Friday, July 30, 2010

Where Will Your Distance Come From?

- Audio version at the end of this post –

This is a great question and one that is asked of me many times in this form or other variations such as how can I hit it farther or longer.  Length is certainly an important part of playing golf even if one only plays par 3 courses.  We all certainly would love to hit it longer.  Longer drives means having second shots with less club to hit to the green, which increases our odds of hitting more greens.  Then there are many of us who had good length at one time and have seen it diminish with injuries or with us growing older and slower.   But never fear, the answer is here and I hold it in my hand.  It is an advertising insert in the February 5th issue of Golfweek Magazine.

The title of the ad is the title of this article, “Where Will Your Distance Come From.”  This is an advertisement for a major club manufacturer’s new 2010 drivers.  Yes, that is plural, and they have two models.  The twist for this ad campaign is that they are comparing one VS with the other.   The copy is written to describe each club’s characteristics to help you determine which one is best for you.  Based on the hyperbole (Webster’s defines this as exaggeration for effect, not meant to be taken literally) is this really “HyperBULL?”  These drivers are out of this world and making a decision on which one to buy needs the Wisdom of Solomon.  Here’s the ad. See if you can make up your mind which one to buy.

Where Will Your Distance Come From?
The 2010 —— SuperFast increases clubhead speed and delivers massive distance.  Powered by lighter, longer components, and a massive 460cc head with advanced aerodynamics, the 2010 —— SuperFast is built to ignite clubhead speed.  Distance comes from speed.
VS
The 2010 —-SuperTri is the only 460cc head with total adjust-ability.  You choose the ideal loft, lie, face angle and CG location.  With up to 75 yards of L/R adjust-ability, the 2010 – SurerTri puts ultimate control and power in your hands.  Distance comes through optimization.

Note: CG Location is Center of Gravity and L/R adjust-ability is left/Right adjust-ability of up to 75 yards.   If one needs to slice or hook a ball 75 yards you have hit the ball close to off the planet.

WOW…I am having trouble breathing as reading the descriptions of the speed and power of these massive drivers has sucked the air out of my office and has created a vacuum.  These drivers sound like space age rocket equipment.  Heck, the SuperFast one sounds like it may even be a reduced size version of the rocket engines for launching the space shuttles.  The SuperTri gives us the idea that maybe in fact this is a golf club because it does say that “it puts ultimate control and power in your hands.”  After all, we all know that WE have to swing the clubs, as they do not swing themselves as these adds somewhat imply.

But what about the issue of DISTANCE that both drivers claim to produce from different sources.  Does distance come from speed?  Or, does distance come through optimization?  Or does it come from a combination of both?  If distance comes from just one of them, then we don’t need both.  And if does come from a combination of both, than why did they make two?  They should have combined all the features into one really “SUPERDUAL” Driver.

To answer the question “Where Will Your Distance Come From” is simply that it comes from you swinging your clubs faster and hitting the ball more solid and straighter.  Golfers can only swing longer length and bigger headed clubs longer if they can swing them faster and hit them as solid and straight as shorter and smaller headed clubs.  I think it is obvious, as common sense alone tells us that any longer and bigger headed club needs more effort, energy and strength to swing faster and controlled to hit it as solid and straight as shorter and smaller.  Why? Because clubs do not have feet or wings or motors to help us add power and speed.  Swinging them is all 100 percent provided by us, the golfer.

So, when you can’t swing longer shafted, bigger headed clubs faster and with the same control and hit it as solid and straight as shorter shafted and smaller head clubs, you LOSE distance.  Add to that you also hit it more crooked and thus shorter and into more trouble.  Add to that longer shafts and bigger heads need more effort and energy to swing.  And you are the only source of that energy and we do not have an infinite source of energy to play each round.  When your energy is running low before the end of the round, swinging these behemoth drivers becomes more difficult and hitting them poorly becomes more likely.  All this is counter productive to playing better golf, hitting better shots and shooting lower scores.

Read the ads and enjoy the Hyperbole.  Don’t let the HyperBull con you into buying drivers that are not fit for you.  And if the HyperBull is pulling you like a magnet to your golf shop or super store to buy it, first call or stop by a certified club fitter’s shop.  Get measured to see if your body specs match those of the Super Driver.  I guarantee that for the vast majority of us they don’t size up.  They way OVERSIZE for us.

The Surge!

