crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls. Afterwards, Bobby. Patty Tavatanakit is the whole package. The golf ball goes so far, Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world that financially can afford to make the changes that they have to make to keep up with the golf ball. But with equipment overall, and relative to distance, I'm not so sure. Just bring that down to the normal level. Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. With the driver, he observed a 25-30 yard difference on well-struck shots. Typically, higher lofts will translate into higher ball-flights. He was never featured on Golf Digests Instagram account at age 16 because Instagram wasnt created until Nicklaus was 70. Wondering who leads the PGA Tour in drive distance, consecutive cuts, scoring average, or putts per hole? [quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1302780024' post='3152485'] Over the last three days, Tavatanakit has looked incredibly poised, calm and confident. Nicklaus, at 276 yards, was 4.5 percent longer than the average. There have been other changes to the game as well more advanced balls and more physically fit players none of which have effects that are simple to quantify, but a change in drivers seems the most directly related. Thats way more accurate than most amateurs, even when theyre hitting it as far as theyre hitting it. [size=5] Patrons were literally walking across the fairway when the ball rolled past them. Xander Schaffele (+1800) is the other favorite to watch. His hands were so high he seemed taller than he was. For the season, Nicklaus won $316,911. Since 1980, play from the tee box has changed drastically in professional golf. There's no question in my mind that the touring pro has benefitted far more from the advances in clubs and particularly in balls than average joe has. I did everything I can to keep it a little bit calmer, because I know I'm getting excited. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. [/quote] Jack Nicklaus "never 3 putted or missed a putt inside 5 feet on the last hole of a tournament" and we never drive less than 300 yards. Nicklaus has been arguing for golf's governing bodies to roll back the distance of the golf ball since the 1970s. So how much ish, could an in-his-prime Nicklaus have earned as a brand ambassador in the 2020s? Smash Factor is ball speed divided by club speed. Its worth wondering if Nicklausknowing not just that he could make millions with his play, but that hed also sign lucrative endorsement deals upon turning promight have left Ohio State early had he been in the Class of 2021, not 1961. I was shocked at Jack's height, definitely below 6 feet. The book came out in 1974.. don't know about the average distances.. wasn't born yet. I recall a few drives from Nicklaus pushing the 300yd range. [/quote] In the end, nobody cares if you placed the ball 3 feet from the hole with a 6 iron or a 9 iron. Jack Nicklaus speaks at a press conference at the Masters. Here is how far male PGA Tour professionals hit their clubs in average. [/quote] A bigger part of that, however, is because Nicklaus was one of the best amateurs of all time. Someone with a copy of the book handy could give you the entire breakdown. [size="5"]6- iron: 155-170 yards[/size] The data is based on the average taken from over 26 million shots hit from golfers from scratch level to a 25 index. RELATED: Jack at 80: 'I've still got a lot of things I want to do'. Or you can do it yourself. Now that they have clear findings obtained from century of collecting data & its impact on all levelsfrom golf played at highest level to recreational golfI look forward to supporting industrys collaborative effort to find solutions that are in best interest of games future. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. But if you're leading by five or six and if you don't pull it off tomorrow, just don't feel that good. I don't think he's fat in those photos. Im dead serious.. I used to follow the two of them at Doral and Inverrary every year. a player who ranks 10th in driving distance and 50th in driving accuracy would have a total driving number of 60). 1979-80 Nicklaus 1980-81 Nicklaus 1981-82 Nicklaus 1982-83 Nicklaus 1983-84 Nicklaus 1984-85 Nicklaus 1985-86 Nicklaus 1986-87 Nicklaus 1987-88 Nicklaus 1988-89 Nicklaus 1989-90 Nicklaus 1990-91 Nicklaus 1991-92 Nicklaus 1992-93 Nicklaus 1993-94 Nicklaus 1994-95 Nicklaus 1995-96 Nicklaus 1996-97 Nicklaus . Jack in a relative way was probably as long as Tiger is/was. Definitely one of, if not the longest out there. He shared his thoughts in 2016 when asked about the possibility of adding length to the 13th hole at Augusta National. