Longest Drives

[Shivas Irons]

Here is my question. My friend has an r7 10.5* and has a swing speed of 90MPH but hits it dead straight and from the looks of it, it's right in the sweet spot everytime... Is it possible to swing a 400cc driver at 90MPH and hit a driver over 300yards (REG FLEX)? I don't know the physics involved in golf but from my general understanding of the game, It sounds like BS to me. I mean, he hits his 6 iron about 160-165. Maybe he is just counting his yardage wrong.

I would say he is counting his yardage wrong. I demo'd a number of drivers at Golftown last week & have a swing speed in excess of 90mph & according to the montior I didn't hit a single drive over 300 yards.
All thinigs being equal, I would say you are unlikely to regularly hit 300+ yard drives if your club head speed is less than 100mph.

["Richard"]

WOW.. thats long how did you get your swing speed up so high? Are there exercieses you can do?

[gronker]

415 yards at the par 5 over water at Stonebridge. The wind was so strong that day you had to widen your stance so you wouldn't fall over putting. I hit a sand wedge into the green and sunk an 8 footer for my first and only eagle ever. I also hit a 225 yard 8 iron that day as well. Of course coming back the other way my drives were about 150

[Golfpeasant]

>Is it possible to swing a 400cc driver at 90MPH and hit a driver over 300yards (REG FLEX)? I don't know the physics involved in golf but from my general understanding of the game, It sounds like BS to me.
[/QUOTE]

I swing well UNDER 90 mph, and often get good distances. The sweet spot (and a good club and good ball) do wonders.

[514_type r]

WOW.. thats long how did you get your swing speed up so high? Are there exercieses you can do?

if you want to to get more clubhead speed, swing smothly with something heavy. The swing has to be effortless. Also, I try to work on my tronk and shoulder flexibility to have a full shoulder turn.

I played hockey most of my life and to be honest i was able to hit far off the bat. I think its due to the weight transfer. I also found that i will have more club head speed and distance when I keep my right arm really connected to my body throughout the swing and make a late release of the club head. To practice that try hittng with a driver headcover under your right armpit and try making a regular swing. If the headcover stays in place, it means you right arm is connected. For the release, its more a question of timing and practicing. The only downside of the late release is that you need perfect timing or the ball will tend to draw. To practice the release, your right hand has to completly roll over your left hand after impact.

[duffer69]

A few weeks ago on #8 West at The Canadian. Slight breeze behind to about 9 yards in front of the 150 stick, center of the fairway. Hit my second shot fat and into the water, but still managed to get up and down for par.

A few of similar or longer lenght at some courses up at Tremblant, but with big elevation helping.

[Christian]

I have to agree that it is difficult to get a true measure of driving distance on a golf course.

Case in point. Yesterday during an alternate shot format at home course Greensmere (from the black's) - hit one 350 on par five 16, 340 on par five 18 and drove it left of the green on the 405 yard par four 13 (a dogleg to left).

I actually hit one 424 at Diamonback while in Florida in March of this year. Tenth hole is a par five (549 from back tees) and we had at least a 30 mile per hour tail wind. Hit it into the stratosphere and once it hit, it rolled another 40 yards further (hard and dry conditions).

Distances don't impress me. Tell me what you shot AFTER the massive drive, that might impress me. Right BC MIST?

I routinely outdrive BC by quite a few yards and at the end of the day, I would say that 7 times out of 10, his score is lower than mine.

I would rather hear "great score" rather than "nice drive" but that's just me.

[Andru]

If it was a dog leg then doesn't that mean that the total distance up the CENTRE of the fairway, around the bend and to the flag is 336yrds? Meaning from tee to hole the direct distance would alot less than 336.

it's much less, Much less.

Here is my question. My friend has an r7 10.5* and has a swing speed of 90MPH but hits it dead straight and from the looks of it, it's right in the sweet spot everytime... Is it possible to swing a 400cc driver at 90MPH and hit a driver over 300yards (REG FLEX)? I don't know the physics involved in golf but from my general understanding of the game, It sounds like BS to me. I mean, he hits his 6 iron about 160-165. Maybe he is just counting his yardage wrong.

Mayeb if he hit a cart path he hits it 320. If you've ever seen a 290 yard drive areal one. That carries 290. You'd give up the game.

[Andru]

#4 east at Meadows yesterday. 470yd par 5. Hit my drive well inside the 150.


