Some Golf Myths About Equipment And Performance
Compiled by Dick Rugge Senior Technical Director of the United States Golf Association
Myth 1. Faster Swing Golfers get greater distance advantage from new golf balls introduced after 2000.
False. Scientific tests and results on the PGA Tour confirm that faster swing players have not gained any amount of distance from these modern golf balls. Example: Corey Pavin, the shortest player in 2000, gained almost the same amount of distance between 2000 and 2005 (7.4 yards) as the longest golfer (John Daly at 8.7 yards).
Myth 2. Golf ball distance is not currently limited.
False. Golf ball distance is being regulated since 1976. All golf balls that are played on PGA Tour and the majority of golf balls sold have passed the USGA’s distance limit test.
Myth 3. Driving distance on the PGA Tour is increasing rapidly
False. Average Tour driving distance increased over the past 10 years, but it has also leveled off during last three. The average distance increase since 2003 to 2006 is only about 1 yard per year.
Myth 4. The longest PGA hitters finish higher on the money list.
False. Some long-driving professionals are very successful, but on average, the top 10 driving distance golfers have been falling down on the money list in few recent years.
Myth 5. Most of the PGA Tour golf professionals swing at 120 mph or even more.
False. The average golf player swing speed on Tour is approximately 113 mph. Some swing at or higher than 120 mph, but these are clearly in the minority.
Myth 6. The average 5-irons distance on Tour 200+ yards.
False. PGA Tour Shotlink system records all shots throughout the season. It shows that avg. 5-iron fairway shots to green are approximately 185 yards. And from the tee on 3 pars, the avg. 5-iron distance is about 197 yards.
Myth 7. You get more distance if you put topspin on your drive.
False. Every normally struck drive create a backspin. Backspin generates lift and helps to keep the ball in the air. You can put topspin on a ball only if you ‘top’ the ball. That will create a very short distance plus it dives your ball into the ground.
