Here’s an interesting look at some numbers from the PGA Tour – I’ll be revisiting this particular article later once I’ve got things settled down with the model work, which is ongoing.
Of note, I found the average driver carry and total distance intriguing because that’s what I do most of my swing work with.
I got back out to the lab today and the biggest takeaway I have from the session, which I’ll remember to reiterate when discussing my data collection, is that the SC300i portable launch monitor is not really working to my satisfaction.
Other than the ball speed, which I would assume is accurate because it uses Doppler radar, I don’t believe any of the other data is reliable, however I know how far the yardage is off (and it seems pretty consistent).
I finally go out for my first range session of the season and my body is certainly telling me that it’s been 10 months since I last hit balls!
I had only gone to hit a large bucket and I unfortunately learned a lesson – you can play around with your launch monitor and you can work on your swing with camera, but you can’t do both if you have limited time.
I will likely begin my outdoor season this coming week after countless delays (weather, Covid bout and a laceration on my right index finger a couple of weeks ago that is now healed), and I’ve been looking for some decent drives with my old action I want to use for comparison.
I last did any meaningful swing work in 2019 (’20 & ’21 were a write-off with the Covid restrictions and other things with which I was occupied during that time), and I have a couple of swings from August that I don’t mind too much, even with the usual issues that aggravate me.
One of the reasons I got the SC300i launch monitor was because of its near-spot-on data points with regards to ball & club speed (more than near-spot-on as it uses Doppler radar) and carry/total yardage info (very accurate compared to GC/Trackman).
That can’t be faked, so I knew that it would be the perfect tool for doing swing research on the range without having to resort to mortgaging my soul to do so.
After years of blogging on the golf swing & having my WAX Nation readers take me at my word on ball-striking & distances, I’ve decided that this season will be very different – it’s time to put some science behind MCS, everyone!
By that, I mean not relying on the odd trip to a golf lab to get swing numbers, or go by more precise distances than “this one went to the foot of the mounds at the end of the range.”
One of the items of personal interest for me will be exactly how I’m swinging the first day out again after nearly a year off.
I haven’t hit a golf ball since last July, so I’ll be keen to know my numbers as soon as I’m back out again.
Another point of interest will be the progression of swing metrics (ball & club speed, carry and total distances) from the first day on.
WAX Golf 