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  • Frank Sullivan
    Hi Don Its Frank here from Ontario I have been working on your PPGS swing since early dec and I finally got out to the practice range to verify the effect of the swing and I must say I have never in my life hit the ball more consistently as I have this week. And that says a lot as I have played to a 6hdcp years ago and as I am 78 in may I can hardly wait to get some of my money back from the guy,s I play with every week.
    Thanks again for your PPGS swing.
    Sully
  • Thomas, Warrington UK
    To Bruce/UK
    I am more than happy to show you

    I am not a good golfer, I struggle to get under 90 most times. Chipping is a nightmare for me, putting is not much better
    however since I first picked up a club at the age of 15 I've always been able to hit the ball miles, it just doesn't seem to make much difference which type of wood I use.

    I can consistantly hit a long ball, not always straight though!! which means playing out of the rough on a regular basis.

    Funny enough the best round I've ever had I didn't use my woods at all, just stuck to the irons all the way round and scored an 84, which was 4 below my handicap. Lesson to be learnt there me thinks!.


    Physically I am a strong player, something to do with playing rugby for 25 years might have something to do with it, and at 6ft 4" I have a long and fast swing.

    I tend to pull my head up a bit fast which usually results in the ball going right, when I approach a 4 par dog leg right I usually get close to the green with my natuaral shot.

    regards
    Thomas
  • Trevor/Australia
    Hi Don,
    I recently upgraded my clubs but did some research on the head weighjts, club angles etc before buying..
    I discovered that the average 460cc Driver has a head weight of around 212 grams.
    Now the vaerage 3 wood has a head weight (you guessed it) of around 212 grams!

    Now reverting back to my old school physics (around 55 years ago) if the mass is the same and the velocity at impact is the same the energy impacted must be the same. So the only difference between the clubs is essentilly the slope of the face. Typically 9.5 to 10.5 degrees for the driver and around 15 degrees for the 3 wood.OK I accept that the shaft of the 3 wood will be slightly shorter so the club head speed at impact will be a shade less but the above explains why Tiger can hit a 3 wood 290 yards and we less proficient players should not be afraid to substitute the 3 wood for the driver when it means staying on the fairway.
  • Robert Crewse
    I have finally started breaking into the 90's. new clubs all around new Driver nike dymo cleveland cg gold irons and new putter. Problem is I STILL slice some of my drives big time, center of fairway then big time exit stage right. I dont need to add yards just want to hit it straight!
  • Charles Rankin
    Surge: While in my local golf shop the other day there sat a "New" $400.00 driver. It was one with the changeable head! The shaft said stiff so I asked my friend in the shop to check it on his swing meter. The first time he tried the head wobbled so badly that he could not get a read. After turning the head 1/4 turn he got a reading of regular? The conclusion is that when you move the shaft, you change the whole swing dynamic of the shaft and don't have a clue what you have. It's just another gimmick for the manufacturers to sell clubs!

    I have come to realize that the shafts put in by the big companies are usually nowhere close to what they should be in flex and are certainly not pured for maximum efficiency.

    Many thanks,
    Charles
  • Bruce/UK
    To Thomas from Warrington UK.
    In your dreams you do chum!
  • Thomas, Warrington UK
    I've tried many drivers, however I am still hitting my cheap (£3, yes £3 dunlop driver from sports world) 3 wood around 320 - 340 yards consistantly.

    I am always weary of these "new" expensive drivers. However I would love to try out something expenisive tha promises extra distance.

    I am sure I could drive many short par 4's 350 - 370 yards(I often drive them now with a bit of run on the ball)

    Recently drove a par 4 340yard hole with my 3 wood and finished 8 ft from the pin, £ putted though, :-( !!!

    all the best
  • Mat Waters
    I am struggling hugely with certain elements of the PPGS. Although I have improved by 5-12 strokes per round, I am still hitting dreadful scores, with my best ever being 107!!

    What I struggle to grasp is the swing up to a T finish. I struggle to visualise what that means and I know not doing it is causing me to hit fat a lot. When I connect I am getting fantastic distance, although were it actually goes is anybodies guess! I reckon that I am hitting about 35 – 40% of balls straight, sometimes with good distance, sometimes not!

    I am totally obsessed with this game and would really like to start getting better, so I’m not embarrassed to play with my peers!

    Please help!

