Originally Posted by dreaded_snowman
I tried something interesting this year. I went to Le Diable @ Tremblant, and vowed to play the course without touchting the sand (a formidable challenge, for those who know the course). I did it, and scored my best ever there. My swing is basically arms straight to level, wrist cock, turn my back, pretty much textbook. I dropped the back turn on my irons, which cut about 15-20 yards off my shots, but increased their accuracy. So now I don't ever power my irons for distance unless I need big height to go over something. (the back turn makes 'em go high as well as further).
I list with both swings here - the one where I don't turn and the one where I do - it's like carrying extra clubs... Naturally, with a 22 handicap, I have the whole overswing thing now and again where I hit my driver 220, but at a 45 degree angle one way or the other. Another reason not to overturn for distance - no one ever laughed at me for landing in the fairway! :-) Lose a few balls, and some pretty bad players can start beating you because of the racked up drop penalties.
My distances:
LW: 50/70
SW: 85/100
PW: 100/120
9: 120/140
8: 130/150
7: 140/160
6: 150/170
5 hybrid: 160-180 (still working on this, it's new, just dropped my 5 iron)
5,4,3 iron: don't carry 'em anymore
7W: 165-185
5W: 185-205
3W: 190-220
Driver 13*: 220/260
Driver 9*: 235/275