That is a very good number for 99.9 % of the golfers on any given day. With the rest of the game clicking, it gives the possibility of being a scratch index holder.
Most of us may sustaining this number without major injury. Tour players average just over 300 yards now and look at the statistic of injury from the younger generation of Tour Golfers. Old school golfers looked at the new golf swings on the video and predicted that we’ll see more injury from the modern golf swing that explored the use of our physical ability to the maximum potential.
Well, yeah. But I also swing that club at a Trackman-measured average 106. (The 109-110 I was getting when demoing the 425, I’ve yet to rediscover. Nerves, maybe…)
I swing my 48 degree wedge at an average 88 mph. It’s the best “feeling” club in my bag. Swing that fast—and I’d like the feel of that 48 to translate to the rest of my irons–and 240 carry is kind of meh.
More consistent contact, and better contact, is key in my case to raising ball speed, maintaining or bumping launch a tad, and dumping spin. The “DIY Driver improvement” post at GolfWRX (here) is fantastic for a simple set of tests & exercises for doing just that.
Ideally, I want (with a tiny, proportional 1W swing speed increase if/when I get the feel of that club more aligned with my 48) something in the 160-165 ball speed, 12-13 launch, 24, 2500-ish spin, draw: and that should yield something in the 270-280 carry, 290-300 total. Which is about as much as I can realistically expect. And better than the current situation. But the current situation is still very usable.
KFT guys, so younger, and more where the future of this professional sport is going, are faster still. Their Tour averages 307, and my suspicion is that you really need to be in the 310+ range to make it out to the PGA Tour from that pool. Which is total distance mind, not carry, but still I expect most of those guys to be pushing 120-125 with their 1W. Maybe more. And starting to optimize distance with it like the LPGA and some male golfers like Rory do. (4-5 up, spins in the low range, 2200 for Rory, 12-13 launch; vs. hitting down with -1-2 AoA)
As to whether their bodies can take it…we’ll see. Nobody seems to be bothered by the lack of >20 year old female gymnasts, 30 year old NFL running backs, etc… It may be that a Pro golfer needs to perform at a high-enough swing speed that smaller-statured golfers just can’t keep it up (and the travel & practice grind) without ripping up their backs in their 30s. (Or younger, if you’re Will Zalatoris). So it goes.
I think Nicklaus was right; they’re going to have to do something with the ball. And they don’t want to. People marvel at the speed and sound when these guys crush it. I’ve seen it. And I can see the Tour feeling that a ball change to knock distance down, will be viewed as neutering the product.
With all the variables of daily physical condition, mental wellness, weather /temperature/humidity…
We’ll not be on launch monitor when we’re on the golf course. As the Handicap index is to reflect one’s potential ability; So is the technology is to assist us in our game on the golf course.
Don’t be hangover on the numbers; expect the best when you’re concentrating on scoring.
The length of the golf club has a lot to do with how the club head will be traveling. Your wedge is much shorter than the driver and the swing plan will be much different between the two.
Either get stronger ( especially in the hands and fingers), or time your temple for the driver to let it happen instead of muscle it.
Expectation of the difference between the longer shaft will take a fraction of the second longer to travel from the top to the impact and your mind will adjust to conform.