So strap in, it looks like there will be plenty of time for takes on the hottest issue in golf. XXIO X Series 5 Wood! I remember one year -- probably 1978 -- the Doral third round had just started when rain fell heavily. I think I did that really well today.. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Again, same short persimmon steel shafted driver. Nothing more, nothing less. [quote name='tElihu' timestamp='1306158032' post='3255647'] [size=5]3-wood: 235 yards and up[/size] How far would Jack Nicklaus drive the ball? - emojicut.com Just keep on playing. a player who ranks 10th in driving distance and 50th in driving accuracy would have a total driving number of 60). that balls do benefit the tour player more. Extrapolate that 4.5 percent advantage to the 2018-19 season, when the average was roughly 293.8 yards, and a player with Nicklaus advantage would have averaged 307 yards. Only 12 of the 1,139 golfers included in these records has ever even broke 80 percent for a full season. With the driver, he observed a 25-30 yard difference on well-struck shots. [size=5]4-iron:185-200 yards[/size] Here is Sports Illustrateds description of the performance, one that could be copied, pasted and published in 2020 without anyone knowing how long ago it was written. Seems like hes a pretty big deal. . Players are bigger, stronger, more athletic, pay close attention to nutrition and hone their bodies in the gym. PGA Tour Driving Distance Over The Decades - Geoff Shackelford In 1995, when drives averaged just 264 yards, landing on the fairway was paramount, and pros averaged a 69 percent driving accuracy. Of course, on-course earnings account for a fraction of what todays most popular players earn off the course. Jack Nicklaus had 49 top ten finishes with 5 wins and won $2,325,208 in his career. To understand exactly how, let's look at two stats: average driving distance and average driving accuracy (percentage of fairways hit). No need to monitor it when players were on the tee. Saturday, she hit a lob wedge into the 385-yard, par-4 first hole. No one can tell me that those guys wouldn't completely dominate with todays clubs and particularly - the ball. Its reasonable to assume Jones, who was one of the longer hitters of the day and the games greatest amateur, would have no trouble keeping up if given modern equipment. This chart shows you the average distances per skill level for female golfers. A search for a more scientific answer is hamstrung by a lack of data. 7 Interesting Facts About Jack Nicklaus - Books Tell You Why, Inc. The 21-year-old from Thailand has led the way since Day 1 at the ANA Inspiration, using her distance to overwhelm the golf course. [size=5] [size=5] His average drive with the Byron Nelson wooden driver went 247 yards. Typically, higher lofts will translate into higher ball-flights. At one time the PGA Championship held a long drive contest for the players. 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. She suffered two bogeys over the closing stretch to card a 5-under par, 67. We appreciate his 18 professional major championships, but we never watched the golfer who won those tournaments. 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). That was with the old MacGregor persimmon and the old Tourney ball, which was known to be pretty much a dud (the ball). In 2021, the average driving distance was 295.3 yards, second to only 2020 as the longest average driving distance in PGA Tour history. [size=5] But thats not the only way to become something of a household name (at least in golf households). In a fourball match at the 2016 Ryder Cup, 6-foot-5 Thomas Pieters belted a drive 324 yards. In all, 14 pros averaged 120 mph or better. Compare that with today's bombers: In 2012, the PGA Tour's top 10 in driving distance were 20.3 yards longer (7 percent) than the tour average. Playing a short, safer shot to avoid the ball getting caught in the wind is a safer move in a situation like this. [/quote] November 30, 2011 The PGA Tour's ShotLink folks have put together a dynamite package of year-end stats to pour over and inevitably I gravitated to the driving distance page. GOLF - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com Added together, you get a total driving number the lower that number, the better you are overall driving the ball (i.e. 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. And she plays a game with which many have never seen. What year was it? Early in Jack's career, he would have MacGregor "narrow" the grooves in his irons as the normal width v grooves spun too much for his liking. Jack held the record for quite a while with a drive of 340 some odd yards. [/b] "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. I say was because Tiger is not as long as he used to be, much like Jack later in his career. That would have ranked 188th on Tour in 2019. Saturday, she allowed herself a few moments of excitement as she extended her lead at the top of the leaderboard. Nicklaus brings up a valid point on the modern golf balls effect on distance. Jack was very long, a very powerful swing. If he was having the success he was having in this day and age, hes in that super-high echelon. 