Over/Under on Impact of Short Ball on PGA Tour Driving Distance

[Bryan Izatt]

Time for speculation after all the recent noise.  Let's bet on the ball's impact on driving distance.  Here are the last 10 years of driving distance average on the PGA Tour.


2014   288.8
2015   289.7
2016   290.0
2017   292.5
2018   296.1
2019   293.9
2020   296.4
2021   296.2
2022   299.8
2023   299.9


Overall the trend is up.  There is variation from year to year probably the result of different playing conditions and changes of players on and off tour.


So, what's the over/under on the average distance of the current long ball in 2027.  My guess is 302-303 given the past progression.


And, what's the over/under for the average distance of the new short ball in 2028.  My guess is 294-295.


So, it'll take us back to somewhere around 2017-2018 average distances.  Anybody think there is a noticeable difference in perception about driving distance on tour between 2017 and today?  Anybody think there will be any noticeable difference between 2028 and today in our perception of tour driving distance?  Maybe if they can't carry the right fairway bunker on #8 at the Masters, or .........

[John Crowley]

Time for speculation after all the recent noise.  Let's bet on the ball's impact on driving distance.  Here are the last 10 years of driving distance average on the PGA Tour.


2014   288.8
2015   289.7
2016   290.0
2017   292.5
2018   296.1
2019   293.9
2020   296.4
2021   296.2
2022   299.8
2023   299.9


Overall the trend is up.  There is variation from year to year probably the result of different playing conditions and changes of players on and off tour.


So, what's the over/under on the average distance of the current long ball in 2027.  My guess is 302-303 given the past progression.


And, what's the over/under for the average distance of the new short ball in 2028.  My guess is 294-295.


So, it'll take us back to somewhere around 2017-2018 average distances.  Anybody think there is a noticeable difference in perception about driving distance on tour between 2017 and today?  Anybody think there will be any noticeable difference between 2028 and today in our perception of tour driving distance?  Maybe if they can't carry the right fairway bunker on #8 at the Masters, or .........

Brian,
Good choice of words -  “recent noise”. The noise will continue for the next few years apparently.
I’m wracking my brain to figure out why I should care about all this.
J

[Craig Sweet]

It doesn't matter how far the tour players hit the ball. Your average golfer is going to say "man, they hit it a mile."  What pisses me off is everything in this debate is about how far the tour players hit the ball.  That is such a small percentage of the golfing public.  And nobody...nobody....is asking Joe Blow at the local muni what he thinks should be done about the average PGA tour drive that was 299.3 yards this year.   Nobody is asking because they would be laughed off the course. And the rich white guys controlling the game do not like to be laughed at.  They will sleep with murderous thugs, but they won't go near Joe Blow.