    (Attempting to) stay vertical!
  • Craig63
    I need to see a clubfitter to check me out with the suitability of the shafts in my clubs. I'm 6' 3" and 105 kg (in Aus we can think in both metric and imperial systems) and I think the shaft in my Launcher is too long for me. There's a guy in outer Sydney (Killarney) who made the KZG top club builders list last year, the same list that Lynn Griffin made, who may be worthwhile seeing. I might also ask him if he can build me a 355 cc headed driver similar to what Lynn was offering although the postage cost from the US was a killer for me.

    I also noticed VJ at the Honda using a more vertical swing than usual, also has Camillo always had a 3/4 backswing?

    Regards, Craig S
  • Steve Hutton
    I am having trouble with my driver. It is going all over the place...high balls to the right and duck hooks that start ducking around 100 out. I notice that my backswing is fast and I do not turn and
    start down suddenly. I am smoother with other clubs.
  • Ronnie McCurry
    I am going to quit playing golf because I can't chip and putt. I know how, just can't do it. During the wet weather I thought I had the PPGS down pat hitting off mats. J Griffen informed me that mats always gave a good lie. That was true. The weather warmed up and I played golf 2 days in a row. Every shot was chunked or high and weak right. I have had enough.
  • Steven Brown
    The Surge,

    I am a 56 year old, I have used a swing with your principles for most of my golfing life.. I hit the ball reasonably long with a very straight trajectory with all irons, but for the life of me I have always had real trouble with chipping the ball between 20 to 50 yards from the green could you please give some helpful practice hints to improve this part of the game..

    Thankfully yours

    Steven Brown

    Australia
  • JOHN JUNGERS
    I NEED A SCRINK WHEN COMES TO THE LONG PAR 3's I BLOCK OR DUCK HOOK,
    ANY THING CAN HAPPEN AND 90% BAD BAD I'M A 9 HANDYCAPER SO THE REST
    OF THE GAME WORKS I'M LOOSING ABOUT 4 STROKS EACH ROUND
    CAN YOU FIX MY HEAD HAVE A GOOD DAY JOHN
  • larry conroy
    Surge,
    I spoke with a golf rep at a local store about getting new grips. I finally asked about possibly having my driver shortened. He asked me how much I said an inch. He said that was a lot, and they would have to load up on lead tape for weight? shortening it would mess up the weight. I have a Cobra ls speed driver from 2005/2006. Is this correct?
    Thanks
    larry
  • If you believe the adverts then Johnnie Walker Red Label is the best blended whisky in the World! Most golfers would be better off if they stopped buying into the latest driver craze. Their money would be better spent on more lessons, and their time spent on practice and a bit of flexibility training.
    Mick Euan Tait
  • Norman
    Can anyone tell me how critical ball position is? I read Golf My Way by Jack Niclaus....He seems to advocate placing the ball very close to the instep of the front foot. I was hitting the ball quite well at that forwards location ..even wedges....and I had a pro today tell me ball should be about 2 ball widths [3inches ]further back in my stance. I really struggled doing that. Is ball postion a preference thing or am I wrong placing it far forward? Should I gradually adjust it by moving it back a millimeter each day? I hit a lot of balls over 1 bucket per day ..........Im a 90s golfer on white tees.
  • DAH! So which one should I buy?
  • Frank in Sacramento
    Clubmakers have all gone to new model clubs yearly just like cars. To me most changes year from year are cosmetic. And this years 2010 design could have been the 2006 design and visa-versa. There was a time when all the Golf Magazine reviews for clubs and balls was done with an 'Iron Bryon' or some other consistent mechanical hitting machine. But now the HOT LIST and ratings come from the subjective opinion of a panel of amateur golfers with varying handicaps. Why the change? Because if all were tested with a mechanical hitter there would be very minute differencse from any of the clubs, regardless of the year or maker. And the revenue for the Golf Magazines isn't from your subscriptions its from advertising, and if true mechanical testing didn't back up the advertiser's claims the magazine would be out of business.

