HELP!!! I'm Losing Distance

[MeanderingME]

I seem to be losing distance on all of my clubs. Actually it's not 100% true. My Gap and Sand wegdes are still the same distance, but everything else is at least 1 club shorter than I have been over the last few years. And my drives are roughly 25 yards shorter. I guess by reading a lot of posts on this forum that I play a little above average for distance with my clubs. My 5 iron is my 190 club and my 9 iron is 150 usually. This year I've had to play my 3 iron and 8 iron for the same distances. I crushed a drive at The Marshes 18th just this last Tuesday. Something I would usually find out was 280-290 yards out was only 250. It's frustrating for me as I have come to expect a result and now have to second guess being able to clear obstacles like water and bunkers. The shots seem pure. I know the feeling of the bad ones, that's for sure. Any ideas before I spend the money on a lesson?

Thanks

[nokids]

your distances are excellent, even with the loss of distance. i dont know why you'd be losing distance, maybe a trip to the gym would help?

my distances are pretty pathetic when i take a normal shot, because i'm only swinging about 80% of my full potential. i find i have more control if i slow down my swing speed:

pw-105
9i - 115
8i - 128
7i - 140
6i - 150
5i - 160
4i - 170
3i - 180
5w - 190-200
3w - 210-230
1w - 250-275

[DenisO]

wow, my distances are pretty much spot on to yours, nokids. I always think I'm super weak thankfully I'm not the only one around here hitting such low distances. Ahh well, I'll beat people with accuracy and my short game

[Arrt]

your distances are excellent, even with the loss of distance. i dont know why you'd be losing distance, maybe a trip to the gym would help?

my distances are pretty pathetic when i take a normal shot, because i'm only swinging about 80% of my full potential. i find i have more control if i slow down my swing speed:

pw-105
9i - 115
8i - 128
7i - 140
6i - 150
5i - 160
4i - 170
3i - 180
5w - 190-200
3w - 210-230
1w - 250-275

Are you a regular shaft user?

[adam]

Usually at the beginning of the season it takes me a little bit to get my distances back on my irons. (I'm about the same as you 9i for 145-150)
Sometimes I'm focusing on smoothness and tempo and even though I'm hitting the ball on the sweet spot losing about 10 yards because I'm just not swinging as hard/fast as I usually do. I find getting out to the range and trying to combine getting on the right plane and also giving the swing that little extra oomph helps a lot.

[Paulio]

your distances are excellent, even with the loss of distance. i dont know why you'd be losing distance, maybe a trip to the gym would help?

my distances are pretty pathetic when i take a normal shot, because i'm only swinging about 80% of my full potential. i find i have more control if i slow down my swing speed:

pw-105
9i - 115
8i - 128
7i - 140
6i - 150
5i - 160
4i - 170
3i - 180
5w - 190-200
3w - 210-230
1w - 250-275

Weird. I hit my short/mid irons longer than you do, but you hit your driver a good 30-40 yards further than I do.

[nokids]

Are you a regular shaft user?

5.5 rifle precision flighted shafts which is stiff i believe.

Weird. I hit my short/mid irons longer than you do, but you hit your driver a good 30-40 yards further than I do.

switch to the pro v1 !!!!

[DenisO]

I like how quickly nokids hijacked this thread by the way

[nokids]

lol. i'm just keeping it active, nobody was commenting on it!

[Sakuraba]

I've lost a ton of distance this year, but I'm afraid its because I'm not hitting it in the center of the club face as often.

[Arrt]

Weird. I hit my short/mid irons longer than you do, but you hit your driver a good 30-40 yards further than I do.

[QUOTE=nokids;364672]5.5 rifle precision flighted shafts which is stiff i believe.

I was thinking the same thing. I hit my five 175 yards, I have G10s with regular shafts though. My driver is stiff and usually goes 240. I really should get fitted. I feel I swing harder than required for a regular shaft though. I need to go get hooked up to one swing speed machines.

[Hacker]

I seem to be losing distance on all of my clubs. Actually it's not 100% true. My Gap and Sand wegdes are still the same distance, but everything else is at least 1 club shorter than I have been over the last few years. And my drives are roughly 25 yards shorter. I guess by reading a lot of posts on this forum that I play a little above average for distance with my clubs. My 5 iron is my 190 club and my 9 iron is 150 usually. This year I've had to play my 3 iron and 8 iron for the same distances. I crushed a drive at The Marshes 18th just this last Tuesday. Something I would usually find out was 280-290 yards out was only 250. It's frustrating for me as I have come to expect a result and now have to second guess being able to clear obstacles like water and bunkers. The shots seem pure. I know the feeling of the bad ones, that's for sure. Any ideas before I spend the money on a lesson?

Thanks

Have you changed ballsby any chance? Maybe you are using a ball that isn't suited to your swing speed.

[atomic]

If your car lost 20% fuel mileage, you'd probably get a mechanic to look it over. How is your golf swing any different? I would personally blow the $'s on a lesson to get my swing evaluated. It could be a very simple fix that could bring you back to your usual distances. And considering 1 hour of lessons is along the same cost a one round of golf at a nice course, how can you lose?

[Hearzy]

distance is one thing I am not needing anymore of... This year I have noticed a increase in my distance. Hit my 7i about 160-165. I am now losing my accuracy this year... . I dont feel as though I am swinging any harder though...

I am going to be getting lessons here in the coming weeks to try and get that back. MUCH more important...

[jgolf925]

I seem to be losing distance on all of my clubs. Actually it's not 100% true. My Gap and Sand wegdes are still the same distance, but everything else is at least 1 club shorter than I have been over the last few years. And my drives are roughly 25 yards shorter. I guess by reading a lot of posts on this forum that I play a little above average for distance with my clubs. My 5 iron is my 190 club and my 9 iron is 150 usually. This year I've had to play my 3 iron and 8 iron for the same distances. I crushed a drive at The Marshes 18th just this last Tuesday. Something I would usually find out was 280-290 yards out was only 250. It's frustrating for me as I have come to expect a result and now have to second guess being able to clear obstacles like water and bunkers. The shots seem pure. I know the feeling of the bad ones, that's for sure. Any ideas before I spend the money on a lesson?

Thanks

I had this problem last year I thought that maybe old age was creeping in lol
Then I was on the driving range and noticed my swing was armsy.
So I went with 1 swing tought.
left shoulder over right foot on backswing, Right shoulder over left foot on downswing.
My distance was back and accuracy improved immediatley.

[MeanderingME]

Thanks for the reply's. I did end up switching balls. Last year I switched between Taylormade TP's and Callaway iTour's. This year I started playing Bridgestone B330-RX's. I don't think this is the issue. I might by a box of Callaway's again to see if it helps. I started the year off with the same distances I always had. I just found a decline as this year has progressed. I'm going for a lesson soon. I know its an important part before I start making things worse by practicing the wrong things.