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. By Only two players since 2000 have replicated that feat: Tiger Woods in 2000 and Henrik Stenson in 2015. Forty years ago, the TOUR started compiling reliable data to calculate this metric. Weiskopf drove it past Jack and outplayed him all day, but Jack holed out three times during the final round. Its a thought experiment supported by the limited data available. that balls do benefit the tour player more. Add his remarkable 1980 ball-striking achievement to the lengthy list. The latest news & stories from PGA Amateur Programs. . We went to the expert to find out exactly what that means. As Nicklaus states, the ball has played a large role. crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls Home About Shop Blog Search. The only tee shots weve seen him hit at Augusta National are of the ceremonial variety. that balls do benefit the tour player more. [/b] Weiskopf was definitely longer during the '70s. There's no question in my mind that the touring pro has benefitted far more from the advances in clubs and particularly in balls than average joe has. [size=5]Sand wedge: Up to 100 yards[/size]. But his performance off the tee was an even greater statistical anomaly. I remember one year -- probably 1978 -- the Doral third round had just started when rain fell heavily. Seventeen straight PGA TOUR seasons with a win, tied with Arnold Palmer for most all-time. 1 in the world. He didn't seem as strong as the photos earlier in this thread. [quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1302780024' post='3152485'] There, nestled between David Peoples and Nicloas Thompson, youll find the name Jack Nicklaus, ranking No. The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. Youre sitting on your couch on a Sunday afternoon, scrolling through Twitter during a break in Golf Channels coverage of that weeks PGA Tour event. You cannot paste images directly. He didn't play regularly and was close to 40 by the time I saw him at Doral in the late '70s. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. The potent combination of Instagram, wall-to-wall TV coverage and the Internet has turned junior and amateur golfers into niche celebrities. I can remember watching the 1st skins game, which was I think in 1982 he was pounding it 265+, back then that was very long. Here are some other notable golfers and their average driving distance in 2023. The hole then was 384 yards, Of note, "Nicklaus broke the face insert nine times in 1961 and cracked the neck in a 1966 "Challenge of the Champions" match with Gary Player.". Ping G400 Testing G410. Keeeeeep scrolling. [/quote] They used to have a crosswalk on the first fairway, barely more than 100 yards from the green. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Nicklaus cranked a 341-yard blast to win the PGA Championships long drive competition in 1963 with the old ball. When he was 18 years old, he and Arnold Palmer drove the green on a 330-yard par 4 at Athens (Ohio) CC, a story Nicklaus shared at Palmers memorial service. Technology companies. Even the 1986 Masters is highlight-reel fodder. Ping BeNi Anser 4 34.5" or Ping BeNi Scottsdale Anser. Still, those extra yards don't appear to be doing today's players as much good. The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, composed of PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. Just like Nicklauss victory in 1965, a win by Tavatanakit would signal a new era in the womens game. MEMBER REVIEWS: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! RBZ 25* hb; RBZstage 2 19* hb. What was the average driving distance back then??? Golf Club Distance Chart for Men By Skill Level, Golf Club Distance Chart for Woman By Skill Level, Golf Club Distance Chart for Senior Golfers, Golf Club Distance Chart for PGA Tour Players, Golf Club Distance Chart for LPGA Tour Players, Callaway Chrome Soft vs. Supersoft 2023 PGA Pro Review, Best Driving Irons In 2023 Straighter And Further Off The Tee, Best Golf Irons For Mid Handicapper In 2023 Expert Review, Best Japanese Golf Driver 2023 PGA Pro Review. Considering their length off the tee wouldve put them in the top 10 in 1980, its fair to assume theyd rank at least as high today. BEST TOTAL DRIVING SEASONS ON THE PGA TOUR, BEST DRIVING ACCURACY RANK AMONG PLAYERS IN TOP 10 OF DRIVING DISTANCE, Average Accuracy Rank of Top 10 in