Did I just smoke a 320yd drive?

NOT ... the GPS says just 255

The official length of a hole is measured along the centre line of the fairway. The 150yd marker is (hopefully) line-of-sight to the centre of the green. Not even StatsCan would be foolish enough to use thosa measurements to estimate the length of a drive.
p.s. it's also not a good idea to use the markers to decide when to hit your drive. The foursome ahead was well past the 150yd marker, so it must be safe to go ahead and hit on a par 5 ... NOT! I roled the ball under their cart

I have another one. Calabogie. number 16. Tees on the white deck. measures 335.

Tag a drive down the left side. Catch the hump on the front bounces to the back of the green. My friends are going nuts. 335. Whoo hoo. Nope. Laser measured. 272. Measuring based on yardage sticks doesn't work only for your ego. Even the slightest dogleg knocks a ton of distance off the shot.

Don't get mad at me, I'm just the messenger.

This doesn't include those occasions when you get 30 MPH winds and super nice bounces, Hills or cart paths. Those do happen. and it's fun when then do.

[Golfpeasant]

I don't know if I agree Andru. Ive golfed for 14 years, and I DO NOT have a high club head speed, but I've clocked it many times...have I overcompensated for various dog legs? Definitely, but there are straight holes in golf too, you know...

[Albatross69]

Hit a HUGE bomber down #5 of PineView Championship course... from BLUE tees 491...had bout 100 left....almost 390...wowee....was like 45 degrees outside....soo hot...but damn..did the ball fly... im just too strong...lol...

[Big Johnny69]

I have another one. Calabogie. number 16. Tees on the white deck. measures 335.

Tag a drive down the left side. Catch the hump on the front bounces to the back of the green. My friends are going nuts. 335. Whoo hoo. Nope. Laser measured. 272. Measuring based on yardage sticks doesn't work only for your ego. Even the slightest dogleg knocks a ton of distance off the shot.

Don't get mad at me, I'm just the messenger.

This doesn't include those occasions when you get 30 MPH winds and super nice bounces, Hills or cart paths. Those do happen. and it's fun when then do.

Andru, like I said in one of my previous posts, this is just for fun. You are not the first to say "Hold on, cutting the dogleg shortens your claimed distance". But this post is just for that, FUN. There is no validation of the length of these shots, are they accurate, probably not. It is just a thread to tell a golf story, that's it, that's all. And Christian, as for what you scored after your drive, who cares, are we pros? Of course not. Why can't people just have fun with something and stop being so serious about this. For some this could be the once in a lifetime great golf shot, let them enjoy telling their story and stop putting a downer on it. Isn't that part of this game? Telling of the great drives, putts and approaches throughout the round.

[SGH]

While playing with my girlfriend in her family's four person scramble at Ceder Glen Golf Club in Williamsburg, I hit the drive of my life on the sixth (old number 1). The hole measures 340, and plays straight (no dog leg). The hole also happened to be the long drive competition hole - just for added drama. I ended up pin high in the middle of the green.

Wind at my back? Of course, but not so strong that it played a HUGE factor (second longest drive of the day was 50 yards short of the green).

I walked away with a new Tim Horton's travel mug for my troubles, but the real prize was the immediate ego boost and bragging rights around the in-laws.

[sharkshooter]

While playing with my girlfriend in her family's four person scramble at Ceder Glen Golf Club in Williamsburg, I hit the drive of my life on the sixth (old number 1). The hole measures 340, and plays straight (no dog leg). The hole also happened to be the long drive competition hole - just for added drama. I ended up pin high in the middle of the green.

...

Too bad it wasn't the "closest to the pin" hole as well.

[charronja]

I once won a long drive contest with a drive of 346 yds. I must have hit a rock or something, but heck I won a 27" TV!!


http://www.charrongolf.com

[SGH]

27" TV or a Tim Horton's mug, hmmm

I'd say faired better than I, haha, congrats.

[billbob]

Last year I used a Tommy Armour 5 wood off the tee and drove the ball 320 yards. It went straight as an arrow, no dog legs here and it was at the Meadows. Once in a lifetime fluke that I will problably never be able to re-create.

[Golfbum]

Ok so we all think we hit it a country mile when we tee it up. So here are some PGA Tour Stats for you to look over.


