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{{Short description|Golf sport}}
{{about||the 2023 film|Long Drive (film)}}
[[File:Military long drive competition.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A military veteran long drive competition]]

'''Long drive''' is a sport where players compete to hit or [[Drive (golf)|drive]] a [[golf ball]] the farthest. Top long drivers compete professionally in events and exhibitions.

==Distance==
Professional long drivers can average over {{convert|356|yd|m}} in competition,<ref>[http://www.longdrivers.com/2011WLDCResults/2011OpenR8-13.html Re/Max World Long Drive Championships 2011, Rounds 8-13] Long Drivers of America, Retrieved 13 July 2012</ref> compared with {{convert|305|yd|m}} averages from the top [[PGA Tour]] drivers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.101.html |title=PGA Tour Driving Distance |publisher=PGA Tour |access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref> and {{convert|225|yd|m}} for an average amateur.<ref>[http://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-far-do-average-golfers-really-hit-it-new-distance-data-will-surprise-you How far do average golfers really hit it? New distance data will surprise you] Golf Digest</ref> Some shots in competitions surpass {{convert|400|yd|m}}.<ref>[http://www.longdrivers.com/2011WLDCResults/2011OpenFinals.html Re/Max World Long Drive Championships 2011, Finals] Long Drivers of America, Retrieved 13 July 2012</ref>

The world record recognized by [[Guinness World Records]] as the longest drive in a competition is {{convert|515|yd|m}} by 64-year-old [[Mike Austin (golfer)|Mike Austin]] in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver.<ref>Hudson, Alex (10 December 2010) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9269507.stm Why has the longest golf drive record not been broken?] BBC Click, Retrieved 8 December 2011</ref> The record distance achieved in the European Long Drive Championship is {{convert|473|yd|m}} by Allen Doyle in September 2005.<ref>[http://blog.remax.co.za/news/records-smashed-at-the-remax-world-long-drive-event/ Grobbelaar, Nico - Records Smashed! (3 September 2012)]</ref> The record distance achieved in the South African Long Drive Championship is {{convert|506|yd|m}} by Nico Grobbelaar in September 2012.

Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, well beyond the {{convert|93|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} average for an amateur. Competitors 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 (220&nbsp;mph).

[[Jason Zuback]] is perhaps the best known competitor in long drive. He is one of six people to win multiple [[World Long Drive Championship]]s, with four consecutive wins from 1996 to 1999 and a fifth win in 2006; the other multiple champions are [[Sean Fister]] (1995, 2001, and 2005), [[Jamie Sadlowski]] (2008 and 2009), [[Joe Miller (golfer)|Joe Miller]] (2010 and 2016), [[Tim Burke (golfer)|Tim Burke]] (2013 and 2015) and [[Kyle Berkshire]] (2019, 2021, and 2023).

==Equipment==
Long drive clubs, which are always drivers, differ in several ways from consumer clubs. Until the recent club length limitation rules, the shafts were much longer than a normal {{convert|45|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} shaft, sometimes exceeding {{convert|55|in|cm|1|abbr=on}}. In 2005, a {{convert|50|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} limitation was introduced (measured vertically). Long drive shafts differ from standard shafts. The main difference is greater stiffness, as a flexible shaft will lag in an inconsistent manner, causing a loss of control. These shafts are almost always made of graphite, which is lighter than steel. In order to be stiff, a shaft is usually heavier and stronger than consumer clubs. The 'kick point' or 'bend point' is also higher for a lower [[trajectory]] relative to the swing, while shaft have a lower torque, meaning that long drive clubs will not twist as much, allowing the club-head to stay straighter. In November 2016, to align them with the standard [[rules of golf]], the World Long Drive Association further-reduced the length limitation to  {{convert|48|in|cm|abbr=on}}—the maximum length allowed by the [[USGA]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/thinking-about-a-longer-driver-shaft-the-usga-could-be-shutting-the-door-on-that|title=Thinking about a longer driver shaft? The USGA could be shutting the door on that|last=Stachura|first=Mike|work=Golf Digest|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldlongdrive.com/news/world-long-drive-association-announces-rule-change/|title=World Long Drive Association Announces Rule Change |date=18 November 2016|publisher=World Long Drive|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

Club-heads 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 club-heads 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{{Definition needed|date=February 2017}} of 110. The average ball compression in golf varies from the mid-70s to the upper 80s.