Distance, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Hinako Shibuno's first impression of Mission Hills Country Club was far from confidence-inspiring and, in hindsight, mistaken. Nicklaus and Duval are the only two players since 1980 to rank in the top 10 in driving distance and still rank in the top 30 in driving accuracy. [size=5] [size="5"]1-iron: 215-235 yards[/size] Taylormade M3 3w 17* Fujikura Atmos S shaft Its different these days, due in no small part to the fact that these guys know they want to be professionals from a young age. Jack Nicklaus. Add in a third-ranked .859 strokes gained off the tee and above-average putting, and he should have a good chance to win. and he was one of the longest hitters of his dayimagine what your average joe hit the ball then? Andrew Loupe led the PGA Tour with 125.5 average clubhead speed. A little self-promotion can yield heaps of followers. According to Golf.com, golfers with a handicap between 13 and 20 average about 200 yards of driving. Of course, on-course earnings account for a fraction of what todays most popular players earn off the course. And she plays a game with which many have never seen. We charted the progress of each stat for every year that the PGA Tour has recorded, going all the way back to 1980. Tavatanakit took a one-stroke lead into the weekend and on moving day extended her lead to as many as six. Helped by the fact that he was hitting a warm ball through the thin Texas air, Jack was getting tremendous distance. While well never get a precise answer, its safe to assume Nicklaus would have been Rory McIlroy-type long were he playing today. Inbee Park, a seven-time major champion, who won last week by five strokes, says the larger Tavatanakits lead increases the more pressure she will feel. and he was one of the longest hitters of his dayimagine what your average joe hit the ball then? crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls RELATED: Birthday wisdomWhat Jack told Golf Digest on past milestone birthday. He also collected paychecks from non-equipment companies. He averaged 268.7 yards in driving distance, which was eighth on the PGA Tour. Discover golf near you. [/quote] But what effect did this have on scorecards? "He plays a game with which I am not familiar,'' Jones famously said about Nicklaus. In 1980, Nicklaus had arguably the greatest season in recorded PGA TOUR history driving the golf ball. He averaged 297.5. But with the huge size, perimeter weighting and launch conditions programmed into the head and shaft, average joe's can now hit the clubface with consistency. crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls But larger metal driver heads and lighter graphite shafts became the norm, and by the late 90s, virtually no one had a persimmon driver in the bag. I believe he used to hit his driver 250 "but could get it out to 260 without tearing too many muscles" (some quote close to that). And yet, indulge us in this look at hypothetical history. And not only that, he could putt. [/size] GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, April 24, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, April 17, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, April 10, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, March 27, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, March 20, Please put and questions or comments here, Please put any questions or comments here. Now, one of the most well-respected legends in the game has shared his thoughts on the findings. She represents the all-around athlete; a player who puts a premium on her physical as well as mental fitness, has a surgical short game and a mystifying long game. Using high-speed film analysis, experts estimate legendary amateur Bobby Jones had a swing speed of 117 miles per hour in the 1930s - using hickory shafts. [size=5]9-iron:105-135 yards[/size] Hitting a 6 iron into a par 5 isn't an advantage, because a hybrid from 225 is going to land just as soft. The leader in driving distance in 1980 (the first season the PGA Tour has driving distance stats available) was Dan Pohl at 274 yards. He averaged 268.7 yards in driving distance, which was eighth on the PGA Tour. I was actually more impressed with how accurate she was, Feng said about the rookie. This driving distance from professional golfers is far greater than the average driving distance for amateur golfers of all levels, who average about 215 yards. Half of the high handicappers could barely get off the tee with the old persimmon, and 200 yards on average was pretty good back then (especially when they topped ever 3rd or 4th drive). Nicklaus ranked 10th in driving distance and won two majors during that 1980 campaign, but his 269 yards off the tee would have been dead last on Tour in 2019. Only other club I remember was his 7i, which (IIRC) he hit 145. January 16, 2022 8:00 am ET. I don't believe the distance gap between the average joe and the touring pro was as large in the 1970s as is it today. 