x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
How ‘quality of strike’ affects your distance, according to data
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
Instruction

How ‘quality of strike’ affects your distance, according to data

By: Zephyr Melton
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
July 14, 2023
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
bryson dechambeau hits driver

The quality of your strike can have a huge impact on your distance.

Getty Images

Welcome to Golfer-to-Golfer, where we try to learn from all different kinds of avid players out there, in hopes that the rest of us can take away something that might improve our own games.

Every golfer wants to hit the ball farther, especially at the recreational ranks. More distance off the tee means shorter clubs into greens, which translates to more birdies. (It also gives you some bragging rights among your weekend foursome.)

Most golfers look to achieve this extra distance through speed training and improved fitness — which is great! However, in searching for more swing speed, they often neglect another key component to adding distance: quality of strike.

Quality of strike is basically exactly what it sounds like; how efficiently you’re hitting the ball with your club. And it’s something that, if improved, can add distance to your drives without needing to add any mph to your clubhead speed.

Check out below for a breakdown of how quality of strike affects your distance off the tee, courtesy of stats guru Lou Stagner.

I often encourage you to gain distance through speed training and a fitness program.

More distance will help you lower scores.

Quality of Strike
You can speed train, but don't overlook training your strike!

The data below is from 27 amateurs that hit 5,477 shots on a GC quad… pic.twitter.com/sDQDOuAO3d

— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) July 11, 2023

In Stagner’s experiment, he recorded over 5,000 shots from amateurs with swing speeds between 96 and 99 mph. He charted where the ball was hit on the face and the total distance the ball traveled, and then averaged it all out.

As you can see above, the best spot to hit on the face is slightly high in the center of the face. Strikes in this area generated an average drive of 246 yards.

Conversely, the worst spot to hit on the face is low on the heel. Strikes in this area generated just 210 yards on average. This nets out to 36 yards shorter between the best and worst places to hit the ball on the face.

If you are prone to mishits, staying toward the toe is your best option. Middle of the face off the toe only costs you about three yards of distance, but middle off the heel costs about 12 yards. So try to stay away from the heel (and higher on the face) if you want to get the most out of your drives.

“While speed training is important, strike training is KEY,” Stagner says. “The closer you can move your average strike to the center of the club, the longer you will hit it!”

Next time you head to the range in search of more distance, remember to keep the quality of strike in mind. If you can find the center of the clubface more often, you’ll add yards to your driving average without even having to hit the gym.

cleveland launcher xl irons

Cleveland Launcher XL Irons

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to playing better golf. That’s why we made the Launcher XL Irons hollow and strong in the long Irons, then gave them precise cavity backs in the shorts. It’s forgiveness where you need it, and control where you want it, all from the same set of Irons.
Buy Now from us.dunlopsports.com

Latest In Instruction

17 hours ago

Struggling with short pitch shots? Try this top teacher's simple keys

1 day ago

The 4 driving essentials you need to hit the ball farther

2 days ago

Amateurs don’t realize this mistake, Top 100 teacher says. And it bothers him

2 days ago

3 ball-striking drills every golfer needs to do after a long break

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

Instruction
ryan mccormick swings

How this pro is using a video game to prepare for golf tournaments

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
tommy fleetwood swings

How to hit irons in the wind like the pros do at the Open Championship

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
In today's Golfer-to-Golfer, we asked a pro, a low-handicap and a mid-handicap how they'd handle three scenarios. Here's how they differed

The differences between a pro, low- and mid-handicap golfer

By: Nick Dimengo , Zephyr Melton
Instruction
phil mickelson and seve ballesteros

Phil Mickelson reveals advice he received from Seve Ballesteros as an amateur

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
johnny miller swings

Johnny Miller explains the secrets to his elite ball-striking

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
michael breed demonstrates position

Use this pro-like move to supercharge your power on your tee shots

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
girl hits golf ball

The keys to becoming an elite junior golfer, according to elite junior golfers

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
tiger woods swings

Tiger Woods explains the keys to hitting a stinger off the tee

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
fred couples swings

This Fred Couples swing thought can help you generate more power

By: Zephyr Melton
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version