7/28/2023 0 Comments Long drive golf swingAdding another 2.5 – 3 inches makes a huge impact on total distance. What’s crazy is the length of the driver is 48 inches.įor context, most off the rack standard golf drivers are 45 or 45.5 inches long. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. And it also complies with the USGA rules. That’s right, the clubhead is the same size that every normal golfer uses. All balls used for a WLD event were furnished by the golf ball sponsor of the World Long Drive Association to ensure USGA compliance as well as equality of brand and model.” “World Long Drive Association competitors were required to use USGA-approved golf clubs with a maximum length shaft of 48 inches and the volume of the clubhead no greater than 460 cc. If you’re like most people, you probably think they use tricked up drivers or specialized golf balls to launch the ball 400+ yards. Depending on the league and event, there is usually a minimum length of drive to count for each division as well. Players are given an allotted amount of time to hit six to eight drives. Accuracy is still somewhat important, although it’s a wider grid that most fairways are on a normal golf course. But the catch is that you must keep the golf ball inside the grid, otherwise the drive does not count. The goal is pretty simple – hit it as far as possible. This ensures that everyone competes on the same playing field and is a fair competition for all. That is a staggering 50+ more than the average PGA Tour golfer, which is wildly impressive.Īs long drive events have become more popular, it’s a lot more formal now with a standard set of rules. While not everyone hits it 400 plus yards, the average for players is around 356 yards. In competition, these guys find a way to hit monster drives of 450 or more yards. If you’re like most golfers, you might be thinking… How far do these athletes actually hit the golf ball? Do they really hit it longer than Bryson “The Hulk” DeChambeau does on the PGA Tour? But regardless of where you live, I’m sure you can find a professional or amateur competition near you. For a long time, the home of the long drive was in Mesquite, Nevada, but has since moved to Oklahoma in 2015. One of the first big names was Evan “Big Cat” Williams, who was a huge hitter thanks to his enormous 6’6” frame.Ĭompetitions became more popular, they began to attract sponsors, added new divisions, and it’s been growing ever since. Then, in 1974, the event spun off the PGA Championship into its own event. While Harbert was credited with a 305-yard drive at Hermitage Country Club (now Belmont GC), it was Sam Snead, who won the match play championship and took home $3,500 as the PGA Champion’s share.” The metamorphosis of long drive competitions in the United States evolved over the past seven decades from 1949, when golf fans outside Henrico, VA watched Chick Harbert win the inaugural long drive event during the 31 st PGA Championship. So how long has the spinoff of traditional golf been around? As more and more people look to join the game, this spin off sport is something that even non-golfers can enjoy.īefore diving into the specifics of long drive competitions, let’s start with how this all got started. It’s not as popular as the “normal” game of golf, but it’s becoming increasingly popular as it’s a less formal/more fun version of golf for newcomers. While the game of golf has been around for centuries, the long drive part of the game is a lot more recent. Long Drive Competitions – Everything You Need to Know Keep reading to learn more about how long drive events work, how to watch them, and how to get started yourself. While not as popular as golf, I see them only gaining more popularity as the game looks to expand and continue to attract a new audience. Instead, it’s a high energy environment where players swing as hard as possible to take home the trophy. There are no signs that read “Quiet please” and no quiet golf claps. But that’s the beauty of long drive competitions, they are everything that golf is not. Not to mention, the events have loud music, fireworks, and screaming fans… sounds more like a monster truck race than a golf tournament. Their swings that long drive pros make Bryson’s look tame, which is no easy feat to say the least. Scores don’t matter, instead, it’s all about gripping it, ripping it, and hitting it as far as possible. Long drive competitions are the exact opposite to normal golf.
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