TOTAL DRIVING

Rank This Week	Rank Last Week	Player	Rounds	Avg.	Tot. Dist.	Tot. Drvs.
1	1	Scott Hend	43	318.6	27,403	86
2	3	Tiger Woods	48	312.1	29,961	96
3	2	Brett Wetterich	44	309.7	27,254	88
4	5	Scott Gutschewski	44	306.8	26,998	88
5	4	Hank Kuehne	60	306.5	36,774	120
6	12	John Daly	50	303.7	30,370	100
7	7	Kenny Perry	56	303.6	34,005	112
8	8	Ernie Els	44	302.9	26,659	88
9	6	Brandt Jobe	58	302.8	35,130	116
10	9	Davis Love III	49	301.1	29,511	98
11	11	Lucas Glover	52	300.7	31,270	104
12	13	John Elliott	34	300.5	20,436	68
12	16	Phil Mickelson	56	300.5	33,657	112
14	16	Sergio Garcia	48	300.0	28,801	96
15	10	Will MacKenzie	33	299.4	19,760	66
15	15	Kevin Stadler	61	299.4	36,522	122
17	14	Chris Smith	53	299.2	31,711	106
18	19	Vijay Singh	77	299.1	46,055	154
19	22	Brendan Jones	52	298.9	31,090	104
20	23	Sean O'Hair	67	298.5	39,993	134

LONGEST DRIVES ON TOUR FOR 2005

1	1	Graeme McDowell	36	422	4	9
2	2	Tiger Woods	48	408	2	12
3	3	Ernie Els	44	401	3	12
4	4	John Daly	50	399	2	17
5	5	Vijay Singh	77	397	2	12
5	4	John Daly	50	397	3	16
7	3	Ernie Els	44	396	2	12
7	7	Stuart Appleby	44	396	3	12
9	2	Tiger Woods	48	395	3	12
9	9	Ryan Palmer	67	395	2	12
11	11	Carlos Franco	48	394	3	18
11	11	Retief Goosen	41	394	3	12
11	11	Mark Hensby	52	394	3	12
14	14	David Toms	60	393	3	12
14	14	Geoff Ogilvy	67	393	1	10
14	14	J.J. Henry	60	393	1	3
17	17	Stewart Cink	64	392	2	12
17	17	Rod Pampling	52	392	2	12
19	19	Sergio Garcia	48	391	3	12
19	19	Brett Quigley	68	391	3	9
19	19	Hank Kuehne	60	391	2	14
22	2	Tiger Woods	48	390	2	7
23	5	Vijay Singh	77	389	3	18
23	7	Stuart Appleby	44	389	4	6
25	25	Steve Allan	56	388	1	10
26	26	Joey Sindelar	66	386	2	12
26	3	Ernie Els	44	386	3	18
26	26	Bill Glasson	30	386	1	3
29	29	Jonathan Byrd	66	384	3	18
30	26	Joey Sindelar	66	383	4	17
30	9	Ryan Palmer	67	383	1	12
30	30	Scott Hend	43	383	2	7
30	2	Tiger Woods	48	383	4	11
30	471	Tim Clark	59	383	3	2
35	4	John Daly	50	382	3	18
35	5	Vijay Singh	77	382	3	12
35	30	Scott Hend	43	382	4	12
35	34	Tjaart van der Walt	18	382	2	11
39	19	Sergio Garcia	48	381	2	12
39	38	Bob Heintz	29	381	4	9
39	--	Miguel A. Jimenez	16	381	3	2
42	4	John Daly	50	380	3	12
42	3	Ernie Els	44	380	1	12
42	5	Vijay Singh	77	380	2	18
42	--	Steve Webster	4	380	3	2
46	4	John Daly	50	379	1	12
46	4	John Daly	50	379	2	12
46	43	Todd Hamilton	67	379	2	12
46	43	Todd Hamilton	67	379	3	12
46	2	Tiger Woods	48	379	4	18
46	11	Mark Hensby	52	379	4	18
46	43	Andre Stolz	28	379	1	12
46	43	Vaughn Taylor	58	379	3	18
46	5	Vijay Singh	77	379	1	13
46	43	Charles Warren	55	379	2	10
46	30	Scott Hend	43	379	1	18
46	3	Ernie Els	44	379	4	17
46	43	Mike Heinen	15	379	2	2