    Just last week I played 18 with a guy that I know that was amazed with his new hi-tech $989 clubs. He is now hitting a 7 iron where with his old clubs he need a 5 iron for the same distance. He is 71 and I think that was also the year he bought his old Northwesterns and the grooves were almost gone, his is a frugal guy. I told him he was hitting almost a 5 iron but with the new lofts its branded a 7. We later measured them, his new 7 iron had a 33 degree loft and his old 5 iron had a 31 degree loft. So basically he was hitting close to a 5 iron, but at a more controllable 7 iron length. Smoke and mirrors.
  • Robert Meade
    JT, If you,ve been following the"Surge"you know he and many of us agree with you that straight is great. Yes 240 down the middle is better than 290 in the woods.
    Lou,
    Being a fit and muscular 52 year old I commend you on your fittness routine. However you are right that it doesn't equate to distance. Are you practicing this verticle PPG Swing? That's a first step. Did you get DJs driver video?
    One thought that helps me is- MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MOST OF YOUR power and SPEED at bottom and through impact, not from top where it is wasted. You want that"woosh!" At and past impactm
    Down the middle,
    Robert
  • Robert,
    Very well put. If think that is something that everyone can take a simple little test and get a very good idea of what they are working towards accomplishing. It's easy. Take your driver, flip it upside down and swing it... listening for where the "whoosh" is. With the grip end in place of the clubhead, it's a little easier to really "hear it". When you can move that sounds to "in front" of the ball, you start to "get it" right away.
    Dean
  • D. Battles
    I just completed the videos for the PPGS, which I bought. Here's the deal. Just before I saw my first video, I was given the chance to get the Driver video with DJ for $1 now and then $27 in 30 days, totaling $28. Since I hadn't watched my first video yet, I didn't know if I would be interested. Now the videos are over, I'm interested, and the price is now $67. Not very classy, Don. Speaking of shady advertising, that's what this was. I loved the series and would have jumped at the opportunity when I had a little knowledge or experience. Why ask me to jump before I have even tried anything? When does a responsible person jump at something like that?
  • Brent
    Picked up on the PPGS swing on Jan. 1 2010. Bad weather kept my progress in check. Finally I can report on my progress using this swing, which is a very easy swing.

    I started golfing at age 47, bad back but not anything super serious, and took lessons from a vertical swing teacher about six months in.and played OK for a beginner my first year. I struggled last year (my second) on many fronts but did break 80 once on a pretty easy course. But it wasn't good overall for my second season playing golf IMO because I had lots of terrible rounds.

    Six buckets of balls and six rounds of golf later, using PPGS, I'm striking the ball much better than I have since, well, since ever. Perhaps there was a week or two after I took lessons a couple of years ago that I was hitting the ball better, but there's no denying that this swing works for me. I am a total convert and the best part is that people that I play with are noticing. My short game is a little out-of-whack right now because I haven't quite figured out the PPGS pitch/chip 100% but it's coming. Just got back from the range and wow I was absolutely on fire. Hit maybe 10 bad shots out of 150. Maybe. The best part was hitting every single club well, even my problem club the driver. Then I hit 5 and 3 wood shots of the tee and just crushed them. My last 10 balls or so were 56 degree wedge shots hit to 100 yards and every single shot would have been on the green. Just wanted to add something positive here. Oh, and I turned another friend on to this swing yesterday and he's excited as can be.
  • Tom Daugherty
    YEA FOR SURGE! I recently was watching the Golf channel and couldn't believe the info commercial where they are now putting Nitrogen into the golf club head with a super thin head face so the club will indent because we don't have enough club head speed to make the ball indent. Next it will be Helium and then what? The Golf channel must be hurting real bad for sponsorships to put that on the air. Last month a gasoline company was bragging about putting Nitrogen into gasoline for cleaner burning. Did someone forget to tell them that Nitrogen is an inert gas? Before that, it was suggested that we put Nitrogen into car tires at $40 dollars a tire. My club speed has dramatically increased because I am hitting the ball with faster arms, not higher octane. I was out last weekend with my pro coach and he couldn't believe how well I was hitting my driver. Let's get the gimmicks out of golf and go back to the fundamentals!
  • Gentlemen: When I ordered information on the PPGS swing, i was supposed to receive some special instructions on hitting the driver. I hit my driver straight, hitting 10-12 fariways per round, but need more distance. As I have gotten older, I still have good flexibility, but have lost about 20 yards. Thanks and best regards,
    Frank C.
  • JT
    Titleist did a study in which they showed that if a driver is hit 1 inch off of center you will lose between 15 - 20% of your distance. If a driver is increased 3 inches you will only gain between 5 to 10 yards and that is if you hit it in the sweet spot every time. This proves the point to me at least that a shorter more controllable driver is far superior than a longer shaft. Anyone else agree?
  • PGA
    Don, In watching the Haney Project with Ray Romano, Hank made two statements about your topic matter. First, he said speed equals distance. Second, he mentioned Ray had a swing speed to be a 3 handicap. I had never heard anyone categorize a handicap with swing speed. Any thoughts?
  • Alden Bryan
    Thank you for your articles and comments. Enjoyed watching D.J. finish yesterday. ATB
  • rob
    i figure with all the claims every year of these new drivers being 10-20 yds farther off the tee than my current driver and considering i've bought a few in the last 10 yrs i should be hitting the ball about 450 yds right now.
  • John B
    Some of you guys just are not good with jokes. The joke was, instead of saying hyperbole, he said hyper BULL. Read the post - the audio was not as effective.
  • Bruce Kelso
    After 25 years in the golf business, I've observed two basic tendancies among golfers: 1) Most folks would rather gripe about their golf game than go to the range or putting green and practice; and 2) As long as folks think they can buy a game, i.e. the newest driver, manufacturers will continue to sell clubs.