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] Hitting a 6 iron into a par 5 isn't an advantage, because a hybrid from 225 is going to land just as soft. In 1980, Nicklaus had arguably the greatest season in recorded PGA TOUR history driving the golf ball. Definitely one of, if not the longest out there. [/quote] MEMBER REVIEWS: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! Part of the reason is, they both turned pro before age 21more on that in a secondand so didnt have the time to accumulate as many accolades. The Average PGA Drive - SportsRec - Golf Week [size=5] Nicklaus needed a birdie, but the hole was framed by tall fescue rough, and was playing downwind with very firm turf conditions. In 1980, Nicklaus ranked 10th in driving distance and 13th in accuracy, giving him a TOUR-leading total driving figure of 23. You'll discover it's more than just a golf lesson. He shared his thoughts in 2016 when asked about the possibility of adding length to the 13th hole at Augusta National. 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. All shafts are S2S Stepless Steel Wishon. And the social-media hype train needs but the smallest nudge to leave the station. 260 - 270 yds was usually plenty to get him to scoring club distance.. R11S 8* square; Stock stiff. [size=5] Greatest event I've ever seen in person. Odyssey Pro #1 black 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. Nicklaus was consistently among the longest and straightest hitters on the PGA Tour during his prime.One early example was winning the official long drive contest at the 1963 PGA Championsip with a belt of 341 yards, 17 inches (312 meters). If you take Lee Trevino for his word: freakin far. and he was one of the longest hitters of his dayimagine what your average joe hit the ball then? Driving distances changed little over decades. Born in Columbus, Ohio in 1940, Nicklaus possessed obvious athletic ability from an early age. Exactly. [quote name='titleistfan14' timestamp='1302833449' post='3154660'] Even 15 years later he still hit drives that distance in a Shells Wonderful World of Golf match against the equally long-hitting Sam Snead. In 2021, the average driving distance was 295.3 yards, second to only 2020 as the longest average driving distance in PGA Tour history. Jack was able to hit 2,3,4 irons sky high and land them soft. Discover golf near you. "Each of those extra 20 yards contributes one tenth of a stroke (gained)," Broadie said. [size="5"]9-iron:105-135 yards[/size] 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. Weiskopf was definitely longer during the '70s. [size=5] [size="5"]5-iron: 170-185 yards[/size] [/quote] PGA Tour Victories: 73. His number that season combining. I did everything I can to keep it a little bit calmer, because I know I'm getting excited. Nicklaus supportive stance comes as no surprise after some of his past comments on distance in golf. [size="5"]3-wood: 235 yards and up[/size] [size=5]5-iron: 170-185 yards[/size] That is no longer the case but in Jack's day it was. The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. ENTER NOW! With the length that I have, some of the lines you had to take it a little different, and seeing it enough, I've hit it the furthest I've ever hit here, Tavatanakit said about her return to Mission Hills. Read the latest feature stories from the PGA of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the course. If you ever watch the old footage of Jack hitting long irons, the camera's back then didn't follow the ball entirely thru the air; however, they would capture the angle the ball was coming down, and Jack's long irons came down like most pros 9 irons. So how much ish, could an in-his-prime Nicklaus have earned as a brand ambassador in the 2020s? Ping G425 Max 17.5 5 Tensei Orange 75 X And, the legends from the past wouldve loved to tee up their graphite/titanium beauty and swing away. 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. 1 for at least two years. If you played during the days of persimmon woods, blades and especially balata balls, then you know that you absolutely [b][i]had[/i][/b] to deliver that clubhead square or else! [/size] The latest news & stories from PGA Member Events. In 2021, the average LPGA Tour pros (female golfers) driving distance was 256 yards. [size="5"]6- iron: 155-170 yards[/size] I was actually more impressed with how accurate she was, Feng said about the rookie. This is a long-term play, a multi-year process.. If that wasnt enough, Nicklaus also led the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation that season, hitting more than 72%. How far did Jack Nicklaus hit a 1 iron? Players such as J.B. Holmes, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson are perennially among the longest hitters on tour. . He was just better than anybody else. The chart below shows how the PGA Tour's average driving distance has changed since 1968 - distance data was not recorded between 1969 and 1980. . Some were aware of it; some were not. Your distances are greatly affected by the weather conditions. Weiskopf eventually won by a shot over Nicklaus. 