==Notable long drivers==
*Sebastian Twaddell, Golf Ball Speed Record Holder 2025 - 246.8 mph (Trackman)
*[[Martin Borgmeier]], WLD World Champion 2022
*[[Kyle Berkshire]], World Long Drive Champion - 2019 & 2021. In October 2023 he drove 579.63 yards, setting a new World Record.
* [[Maurice Allen (golfer)|Maurice Allen]], World Long Drive Champion - 2018
*[[Justin James (golfer)|Justin James]], World Long Drive Champion - 2017 - Ranking #1 in the World was maintained until June 2019
*[[Joe Miller (golfer)|Joe Miller]], World Long Drive Champion 2010 & 2016
*[[Tim Burke (golfer)|Tim Burke]], World Long Drive Champion - 2013 & 2015
*[[David Mobley (golfer)|David Mobley]], World Long Drive Champion – 2004 – Ranked #1 in the World by Long Drivers of America in 2003, 2004, and 2005<ref>{{cite news|title=The Longest Golfers on Earth|url=https://www.longdrivers.com/sites/default/files/documents/2014_mesquite_final.pdf|access-date=30 January 2015|publisher=www.longdrivers.com|date=2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505073443/https://www.longdrivers.com/sites/default/files/documents/2014_mesquite_final.pdf|archive-date=5 May 2015}}</ref>
* [[Mike Austin (golfer)|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.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Boom Boom Drivers of America |journal=[[Golf Magazine]] |first=Josh |last=Sens |date=January 17, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2204311 |title=Fister, Shinnick win world long drive championship titles |newspaper=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 26, 2005 |access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Monte Scheinblum]], 1992 U.S. National and World Long Drive Champion.<ref name="newsbank1">[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F51A9078437B701&p_docnum=1 "Monte Scheinblum Shines When He's Hitting Off the Tee"], Bucky Albers, ''[[Dayton Daily News]]'', May 19, 1993, Retrieved December 23, 2010.</ref>
* 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<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/news/story?id=2643368 |title=Zuback back on top of Long Drive world |newspaper=[[ESPN]] |date=October 30, 2006 |access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0801/is_5_69/ai_n25358360/?tag=content;col1 |title=Driving force; Jason Zuback is the biggest hitter golf has ever seen. He also answers to one of sport's most fitting nicknames: Golfzilla |journal=[[Muscle & Fitness]] |date=May 2008 |first=Joe |last=Wuebben |access-date=February 10, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Phillis Meti]] 2006, 2016 2018 2022 & 2024 Women's World Long Drive Champion. WR for women's longest drive 414 yards and being the youngest female World Champion 19 years, 2 months. Hit 349 yards on the WLD grid in 2008 Mesquite NV and 382 yards on WLD grid 2023 in Atlanta GA.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.longdrivers.com/news/remax-world-long-drive-championship-results-1995-date-0 |title=RE/MAX WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 1995 TO DATE &#124; Long Drivers of America |access-date=2016-10-17 |archive-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018204522/https://www.longdrivers.com/news/remax-world-long-drive-championship-results-1995-date-0 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/kiel.christianson/2008/10/23/q_what_is_the_farthest_a_woman_can_hit_a|title=Q: How far can a woman hit a golf ball? (A: Farther than you.)|website=TravelGolf.com|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://buildlongdrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Long-Drive-Past-Champions-Archive_Nov-2015-UpdateV2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-10-17 |archive-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018232408/https://buildlongdrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Long-Drive-Past-Champions-Archive_Nov-2015-UpdateV2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vivians-blogs.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/smt-golf-puts-record-setting-db-plus.html|title=SMT Golf puts record-setting DB Plus driver in hands of regular golfers|website=vivians-blogs.blogspot.co.nz|date=10 September 2013|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/can-kyle-berkshire-world-long-drive-champ-make-it-to-pga-tour
{{Golf|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Forms of golf]]