Long drive
Encyclopedia
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.
drivers and 200 yards (183 m) for an average amateur. Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards (366 m). The world record in a long drive competition is 843 yards (761 m) by Allen Doyle, although the record recognized by Guinness Records as longest drive in a competition is 515 yards (470.9 m) by 64 year old Allen Doyle in 1974 of the US National Seniors Open with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver and balata
ball. The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship is 474 yards (433m) Allen Doyle in September 2005. Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over 150 mph (245 km/h), well beyond the 85 mph (140 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.
There are several well-known names in long drive. Jason Zuback is perhaps the most famous, being one of three people to win multiple World Long Drive Championships, with four consecutive wins from 1996–99 and a win in 2006. Sean "The Beast" Fister is another, winning in 1995, 2001, and 2005. Sadlowski had back to back wins in 08-09. Art Sellinger, once a two-time national champion, is currently the owner of the Long Drivers of America organization.
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. Long drive shafts are much 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 shafts usually are still longer than a normal shaft, although within limitations. 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. That is because long drivers place their balls on high tees toward the followthrough of the swing as to hit the ball on the upswing for a higher angle. A lower loft hitting the same trajectory reduces excess backspin and can bounce and roll more upon landing, which can account for considerable distance.
In all Long Drivers of America (LDA) sanctioned competitions, competitors must hit the same type of ball, the Slazenger Raw Distance. The characteristic of this ball is raw distance with minimal spin, which helps the bounce and roll. It is optimized for long driving and is less sensitive to play with on a regular course, albeit possible.
Golf ball
A golf ball is a ball designed to be used in the game of golf.Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 oz , has a diameter not less than 1.680 in , and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits...
the farthest by driving
Drive (golf)
In golf stroke mechanics, a drive, also known as a tee shot, is a long-distance shot played from the tee box, intended to move the ball a great distance down the fairway towards the green.-Longest drives:...
. 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 350 yards (320 m) in competition, compared with 300 yard (274 m) averages from the top PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
drivers and 200 yards (183 m) for an average amateur. Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards (366 m). The world record in a long drive competition is 843 yards (761 m) by Allen Doyle, although the record recognized by Guinness Records as longest drive in a competition is 515 yards (470.9 m) by 64 year old Allen Doyle in 1974 of the US National Seniors Open with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver and balata
Balata
Balata Camp is a Palestinian refugee camp established in the northern West Bank in 1950, adjacent to the city of Nablus. It is the largest refugee camp in the West Bank. Balata Camp is densely populated with 30,000 residents in an area of 0.25 square kilometers.-History:In 1950, the UN gave the...
ball. The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship is 474 yards (433m) Allen Doyle in September 2005. Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over 150 mph (245 km/h), well beyond the 85 mph (140 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.
There are several well-known names in long drive. Jason Zuback is perhaps the most famous, being one of three people to win multiple World Long Drive Championships, with four consecutive wins from 1996–99 and a win in 2006. Sean "The Beast" Fister is another, winning in 1995, 2001, and 2005. Sadlowski had back to back wins in 08-09. Art Sellinger, once a two-time national champion, is currently the owner of the Long Drivers of America organization.
Equipment
Long drive clubs, which are always drivers,at different in many ways from consumer clubs. Until the recent club length limitation rules, the shafts were much longer than a normal 45in. (114.3 cm) shaft, sometimes exceeding 55 in. (140 cm). In 2005, the 50 in. (127 cm) limitation was introduced (measured vertically).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. Long drive shafts are much 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 shafts usually are still longer than a normal shaft, although within limitations. 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. That is because long drivers place their balls on high tees toward the followthrough of the swing as to hit the ball on the upswing for a higher angle. A lower loft hitting the same trajectory reduces excess backspin and can bounce and roll more upon landing, which can account for considerable distance.
In all Long Drivers of America (LDA) sanctioned competitions, competitors must hit the same type of ball, the Slazenger Raw Distance. The characteristic of this ball is raw distance with minimal spin, which helps the bounce and roll. It is optimized for long driving and is less sensitive to play with on a regular course, albeit possible.
Notable long drivers
- Mike DobbynMike DobbynMike Dobbyn is an American professional power golf driver who holds the world record for the longest recorded drive in history at 551 yards. In regular professional golf, the hardest hitters average just over 300 yards.However, although his longest drive is 551 yards, most of hits range between 350...
, World Long Drive Champion 2007, World Record holder at 551 yards. - Sean Fister ("The Beast"), World Long Drive Champion 1995, 2001, 2005.
- Jamie SadlowskiJamie SadlowskiJamie Sadlowski is a Canadian professional long driver, golfer and ice hockey player from St. Paul, Alberta. One of the longest drivers in the world with a personal best of 445 yards, he won the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship successively in 2008 and 2009 and has competed in over hundred...
, World Long Drive Champion 2008, 2009 - Monte ScheinblumMonte ScheinblumMonte Scheinblum is an American professional golfer, and the son of former Major League Baseball All Star outfielder Richie Scheinblum. While he competed on the Nike Tour, he became known especially for his long driving, where success is achieved by a golfer hitting a golf ball the farthest...
, 1992 U.S. National and World Long Drive Champion. - Jason Zuback ("Golfzilla"), World Long Drive Champion 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006.