260 - 270 yds was usually plenty to get him to scoring club distance.. R11S 8* square; Stock stiff. Grainy, black-and-white footage on YouTube, books, magazine articles and anecdotes provide a starting point. I can get to some of the pins a little easier with shorter clubs. Keep in mind that the smash factor plays a major role when it comes to distance. Tavatanakit is playing the course in a way that Rankin, the winner of the 1976 ANA Inspiration, has never seen before. [size="5"]9-iron:105-135 yards[/size] Ever wondered what the average golf club distance chart is for amateurs and pros? Of course, this undertaking is meant as a fun exercise into alternative reality; it is not possible to accurately predict how Nicklaus would have developed or measured up to todays professionals. If we translate that advantage to last season, hed have averaged 318.71 yards, which would have led the tour. It's all relative. Afterwards, Bobby Jones, the tournaments co-founder, marveled at the way the Golden Bear dominated Augusta National Golf Club. He won four times, including THE PLAYERS, and reached No. I say was because Tiger is not as long as he used to be, much like Jack later in his career. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. JN was a real strong young buck and he had a huge distance advantage over his contemporaries. [/quote] [quote name='golfbum9' timestamp='1304264564' post='3199669'] In perfect conditions, see the table below. Here are 7 of the most interesting. Money Trending Examples . A Mammoth drive for persimmon! [/quote] Max Homa won the PGA Championship long-drive contest in 2019 at Bethpage Black with a 318-yard shot, but that came on a cold and wet spring New York day. "If they do that on roughly 14 Par 4s and 5s in a round, theyve gained 1.4 strokes on the field based on their 20 yards extra distance. [/size] However, they tend not to be as accurate, and not as accurate means they miss about one more fairway per round. Ping Glide 3.0 50 56 60. Wolff did two years at Oklahoma State, Bhatia turned pro at 17, Jordan Spieth spent one season at Texas, Justin Thomas was at Alabama for two years, Tiger Woods two years at Stanford. If you're leading by one or two, anything can happen in golf, Park said. Heres the part where we state the obvious: Nicklaus was never in the AJGA rankings because the AJGA didnt exist when he was a junior. Nicklaus needed a birdie, but the hole was framed by tall fescue rough, and was playing downwind with very firm turf conditions. jack niklaus driving average by year. Today, the country will likely see it. All it takes is one person, at one tournament, to post one swing video and post it into the Instagram/Twitter vortex. What year was it? Hes 16 years old, and he just used a third-round 64 to beat a field of professionals and win the Ohio Open. Now they can bust it out 240-250 with relative ease. Amateur and a few elite college tournaments. He would have shot in the 50's regularly. [quote name='Shallowface' timestamp='1302902795' post='3157246'] Wishon 54, 59 Micro-Groove HM Now with hybrids, everyone can do that. [size=5]3-wood: 235 yards and up[/size] Look at the first line of my post - he wrote a book (I think it came out in 1980 - if not, pretty close to then), called "Golf My Way", in which he listed his average distances with all his clubs. We dissected the physics of Matthew Wolffs swing before he ever played a PGA Tour event, and we could identify Akshay Bhatias bespectacled face before he turned 18. Golf Digest estimates that the average driving distance has increased by 15.5 yards over the past 10 years, a. But we recently came across an article from the January 1968 issue of Golf Digest that suggests Jack's distance advantage with the driver wasn't all that great. Brandt Snedeker, who is slightly shorter than average, played back-to-back rounds on the Sea Island Plantation coursefor an article that appeared in USA Today. It wasnt until 1962 , after hed finished T-2 and T-4 in the 1960 and 61 U.S. Open as an amateur, that he decided playing golf was a better option than selling insurance. Just 28 players have ever missed more