Long drive is a competitive sport where success is derived by hitting a golf ball the farthest by driving. A small but dedicated talent base of golfers populate the world of Long-Drive, with the top talent competing professionally in various events and exhibitions.
Distance
Professional long drivers can average over 355 yards (320 m) in competition, compared with 305 yard (274 m) averages from the top PGA Tour drivers and 225 yards (201 m) for an average amateur. Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards (366 m). The world record recognized by Guinness Records as the longest drive in a competition is 516 yards (472Â m) by 64-year-old Mike Austin in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver. The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship is 473 yards (433m) by Allen Doyle in September 2005. The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX South African Long Drive Championship is 506 yards (462.9m) by Nico Grobbelaar in September 2012. Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over 150Â mph (245Â km/h), well beyond the 85Â mph (140Â km/h) average for an amateur. They train for strength, flexibility, and speed and often perform corporate exhibitions for money, exhibiting a variety of trick shots. Ball speeds are nearly double that of an average golfer (220Â mph).
There are several well-known names in long drive. Jason Zuback is perhaps the most famous, being one of three people to win multiple RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships, with four consecutive wins from 1996â€"99 and a win in 2006. Sean "The Beast" Fister is another, winning in 1995, 2001, and 2005. Jamie Sadlowski had back to back wins in 2008â€"09. The Golf Channel is currently the owner of the Long Drivers of America organization.
Equipment
Long drive clubs, which are always drivers, are different in many ways from consumer clubs. Until the recent club length limitation rules, the shafts were much longer than a normal 45Â in (114.3Â cm) shaft, sometimes exceeding 55Â in (139.7Â cm). In 2005, 50Â in (127.0Â cm) limitation was introduced (measured vertically).
In November, 2016, the World Long Drive Association (WLDA) announced a rule change as it relates to club length that went into effect immediately for all WLDA sanctioned events. The new rule states that all clubs used in competition must conform with the USGA® Rules of Golf (Appendix II, 1c), which limits club length to a maximum of 48 in (120 cm). The rule is upheld by the WLDA at all sanctioned events through the use of a CLUBLENGTH™ Ruler Measuring Tool that conforms to the USGA® method for measuring club length.
The rule change reduces the previous maximum length allowed by the WLDA, and is being implemented to allow Long Drive competitors to be held to the same standard of competition as Tour professionals in accordance with the USGA.
Long drive shafts differ from standard shafts. The main difference is stiffness, as a shaft not stiff enough will lag in an inconsistent manner, causing a loss of control. These shafts are stiffer in flex and almost always made of graphite, which is lighter than steel. In order to be stiff, a shaft is usually heavier and stronger. The kick point or bend point is also higher for a lower trajectory relative to the swing, and the shaft has a lower torque, meaning that it will not twist as much, allowing the clubhead to stay straighter.
Clubheads usually approach the 460 cubic centimeter limit, rarely below 400 cc. They must stay within the Coefficient Of Restitution (COR) limit of 0.83, which measures how a ball hits off the surface. Most clubheads only approach the COR in the center of the club, so technology has allowed more area of the club to possess a COR of above 0.80. Thus, mishits are less affected by the newer clubheads. The loft of a long drive club is also much lower than a consumer club, sometimes around 4 or 5 degrees, as opposed to 10.5 degrees for an amateur's driver. The reason for lower lofted driver heads is to greatly reduce back spin. Too much back spin causes the ball to balloon or climb, creating a steep landing angle which does not allow the ball roll out. A flatter landing angle is desired to get the most out of the ball's forward velocity and energy.
Many competitions require golfers to use a specification ball for the tournament. The specific design characteristics of this ball include a dimple design that helps to maintain lower spin rates and a ball compression of 110. The average ball compression in golf varies from the mid-70s to the upper 80s.
Notable long drivers
- David Mobley, World Long Drive Champion â€" 2004 â€" Ranked #1 in the World by Long Drivers of America in 2003, 2004, and 2005
- Bubba Watson, 424 yd. drive (lost Long Drive contest to Jamie Sadlowski)
- Alan Shepard, "Miles and miles and miles." Apollo 14, February 5, 1971. (This occurred on the Moon with a 6-iron and is unofficial.)
- Mike Austin, He was credited by Guinness World Records with hitting the longest drive in tournament play (471m/515 yards) in 1974
- Sean Fister ("The Beast"), World Long Drive Champion 1995, 2001, 2005.
- Monte Scheinblum, 1992 U.S. National and World Long Drive Champion.
- Jason Zuback ("Golfzilla"), World Long Drive Champion 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006.Seniors World Long Drive Champion 2015.
- Sandra Carlborg, Ladies Division WR holder 391,Yards World Long Drive Champion 2011,2012,2014,2015, 2017
- Phillis Meti 2006 & 2016 Womens World Long Drive Champion. WR for women's longest drive 406 yards and being the youngest female World Champion 19 years, 2 months. Hit 349 yards on the WLD grid in 2008.,,
References
External links
- Long Drivers of America
- Euro Longdrivers
- Results for 2005 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships
- Results for 2006 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships
- Long Drivers of Holland
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