Drive (golf)
Encyclopedia
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.
, Robert Garrigus
, John Daly
and Dustin Johnson
at very best are capable of driving a ball over 350 yards, although very rare in professional play, but regularly hit drives of over 300 yards. The top 200 or so biggest hitters on the tour in 2007 averaged a drive of 265 yards or over. Some of the biggest hitters on the female tour such as Michelle Wie
can hit a ball as far as most of the male players, averaging around 280 yards and capable of almost 350 yards a maximum if the course is downhill. As of 2011, Watson has the longest average drive in professional golf, with an average drive of 315.2 yards, capable of generating a ball speed of 194 mph and drives of up to 370 yards. Mike Austin
holds the world record for the longest drive in professional play, driving 515 yards at the Winterwood Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada
in 1974, blasting it 65 yards past the flag on the Par 4 fifth. His golf swing, known as The Mike Austin Swing
, is practiced and taught by current golf professionals. Other notable swings are Ben Hogan's Swing, Jim Furyk's Swing and Tiger Woods' Swing. Golf driving is big business in the United States and golf driving instruction is a multi-million dollar business with many manuals and instructors offering their expertise to maximize the drives of their consumers.
According to professionals, flexibility, technique and form are very important in a drive. A flexible player is able to generate a longer drive by having the ability to swing with a wider arc, creating more thrust. Some of the world's longest drivers who are not professional golfers but compete in Long Drive contests such as the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship
, such as Jamie Sadlowski
and Mike Dobbyn
, are capable of regularly hitting a ball over 400 yards and over 220 mph. Two time World Long Drive champion Sadlowski is of average height and slight of build but is able to generate lengths of up to 445 yards far beyond those of some of the more powerfully built professional golfers because of his unique flexibility and leanness of build. Motion Golf, a company that creates sophisticated 3-D swing animations of players, has deduced that in his swing he rotates his shoulder 166 degrees, but his hips move only 49 degrees; Tiger Woods
averages around 85 degrees in comparison. He claims that the secret behind his usually long drive is to "Think swing fast, not hard." However, the world record holder, Mike Dobbyn
, whose longest drive is a world record 551 yards, is 6'8" and a muscular 310 pounds, implying that raw power is also very important, particularly in the left shoulder and right pectoral (for a right -handed golfer) and in the twitch muscles on the left side. Several of the past RE/MAX winners such as Sweden's Viktor Johansson have also been at least 6'5" and near 300 pounds and five time winner Jason Zuback was an amateur powerlifter.
s are achieved on Par 3 holes for eagle. Given that most Par 3s are relatively short, most hole in ones are achieved with mid-lower irons
rather than drivers.
Golf stroke mechanics
Golf stroke mechanics is the means by which golfers make decisions and execute them in the sport of golf...
, a drive, also known as a tee
Tee
A tee is a stand used to support a stationary ball so that the player can strike it, particularly in golf, tee ball, American football, and rugby.- Etymology :...
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
An average professional male golfer is capable of hitting a drive using a 1 wood over 250 yards, maximizing power by driving the legs and hips and the body weight into the swing. Some of the biggest hitters on the PGA Tour such as Bubba WatsonBubba Watson
Gerry "Bubba" Watson is an American professional golfer. Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on tour and is known for his tremendous length. The longest driver on the PGA Tour, in 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards and is capable of generating a ball speed of 194 mph, being...
, Robert Garrigus
Robert Garrigus
Robert Garrigus is an American professional golfer who is currently a member of the PGA Tour. He won the 2010 Children's Miracle Network Classic, to guarantee exempt status on the PGA Tour through the end of the 2012 season....
