because you are striking the ball better, but because when you do miss-hit it you are only 20 yards off the fairway instead of 50.
 
Dr. Double said:
I agree that golf is unlike most other sports, but not when it comes to driving the golf ball. Driving, especially in regards to distance is solely an athletic achievement. Specifically regarding Couples, its important to take note that he was ranked 20th in the world in January 2000. That puts him right in the middle of the golf ball revolution when the Pro V1 was introduced and directly coincides with his rise in driving distance. You can also look at him as a person, he is in worse shape now than when he was ranked #1. He has never been a gym rat, especially considering his constant back issues. The only logical explanation you can draw is that the introduction of new equipment specifically the solid core golf ball and the improvements of that ball considerably changed his driving distances. The ball flies farther now than it ever has, the ball spins less now than it ever has, the clubs are more forgiving than they have ever been. This is incredibly good for the amateur game, but I don't think it bodes well for the pro tour which is the main draw of new golfers.
Click to expand...
I think I would disagree to that assumption regarding the draw of new golfers. I don't think the game would look a lot more appealing watching guys struggle to hit the ball 280 with their driver. I think places like Top Golf and social media are drawing more people into the game than the PGA Tour is. Just a feeling I have. Could be wrong.
 
Turtlerancher said:

How Phil Mickelson Added Club Head Speed (and you can too) · Practical-Golf.com

Recently Phil Mickelson has posted huge gains in swing speed. Our article explores how he is hitting it so much farther and what you can do add swing speed.
practical-golf.com practical-golf.com

There ya go!?
Click to expand...
Nope, it was swing changes:
"Mickelson’s lower-body action has changed a lot over the years, especially when he was working with Butch Harmon, and it’s changes to his lower-body technique that have helped garner even more swing speed.

As he says below, Mickelson spent a lot of time this season working on straightening his lead leg as he comes into the ball. That straightening shifts his weight more to his back foot and allows his hips to spin more aggressively."
 
radiman said:
I think I would disagree to that assumption regarding the draw of new golfers. I don't think the game would look a lot more appealing watching guys struggle to hit the ball 280 with their driver. I think places like Top Golf and social media are drawing more people into the game than the PGA Tour is. Just a feeling I have. Could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I agree. Same in other sports. Increase scoring, HRs, TDs, 3 Pt shots, etc. Easiest way to draw in casual fans. The diehards (me included) generally don't love those changes, but I suspect it happens for a reason.
 
All the disagreement on distance... some say its equipment, some say its the ball, some say its physical fitness, some say its swing changes. But can't it be some of all of that? Aren't they all contributing factors? And if so, would it really make sense to rollback just the equipment, for example? My opinion is no.
 
LICC said:
Nope, it was swing changes:
"Mickelson’s lower-body action has changed a lot over the years, especially when he was working with Butch Harmon, and it’s changes to his lower-body technique that have helped garner even more swing speed.

As he says below, Mickelson spent a lot of time this season working on straightening his lead leg as he comes into the ball. That straightening shifts his weight more to his back foot and allows his hips to spin more aggressively."
Click to expand...
Mickelson, for his part, says this jump in swing speed isn’t due to any “secret.” It’s the result of a renewed fitness program, several months of speed training and some subtle technique changes — one of which he explained on his Instagram account during his Players Championship preparation.
Direct quote from what you read, hmmm, I see fitness program, ie strength training, listed in there. No mention of equipment. ?
 
radiman said:
Why do I have to. Look at them. They are a lot more in shape than golfers of years past. Swing faster too. Average swing speed is up. But, I suppose those hot faces are causing that too...
Click to expand...
Yes, look at them. JB Holmes, Bubba Watson, Seth Reeves, Trey Mullinax, Byeong-Hun An: all top-16 in driving distance last year.
 
GoldenBuff said:
Question about players like Tiger and Phil. Did their swing speed increase after they started started strength training or did strength training help them sustain swing speed? The other part of the swing speed (and thus distance) is whether or not the equipment could play at higher swing speeds. In other words, did new equipment facilitate players to increase speed?
Click to expand...
Good point. Tiger hit it greater distances before he did his strength training.
 
JMB3 said:
All the disagreement on distance... some say its equipment, some say its the ball, some say its physical fitness, some say its swing changes. But can't it be some of all of that? Aren't they all contributing factors? And if so, would it really make sense to rollback just the equipment, for example? My opinion is no.
Click to expand...
It is 95% the equipment.
 
LICC said:
It is 95% the equipment.
Click to expand...
Soooooo that means I can buy a 340yd drive? And Jamie Sadowski bought his 148mph swing speed?
Equipment is IMO, the smallest factor in this distance debate on the pro level. Course conditions are the driving factor, look up the data of what they have for carry vs total. I would love to have 30-50yds of roll out on my drives but, on a normal everyday course it will never happen.
 
Dr. Double said:
I agree that golf is unlike most other sports, but not when it comes to driving the golf ball. Driving, especially in regards to distance, is solely an athletic achievement. Specifically regarding Couples, its important to take note that he was ranked 20th in the world in January 2000. That puts him right in the middle of the golf ball revolution when the Pro V1 was introduced and directly coincides with his rise in driving distance. You can also look at him as a person, he is in worse shape now than when he was ranked #1. He has never been a gym rat, especially considering his constant back issues. The only logical explanation you can draw is that the introduction of new equipment specifically the solid core golf ball and the improvements of that ball considerably changed his driving distances. The ball flies farther now than it ever has, the ball spins less now than it ever has, the clubs are more forgiving than they have ever been. This is incredibly good for the amateur game, but I don't think it bodes well for the pro tour which is the main draw of new golfers.
Click to expand...
If driving distance is purely related to athletic achievement, why does the 250lb pure muscle former football player hit it shorter than lanky 6'3 dudes who spend zero time in the gym? It is SO much more than athletic achievement. Finesse, timing, execution, lag, fluidity, etc etc. There is SO much that goes into a golf swing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top