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. I cannot disagree. Ted P, Sorry Jim, I didn't read all the way down to your articlewe're on the same page, Jack could move it out there No one can tell me that those guys wouldn't completely dominate with todays clubs and particularly - the ball. Dottie Pepper set the 72-hole record of 269 at 19 under par in 1999. Tavatanakit looks to 'keep energy level up' for final round. Jack rarely hit the ball as hard as he could. Jack Niklaus Driving Average By Year | StatMuse Still, those extra yards don't appear to be doing today's players as much good. But he did shoot that 64 and win the 1956 Ohio Open as a 16-year-old, and he most certainly was the best junior golfer in America. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. What was the average driving distance back then??? ANA Inspiration: Full-field scores | Full coverage, Looking at it that way, it is kind of a different course, Tavatanakit said, reacting to Rankins amazement. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His ball was the shortest in the group. switch from liquid-filled balls to the current solid-core construction in the mid-2000s, 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, 2023 RBC Heritage: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, 2023 Valero Texas Open: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times. We went to the expert to find out exactly what that means. If you're leading by one or two, anything can happen in golf, Park said. He used a 3-iron from the tee and hit the shot 290 yards, then hit a 5-iron 240 yards onto the green, two-putted for birdie, and parred the final hole to win the title. [/quote] Until the 1990s, persimmon drivers were the norm on the PGA Tour. Hes 16 years old, and he just used a third-round 64 to beat a field of professionals and win the Ohio Open. All the latest stories & news from the Major PGA Championships. 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 pro who was markedly longer was Jim Dent. The leader in driving distance in 1980 (the first season the PGA Tour has driving distance stats available) was Dan Pohl at 274 yards. 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. . [size="5"]8-iron:130-145 yards[/size] 238 yards On the 72nd hole of the 1967 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, Jack Nicklaus blasted perhaps his greatest single shota sky-scraping, pin . Back in those days, golf was not really considered a big time sport and most guys stuck with baseball, football etc. You have to think he would have had a few extra MPHs when he was a younger man. Clay Long Personal Edition SW 58* TTDyn Gold X100 8i shaft Weiskopf drove it past Jack and outplayed him all day, but Jack holed out three times during the final round. With the 384, he said, he was driving 20 to 25 yards farther than he had a few years earlier. The potent combination of Instagram, wall-to-wall TV coverage and the Internet has turned junior and amateur golfers into niche celebrities. But even that feels like a conservative estimate. But his performance off the tee was an even greater statistical anomaly. A recent study also sheds light on the subject. Amateur and a few elite college tournaments. . He often overpowered courses much in the same way todays longest hitters do, and he did so that week. Jack in a relative way was probably as long as Tiger is/was. Read the latest feature stories from the PGA of America to learn how the game is growing on and off the course. [size="5"]4-iron:185-200 yards[/size] crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls Yes, but always somewhat behind Weiskopf & Pohl How Far Can Jack Nicklaus drive the ball? - Heimduo 5-G Smash Factor relates to the amount of energy transferred from the club head to the golf ball. Only 27 players on the PGA Tour in 2015-16 had a faster average. [quote name='golfbum9' timestamp='1304264564' post='3199669'] But in addition, the quality of strike plays a huge role to determine how far you hit the ball. Still, the question lingers, how far would golfs legends hit the ball with todays equipment? Here is the rest of the top 5: Having the fastest swing speed and winning the long drive contest does not necessarily mean a player is going to win the PGA Championship every year. People keep talking about length today and comparing Nicklaus with Tiger and they simply don't know how long and strong Nicklaus was in his prime AND, as was mentioned earlier, the fact that he was hitting a relatively small persimmon head and was playing with what he admittedly says was a crappy ball, that being the MacGregor Tourney. His name, you learn, is Jackie Nicklaus. JN was a real strong young buck and he had a huge distance advantage over his contemporaries. 