, John Daly
John Daly
John Daly may refer to:*John Daly , former colonial Anglican bishop* J. Burrwood Daly , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania* John Charles Daly , veteran radio & TV newsman and television host on What's My Line? 1950–1967...
and Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Hunter Johnson is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years between 2009-2011....
at very best are capable of driving a ball over 350 yards, although very rare in professional play, but regularly hit drives of over 300 yards. The top 200 or so biggest hitters on the tour in 2007 averaged a drive of 265 yards or over. Some of the biggest hitters on the female tour such as Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie
Michelle Sung Wie is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie would also become the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for a LPGA Tour event...
can hit a ball as far as most of the male players, averaging around 280 yards and capable of almost 350 yards a maximum if the course is downhill. As of 2011, Watson has the longest average drive in professional golf, with an average drive of 315.2 yards, capable of generating a ball speed of 194 mph and drives of up to 370 yards. Mike Austin
Mike Austin
Michael Hoke Austin was an English-American golf professional and kinesiology expert, specializing in long drives. He is credited with hitting the longest drive in tournament play in 1974 at Winterwood Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada...
holds the world record for the longest drive in professional play, driving 515 yards at the Winterwood Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1974, blasting it 65 yards past the flag on the Par 4 fifth. His golf swing, known as The Mike Austin Swing
Mike Austin Swing
The Mike Austin Swing is a golf swing. Some claim that this method is a more efficient and more accurate way of hitting a golf ball. The swing was developed by Mike Austin. Based on the principle of leverage, Austin, an engineer, demonstrated the power of the swing by hitting the longest recorded...
, is practiced and taught by current golf professionals. Other notable swings are Ben Hogan's Swing, Jim Furyk's Swing and Tiger Woods' Swing. Golf driving is big business in the United States and golf driving instruction is a multi-million dollar business with many manuals and instructors offering their expertise to maximize the drives of their consumers.
According to professionals, flexibility, technique and form are very important in a drive. A flexible player is able to generate a longer drive by having the ability to swing with a wider arc, creating more thrust. Some of the world's longest drivers who are not professional golfers but compete in Long Drive contests such as the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship
RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship
The RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships, also known as the World Long Drive Championship, REMAX World Long Drive, RE/MAX WLDC or REMAX, is an annual world championship in long drive golf driving, hosted since 1975. RE/MAX became the title sponsor in 1995; it evolved out of the original Long Drive...
, such as Jamie Sadlowski
Jamie Sadlowski
Jamie 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...
and Mike Dobbyn
Mike Dobbyn
Mike 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...
, are capable of regularly hitting a ball over 400 yards and over 220 mph. Two time World Long Drive champion Sadlowski is of average height and slight of build but is able to generate lengths of up to 445 yards far beyond those of some of the more powerfully built professional golfers because of his unique flexibility and leanness of build. Motion Golf, a company that creates sophisticated 3-D swing animations of players, has deduced that in his swing he rotates his shoulder 166 degrees, but his hips move only 49 degrees; Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
averages around 85 degrees in comparison. He claims that the secret behind his usually long drive is to "Think swing fast, not hard." However, the world record holder, Mike Dobbyn
Mike Dobbyn
Mike 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...
, whose longest drive is a world record 551 yards, is 6'8" and a muscular 310 pounds, implying that raw power is also very important, particularly in the left shoulder and right pectoral (for a right -handed golfer) and in the twitch muscles on the left side. Several of the past RE/MAX winners such as Sweden's Viktor Johansson have also been at least 6'5" and near 300 pounds and five time winner Jason Zuback was an amateur powerlifter.
Hole in one
Given the length of Par 4s, generally being over 350 yards, and beyond the maximum driving distance of virtually all players, all hole in oneHole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is most possible on a par 3 hole. Longer hitters have accomplished this feat on shorter par 4 holes...
s are achieved on Par 3 holes for eagle. Given that most Par 3s are relatively short, most hole in ones are achieved with mid-lower irons
Iron (golf)
An iron is a type of club used in the sport of golf to propel the ball towards the hole. They are so-called because historically the clubhead was generally made from iron. Whilst the vast majority of modern irons are still made from iron, it is almost always its stronger and more durable alloy,...
rather than drivers.