Loss of distance

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By Mark F

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  • 12 Replies
  1. Mark F

    Mark F
    Greenville, SC

    Over the last few months I have noticed what I think is a significant loss of distance with my irons, so I have a couple of questions.  I play the 2008 AP1s and I used to hit the 7 iron about 150 yds..  Now I only seem to get it 130-140.  Sometimes I use a 5 or 6 iron for the 150 shot and still end up short quite often.  I'm 66 yrs old so I'm sure that I'm not swinging as well as I used to.  So here are the questions. First, is it possible that the clubs could lose some performance due to age and use (I'm waiting to see what the 716 APs look like in November to see about upgrading)?  Second, I used to clean the clubs in a bucket with brushes at the course after each round until I saw a post from Cathi that said the clubs are not sealed so not to do that. So could that soaking have done something to change the performance?  I know that lessons are probably the best answer, but I just wanted to be sure that the clubs haven't changed .  Thanks for the help.  Fairways and greens to all of the T/T family in 2015.

    Mark F.

  2. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Have you taken them to a golf shop and checked the lofts on the clubs? Clubs need to be check periodically if you play a lot of golf. They might need to be recalibrated. I am 68 and notice that I do not hit my irons as far as I use to as well. I play AP2s and 150 is the max for my 7 iron. Sometimes it is easier to hit a smooth 6 and more accurate. My handicap is a 9. Fairways and greens, my friend, fairways and greens. :-)
  3. Mark F

    Mark F
    Greenville, SC

    Chuck,

    Thanks for the thoughts.  I think that Titleist should put you on their staff.  My original post was slow showing up on the site so I called in and spoke to Will and he suggested the same thing - check the lofts and lies. I will be doing this next Tuesday.  I have already started using one more club (and sometimes two) but still seem to end up short more often than not, which is why I asked the original question about the clubs losing some of their punch with age.  Will said that he hadn't heard of this happening.  So I guess that it must be me.  :-(    Thanks again. I'll let you know how the check-up goes.  Fairways and greens!!

    Mark F.

    PS.  I pumped Will for any info that may have leaked out of the R&D room about the new irons coming out in late November, but he said that they are pretty tight- lipped about things like that.  Darn!

  4. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Thanks Mark for the compliment. I'm sure the Mike, Bubba, Cathi and all the Titleist staff are way more experienced than I. Experience is just a good teacher.
  5. Ken W

    Ken W
    Baltimore, MD

    Happy New Year Mark. Older steel shafts (older meaning in terms of over a decade) can slowly stiffen over time but that isn't affecting your clubs. Neither is it likely that the loft specs are an issue. The AP1s are made of the firmest steel Titleist uses and will not go out of spec unless shocked by impact( root, rock etc. ). Even bending them with a loft/lie machine requires a good deal of force. The cleaning you mention is definitely not an issue. Extreme moisture can cause rust, loosening of ferrules or heads, but not club performance. Approaching 50, what has cost me distance in the last 5 years is less play and practice as well as a slight loss of fitness in key areas related to golf. Were I to increase repetition to improve timing and get my golf muscles back to normal strength, that would be half the battle. The other critical part would be to work on flexibility. Loss of that leads to a drop in swing speed and other distance robbing issues. You can't generate speed when flexibility loss doesn't allow you to turn or maintain a powerful posture throughout the swing. I'll be working on this and I hope it helps you as well in 2015.
  6. Mark F

    Mark F
    Greenville, SC

    Ken,

    Thanks for your input.  I'm sure that my body has turned into something less than golf friendly.  I will still have the clubs checked next week, but I will take your ideas to heart.  I have access to a small exercise room in our neighborhood and will start visiting it. Thanks again.  Fairways and greens.

      Mark F

  7. Brian B

    Brian B
    Kuna, ID

    Hey mark this answer might be way off base. But this time of year I lose a club length just due to colder weather and colder balls. Not sure where you live but maybe the case. I just hit the Ap-2 and love them!!
  8. Tyson M

    Tyson M
    paducah, KY

    Has the weather changed much over the months youve been losing distance. I know for me there is atleast a club to a club and a half distance variance from warmer summer months to colder winters. Temperature affects distance as well as the body not being as lose and wearing extra layers of clothing in the cold.

  9. Mark F

    Mark F
    Greenville, SC

    Tyson and Brian,

    I live in the upstate of South Carolina so we can play year round.  During the winter months I will usually play when the temps are 40ish or higher (below that and we have to fight the frost).  So, yes I have noticed the loss over the last couple of months but they were getting shorter while the temps were still in the 60's and 70's in October.  I know that my flexibility, which isn't the greatest to begin with, gets somewhat less during the cold. Not to mention the extra layer or two of clothes.  So, first I want to thank all of you for your suggestions and I will take all of your input seriously.  Second, I will have the clubs checked just to be sure, hit the exercise room some more, and be more patient during the colder temps.  All of you are why I play Titleist, friendship and serious, valuable help with problems.  Thanks again and Fairways and Greens to you and all of the T/T family.

        Mark F

  10. Jim H

    Jim H
    Fenton, MO

    I'm almost 65 and have been losing distance the last couple years. Had my irons reshafted with the lighter 95 gram shafts and regained a club, distance wise. Try them in a shop with a monitor and see if that will help. The S300 is definitely too stiff and heavy for me to swing as fast as I can the lighter and virtually similarly performing new shafts....
  11. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Mark - losing a club over a short time may have a technical basis.  However, it may be time to get the 2014/2016 irons.  It's been 7 years, and at 65 - I wish I didn't feel your pain.  I've added a club length and moved from A-flex 65 g to R-Flex 85 g over the last year working on strength training, stretching, and core exercises.  Now I have to see if I can keep fighting nature so the new sticks still fit me for 7 more years.  By the time the new irons come out, you should have a handle on your golf shape and can get fitted for the right shaft for your game.  Good luck and hope you only need a small change.

  12. Mark F

    Mark F
    Greenville, SC

    Don and Jim,

    Thanks for your thoughts.  I am ashamed to say that I was not "properly" fitted for my AP1s.  I got them near the end of 2009 when the 710 versions were coming out.  Being a senior, I was looking for high quality but at a good price.  The clerk at Edwin Watts did put me on a lie board, and based on those results we thought that the standard lie and length were good for me, so I walked out with the new clubs at a really good price.  I have tried the 714 AP1s through the "trial" program that Titleist has (which I happen to think is the greatest idea since sliced bread) but I found them to be very similar to my 2008s so did not feel the need to spend the money.  I am looking forward to November when the 716 clubs come out.  I will definitely be fitted properly with a launch monitor and everything so that I can get the proper settings with the proper shaft.  Until then I will start working out more (now that our new insurance plan pays for a gym membership) as well as trying to lose 20 or so pounds (which I'm sure hasn't helped my swing).  Thanks again for your suggestions.  Fairways and greens.

        Mark F

  13. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    I gained a distance after loosing about fifty pounds prior to retiring at 65. Have gained about 20 pounds back and do notice that I am not hitting it as far consistently. Maybe a combination of that and being 68 are taking the toil. I not that unhappy with the distance. That 915D is a great club. Too many variables. Life is good though........ :-)

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