338 in career earnings with $5,734,031. So I dont think of it as Bomb and Gouge. I think of it as theyre bombing it, and theyre slightly less accurate.". Ping G430 MAX 9* Ventus BLUE TR 7 STIFF Golf Digest estimates that the average driving distance has increased by 15.5 yards over the past 10 years, a period of time where metal drivers have been used. Josh Teater, Tommy Gainey and Jay Williamson are among the numerous less-than-Hall-of-Fame-caliber players who have earned more on tour than Jack. An exceptional example of this came in the final round of the 1966 Open Championship at Muirfield, on the 17th hole, a 530-yard par 5 hole. . [size=5]From Golf My Way p. 31[/size] Adding 35 yards for increased speed, hotter driver and better ball, Nicklaus would've averaged 311.0 last season. Only other club I remember was his 7i, which (IIRC) he hit 145. [size=5]Sand wedge: Up to 100 yards[/size]. 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. [/size] Technology made gradual progress for more than 60 years, according to Nicklaus. Wishon 919 THI 11* 0.5* Open Helped by the fact that he was hitting a warm ball through the thin Texas air, Jack was getting tremendous distance. Thatsslightlyless accurate. Jack was someone who could've been considered a true athlete that took up the game of golf. [quote name='Shallowface' timestamp='1302902795' post='3157246'] He used brute force (those awesome legs) to hit those long irons high. Nicklaus, at 276 yards, was 4.5 percent longer than the average. In back-to back-weeks she won by a collective 10 strokes. Club: Average Distance: Driver: 250 yds: 3 Wood: 235 yds: 1 Iron: 215 - 235 yds: 2 Iron: 205 - 220 yds: 3 Iron: 295 - 210 yds: 4 Iron: 185 - 200 yds: . Jack would have been the best player in any era he played, regardless of the equipment he used. I remember him saying that he didn't believe that at sea level with no wind, anyone could [i]fly[/i] a ball more than 260 yards through the air So there you have it: Had Jack Nicklaus played today, he would have been an amateur phenom, he would have been one of the longest hitters on tour, and he would have made boatloads of money. 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). ProV1x-mostly. 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. A driver two inches longer and two ounces lighter enabled Campbell to generate more speed. 10 important takeaways from the USGA/R&As Distance Insights Project, Jack Nicklaus responds to USGA and R&As long-awaited Distance Insights project, 2023 Mexico Open money: Total purse, payout breakdown, winners share, How to watch the 2023 Mexico Open on Sunday: Round 4 live coverage, 2023 Mexico Open tee times: Round 4 groupings for Sunday, 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, These floral golf shoes are gorgeous *and* packed with performance features. Wishon 54, 59 Micro-Groove HM Afterwards, Bobby. Driving the distance up on Tour - Lake County Record-Bee I saw it from the back of the green and will never forget it. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights Nicklaus carries fistfuls of golf accolades that may never be touched again. Since 2010, the average driving accuracy rank for players to be in the top 10 on TOUR in driving. You can post now and register later. In 1976 (Jack was 36), Golf magizine had him on the cover in a button down sweater.the article was stating he could still hit 270+ yard drives into the "wind". Sound like anyone familiar? Just bring that down to the normal level. Jack Nicklaus had 49 top ten finishes in his career. [/size] Jacks definitely up in that echelon. You'll discover it's more than just a golf lesson. This year at age 52, Love was one of the eight golfers who had a 400-plus drive. Those photos above shows how strong Jack was. Those numbers tell a different story from the current perception of golf. No way he would have shot in the 50's you have to remember as they have improved technology they have also updated courses. 2023 HomeTown Lenders Championship (Korn Ferry Tour) - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Zurich Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 RBC Heritage - Discussion and links to Photos, 2023 Valero Texas Open - Discussion and links to photos, 2023 WGC Dell Technologies Match Play - Discussion and links to photos, 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, May 4-7, Diamana PD 50TX; Diamana TB 80TX; Cleveland RTX6 Zipcore 52/10; Best Grip Microperf Midsize Augusta grips. For those of us who grew up in the 2000s, our image of Jack Nicklaus is, well, that of an older gentleman. Fans stood near the crosswalk to see if he could do it again. Jack played in a record 154 consecutive major championships for which he was eligible from the 1957 U.S. Open to the 1998 U.S Open. Courses were shorter and he would hit his tee shots to a target. You think of all the companies that he could endorse, Smallwood says. Just like Nicklauss victory in 1965, a win by Tavatanakit would signal a new era in the womens game. He rarely had to take anything out of his golf bag but his driver, wedge,. 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. 2OnePutt Advanced Members 122 Feedback 0 0 0 Total Rating 0% Posted April 13, 2011 [size=5]From Golf My Way p. 31 [/size] [size=5] [/size] PGA tour - players with longest average driving distance 2022 - Statista There, nestled between David Peoples and Nicloas Thompson, youll find the name Jack Nicklaus, ranking No. crazy to think how good he would have been with new equipment and balls.