SANTA'S TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR HANDICAP (Part 2)

Yesterday the big Red fellow told you how to improve your putting but before you get on the green you have to hit it first and this is where knowing not only your distances (how far you hit each club, on average) but also, as importantly, how far your are away from the pin.

Lets deal with how far you hit each club first.  Easy to work out, it's not the furthest you have ever hit a particular club but what your average distance you hit a club is and below is an explanation. The theory is based on a flat lie on the fairway, so slope and lies also have to be taken into account but we will deal with that later. 

Knowing how far it is to the pin or middle of the green can be done in various ways. Simpliest is using a distance measuring device, but they can be expensive. Most courses have Guide books or distance markers to either the front or middle of the green (check before you go out) which will give you a guide to distance require to find the putting surface. But remember the pin can be front, middle or back which could be 40 yds of a difference which makes the difference between a possible single putt and a  three putt a possibility. 

Below is an average scale but this would depend on your ability so if you are a big hitter it will be longer and shorter hitter not as long, but either way it's your average distance that counts not anyone else's so if someone says they hit an 8 iron 150 yds it may still be a 5 iron for you so hit the 5 iron and don't be 30 yds short !!!! 

Working out your yardages - the best way to find out is to hit about 50 balls with each club. Eliminate the longest five and the shortest five, and then figure out the middle of the remaining group. That’s your average yardage.

Which Club Should You Use?

Club	Men’s Average Distance	Women’s Average Distance
Driver	230 yards	200 yards
3-wood	210 yards	180 yards
2-iron	190 yards	4-wood or hybrid = 170 yards
3-iron	180 yards	5-wood or hybrid = 160 yards
4-iron	170 yards	150 yards (consider a hybrid, instead)
5-iron	160 yards	140 yards
6-iron	150 yards	130 yards
7-iron	140 yards	120 yards
8-iron	130 yards	110 yards
9-iron	120 yards	100 yards
Pitching wedge	110 yards	90 yards
Sand wedge	90 yards	80 yards
Lob wedge	65 yards	60 yards