fairways than theyve hit, with the lowest percentage for a full season belonging to John Daly at 41.9 percent in 2007. Since the late 90s, scoring has fallen about 0.4 strokes per round, a number that is too small to make any definite claims about. In 2020, in her first stint as a rookie on the LPGA Tour (2020 rookies are also rookies this year), she finished T-64. A generic 6-12 index will hit their "stock" driver somewhere around 235-245. Looking at the charts can be intimidating. To put that into perspective, Brendan Steele led the PGA TOUR in total driving in 2018-19. Jack would have been the best player in any era he played, regardless of the equipment he used. I cannot disagree. This driving distance from professional golfers is far greater than the average driving distance for amateur golfers of all levels, who average about 215 yards. That would have ranked 188th on Tour in 2019. John Daly, by the way, became the first golfer to average 300 yards off the tee in 1997, last person to win a major with a persimmon driver was Bernhard Langer, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [size=5] Nicklaus was 2.15 percent longer than the rest of the top 10, meaning there was a bit of a gap between he and the next-longest players. Get started on your journey with a PGA Coach who specializes in your experience and needs. [size=5]Driver: 250 yards and up[/size] See What Members Are Saying! CBS Sports has all of those statistics and more for the PGA Tour. More important than how far you hit the ball is to know your own distances. The average clubhead speed increased from 104 mph in 1980 to 113 in 2016. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus shared a friendship and rivalry that lasted more than . Nicklaus was 2.15 percent longer than the rest of the top 10, meaning there was a bit of a gap between he and the next-longest players. Ben Hogan hit his driver 265 yards, according to an article in the June 10, 1949 issue of Time Magazine. He was great then and he would be great now. He averaged 297.5 yards in driving distance, which was 24th on the PGA Tour. Broadie says that in his research, driving distance contributes approximately two-thirds, and accuracy one-third to strokes gained driving. His average drive with the Byron Nelson wooden driver went 247 yards. In 1980, at age 40, Nicklaus led the PGA TOUR in total driving, a statistic that combines a players' ranking in average driving distance and fairways hit. ProV1x-mostly. He played more like 6-2. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. Tavatanakit has a chance to write history on Sunday. The PGA of America is made up of nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals who are ready to help you further your love for the game of golf. [quote name='titleistfan14' timestamp='1302833449' post='3154660'] Nicklaus, at 276 yards, was 4.5 percent longer than the average. If Jack in his prime could have played the clubs and balls these guys are playing today, he would have hit that sumbitch 400 yards, Trevino told Golf Digest in 2010, with characteristic color. Those include changing equipment specifications, and thats when wed propose specific rules changes. When Tour pros put the Titleist Pro VI in play in late 2000, they automatically hit the ball 10-15 yards farther with each iron. You can post now and register later. Go to the range and map out your 50%-100% distances with every club. Pretty good, indeed. If you take Lee Trevino for his word: freakin far. He was 4.5 percent longer than the average distance of 260.2. [/quote] Exactly. In the last 20 years, it exploded. Less than six percent of the players ranked in the top 10 in that span in distance also ranked in the top 100 in accuracy. I dont think anybody else could ever do it.. [/quote] See it yet? Driving distances changed little over decades. Your distances are greatly affected by the weather conditions. More distance off the tee is an easy way to lower your scores! (Actually, Nicklaus' average driving distance in '83 was three yards shorter than in 1980. You'll discover it's more than just a golf lesson. Photo: Robert Riger/Getty Images. Eventually they called the round. Today, such drives are routine. Smash Factor relates to the amount of energy transferred from the club head to the golf ball. What impact does swing speed have on distance? That would have ranked fourth on tour in 2018-19, ahead of bombers like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, Gary Woodland and so many more.
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