two questions: about distance and clubs

[kpkpkp]

Hi,

I have two questions I'm not clear on.

-The first is the distance to height ratio. When I am hitting onto a green that is 40 FEET below me, how many YARDS does that roughly add in distance?

-The second is about clubs. When in the pro shop, what is the difference between 'beginner' 'intermediate' and 'pro' clubs?

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: two questions: about distance and clubs

Pins below you will decrease distance. For pins above you, add distance. Normally a good rule of thumb is 20 feet of elevation adds or subtracts one club. For instance if the approach is normally in the range of a 7 iron and you have a pin that is 40 feet below you I would go down to a 9 iron all other things being equal.

[jkeefeholmes]

Re: two questions: about distance and clubs

Yes I agree that answer makes sense. There are exceptions sometimes that you have to watch for. Like #7 at Pebble, I think its #7. After your drive, that hill in front of you is almost at a right angle, its so steep, so the elevation is deceptive. I still hit the same club I would without the elevation and it works out. The slope of elevation can come into the figuring, though generally, the rule of thumb stated here works pretty well.

[Antec]

Re: two questions: about distance and clubs

Hi,
-The second is about clubs. When in the pro shop, what is the difference between 'beginner' 'intermediate' and 'pro' clubs?

I didn't buy Tiger 11, but in Tiger 10 the difference (besides obviously that the intermediate and pro go further) was that they are harder to hit due to less of a sweet spot. You need to be even straighter back and forth with each group. The beginner clubs give you more leeway to mess up.

[kpkpkp]

Re: two questions: about distance and clubs

Thanks for the replies guys.


So the intermediate and pro clubs will go further, but require a more straight joystick swing, and have a slightly smaller sweetspot. Im clear on that.



Im still confused about how much distance height adds.... But I've been going with this general formula:

On Torrey Pines 3rd hole, you are hitting onto a green 40 FT below you. (its a par 3)

After playing the hole a couple times, I determined the 40FT drop seemed to be adding about 30 YDS to my "carry distance." So I stepped down 2 Irons as to avoid over hitting the green.

(Obviously you need to take into consideration the ball bouncing a little further than the carry distance which is where it will first bounce.)

Its almost like on PRO skill level, you should take the height in FT and add 3/4 of that number to the distance in YDS.

IE;

Target 20FT below me, the ball will carry and extra 15YDS.

Target 20FT above me, the ball will carry less by 15YDS.


Anyways; thats what Ive been going with, it seem to be working. Wind is another factor as well of course.



What have you guys been noticing with height/distance ratios?