    Here's some radical advice: 1) Obtain some good, sound theory like PPGS, go to the range and practice. IT WORKS! If it isn't working for you, it isn't the system, it is your understanding of the system, its components and their application. Ask more questions; 2) Watch yourself in a mirror and or reflection of a window; 3) Do the drills, i.e. butt against the wall drill; and go to the range and practice. Repeat 1-3.

    I'm just sayin...
  • Bruce Kelso,

    If this site had an award for "best, well thought out comments"... yours today would be very close to the top of the list.

    Well put. I'm just sayin...
  • Mike M
    I didn't get to see DJ on the TV and was excited for him after the first day. He still finished well and in the money, which is the point. I did see a number of Vijay's swings and noticed what appeared to be a more upright and high finish similar to the 'T'. I will have to look a little closer next time.

    Long and Straight.
  • Ron
    Hello Lou, good question. I can tell you by personal experience that all things considered, muscle alone is not going to make you hit it longer than less fit people.

    Three years ago I hired a personal trainer at the gym. After a six month grueling exercise program I developed muscles I had not seen on me for at least 20 years( I am 38 years old) and everyone of my friends and club members were amazed at my new found body.

    To my surprise, the much smaller guys that were outdriving me before my body makeover, were still outdriving me after I became the Hulk.

    It is all about technique and how well you deliver the clubhead to the ball.
  • joe from Glasgow
    Hi Surge

    I have recently bought some iphone golf apps all pretty generic, every thought of developing an app?

    All the best

    Joe
  • Please, people, stop nit-picking the articles!! Those of us that follow this site and it's contents understand what Surge is talking about. It is unnecessary to isolate the mis-use of a word or sentence, i.e. hy-per-bow-lee! As mentioned, Surge is imparting useful information to us on a 'daily' basis, and I for one am extremely grateful. I could care less as to the proper usage of language as I am more interested in learning!

    Give it a break, read the articles, learn something useful, or not. Then move on. There will be a new one tomorrow, to which we eagerly await.

    Harry T
  • Nils A
    Hyperbole is a Greek word, pronounced correctly by Surge.
    The suggestion by Keith is a typical American deformation of an original language.
  • stan
    Finally, finally someone (you) tells it like it really is. Its' all about the person making the swing and implementing the proper swing mechanics based on your methodology. thanks for taking all the jibber jabber and unnecessary mechanics swing thoughts out of the golf swing and simplifying it.
  • lou
    I am a senior player who is lean with average build and probably stronger overall (due to weight training) than a lot of the bigger guys and long hitters that I play against. However, they usually out-drive me by about 50-60 yards. Is this due mainly to inferior club "speed"? Along with this, how much does muscle-mass factor in to distance with other things being equal?
  • Jim Rous
    Hey Surge,
    In 1957 I took the then popular Elmer Wheeler Sales training course.
    We were taught to give the customer a choice between two items or two sized. The customer then focuses on either this or that, and forgets that he can buy or not buy! End result of course is simply more sales and profit for the company. This two driver choice is designed to sell more of that company's drivers, while the customer is forgetting the competitive alternatives out there!
  • Dale Hixson
    I will go Keith One better Surge. If he and everyone else is so bent on looking for every little thing to criticize instead of realizing that you are a golfer not an english professor, I will offer to proofread and help with recordings BEFORE you put them out....Let's see that should hold up your responses by at least 5 to 7 days before you can post them.......Maybe they will quit their b*^&%ing if they have to wait for new articles to come out?????????? No I don't think so. There will always be those who are more interested in showing off than in just realizing that we all know what you mean and go on. Sorry just had to say it.
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