Maximize Distance with Proper Clubs & Golf Ball Compression

By: Bob Boldt


Each manufacturer has its own specifications and it becomes extremely confusing for any amateur or professional to be properly fitted for a driver. I have put some specs together for gaining distance no matter what your swing speed or how far you are hitting the ball. If Rocky Thompson can do it so can you.

If you are hitting the following distances you will gain added yardage using the associated general guidelines. These guidelines were true in the 1980s and are applicable today.

Driver 180-200 - L (Ladies) shaft, 46 inches long, graphite, low kick point, lightest gram weight shaft available, 12 - 13 degrees loft.

Driver 200-220 - A (Senior) shaft, 46 inches plus, low kick point, lightest gram weight shaft available, 10.5 - 12 degrees loft.

Driver 220-240 - R (Regular) shaft, 46 inches plus, low-middle kick point, lightest gram weight shaft available, 9.5 - 10.5 degrees loft.

Driver 240-260 - R-S (Regular to Stiff) shaft, 46 inches plus, middle kick point, lightest gram weight shaft available 8.5 - 9.5 degrees loft.

Driver 260-280 - S (Stiff) shaft, 46 inches plus, high kick point, lightest gram weight shaft available, 7.5 - 9 degrees loft.

Driver 280-300 - X (Extra Stiff) shaft, 46 inches plus, high kick point, lightest shaft available, 7 - 9 degrees loft.

My Observations

What produces longer, straighter drives is a longer swing path. Every added inch in club length will produce approximately 12 to 15 more yards. The modern-day graphite shafts are lighter and can be longer and produce more club-head speed through the hitting area. Every manufacturer is striving to make clubs that are longer and lighter. Ever wonder how Bubba Watson hits the ball so far? John Daly? A longer swing path due to longer, lighter clubs.

Golf Balls for Longer Distance

The first time I realized compression in golf balls made a big difference in distance was during the 1968 Pensacola Open. On the first tee it was customary to produce the ball you were playing as to brands and individual markings in order to eliminate any possible confusion that might occur in identifying balls during play. I was in a group with George Archer.

I was using a Titleist Pro Trajectory 100 compression, and when George showed his ball I was shocked: a Lady Titleist Red, 70-80 compression!

I played with George throughout my amateur and professional career and had no idea why he was using a Lady Titleist until I hit one of my longest drives and George was past me with his. George was always a short hitter, and I couldn't understand what was wrong with my power that day.

I asked George after the round how he suddenly gained so much more yardage. His answer was simple: "When the temperature is in the 50s and even colder I found out that if I go to a lower compression I can hit the ball as far as when I use a higher compression in warmer weather. That 100 compression ball caused you to lose distance today."

George was always a step ahead of all of us when it came to golf, and yes, George won the tournament using a Lady Titleist every round! So much for my Cal Berkeley education.

How can a lower compression ball go farther?

A perfect example would be the first low-compression ball that added distance, the Noodle, manufactured by Dunlop and now sold by TaylorMade as the Noodle Long and Soft Ball. The first time I noticed a player using the Noodle was in one of our PGA section events. Bob Mejias, who used to work for me, was using the Noodle and hitting the ball farther with his driver than I had ever seen him hit off the tee.

During the round I said, "Your swing looks the same but you're hitting the ball 25 yards longer than the last time we played." Bob said that the Noodle was longer than any ball he had ever used, but he didn't know why. The theory is similar to George's use of the Lady Titleist.

Club-head speed is directly related to how much you compress the golf ball. Once you know your club-head speed, or how far you are hitting the ball, then you can experiment with the best compression golf ball for you. All manufacturers make lower compression balls; in fact, the new Titleist Pro V1 is an 86 compression.

Guidelines & Driving Distance for Golf Balls

Each manufacturer is different, so experiment to find which ball is best for you. Here are some guidelines:

180-200 yards - Ladies ball, 60-70 compression
200-220 - 70-80 compression
220-240 - 80-90 compression
240-260 - 80-90 compression
260-280 - 90 compression
280-300 - 100 compression

At temperatures in the 50 and below, go down at least one compression.

Next Up: The Full-Finger Grip

Bob Boldt turned 77 in September 2014. Married for 31 years to Patricia, the father of two – including two sons, Rob and Jason, who are golf professionals and excellent players – played on the PGA and Champions tours for dozens of years, earning multiple victories in his amateur and professional careers.

Boldt, who attended Cal and became the Bears’ men’s golf coach, is a long-time native of Northern California and currently the director of golf at Vintners Golf Club in Yountville, where he is one of state’s most recognized golf instructors. He received the Northern California PGA Section Junior Golf Leader Award in 1999.