Sooooooooooo I wonder, do you really hit it as far as you think you do? I play with a couple of guys who can flat out bomb it off the tee. I bet if we averaged their driving distance over 18 holes it might be 290, on a good day when the fairways are dry.
Sure we all catch one flush every once in awhile, and really nuke it on a downwind hole. but I bet if you kept your overall average you would be suprised.
My home course has one par 4 that is 309 yards, every once in awhile when it plays downwind I can drive the fringe on the top portion of the green, so that would be approx 290. I usually use my 3 wood off that tee as there is fescue lurking left of the fairway from 100 yards in to the left of the green. There is a bunker on the right side, trees then fescue right of the trees.
Twice this year I have put it on the fringe with the 3 wood, both days it was downwind, and the fairway in front of the green was firm. I am not saying that there are not some big hitters on this board, don't get me wrong. I just think we need to be realistic when it comes to pure and true yardages. The only accurate way to measure a drive would be to pace it off correctly from the tee to the spot the ball ends up.
TEE EM HIGH AND LET EM FLY

[SGH]

This thread is not about driving average, but rather those rare occurrances where everything falls into place and you hit a huge drive. As we all know, any golfer with the right equipment, swing, build and conditions can hit a ball as far as what has been quoted throughout this thread.

These are stories that should be shared and enjoyed, not questioned and rediculed. I enjoy reading these stories in the same manner I enjoy listening to fishing stories - it's not the size of the fish but rather the manner in which the story is told.

[1972Apex]

I agree with you 100% SGH.

[Andru]

Andru, like I said in one of my previous posts, this is just for fun. You are not the first to say "Hold on, cutting the dogleg shortens your claimed distance". But this post is just for that, FUN. There is no validation of the length of these shots, are they accurate, probably not. It is just a thread to tell a golf story, that's it, that's all. And as for what you scored after your drive, who cares, are we pros? Of course not. Why can't people just have fun with something and stop being so serious about this. For some this could be the once in a lifetime great golf shot, let them enjoy telling their story and stop putting a downer on it. Isn't that part of this game? Telling of the great drives, putts and approaches throughout the round.

I made no mention of what you scored after. Point that finger somewhere else.

[Ginker]

I agree with SGH very well stated...

[Andru]

Well I never ever believed these stories until it happened to me....... There I was on the practice range at Glen Abbey. It was a beautifull day with a crisp breeze from behind.

All of a sudden 3 beautiful women approached me and asked if they could join me. Since I was playing alone I agreed. It turns out Playboy was having their annual playboy bunny golf tournament and they needed a fourth.

We headed to the first tee all the while I was thinking "I can't believe my luck today" . So I teed up my Pro V1 and crushed that 7 dollar golf ball with my 905T down the fairway. Out of nowhere a turtle stopped right under my ball. It took a huge bounce. and rolled to a stop at 390 yards. The bunny's cheered with delight at the awesome display of manhood. They were so impressed they invited me to their hotel room for a drink. It sounds silly but iut's absolutely true. Ok maybe it wasn't quite 390 yards. It did have a slight dogleg and the tees where up so it was probably more like 290.

But one thing I did learn that day..........

Chicks Dig the Long Ball!

[dbleber]

I read that issue of Penthouse letters too!

[Golfbum]

This thread is not about driving average, but rather those rare occurrances where everything falls into place and you hit a huge drive. As we all know, any golfer with the right equipment, swing, build and conditions can hit a ball as far as what has been quoted throughout this thread.

These are stories that should be shared and enjoyed, not questioned and rediculed. I enjoy reading these stories in the same manner I enjoy listening to fishing stories - it's not the size of the fish but rather the manner in which the story is told.

I am not ridiculing anyone for their stated longest drive. I too have unleashed some monsters in my time. How about a 3 iron, downwind, firm fairway and lots of roll to about 285 off the tee. My playing partner and I were stunned when we saw where the ball ended up. With a draw and firm fairways I used to constantly hit my 3 wood over 270. Now my course has the fairways in better shape and there is not nearly as much roll. I have witnessed drives on our 9th hole, which plays 376 end up 15 yards short of the slope in front of the green. If you hit it far enough it catches a little downslope about 75 yards short of the green and it rolls right down to the slope in front. So it is not like I think guys are BS'ing here.
I simply posted the PGA Stats for reference.

[fmanning]

Longest one to date is 367 on the 18th hole at the Devil's Pulpit. Slight downhill grade on the landing area and there was not much of a breeze.

This year my longest is on #1 at the Canadian (West Course). The hole is 486 from the middle tees and I had about 130 into the green.

[ironmaster15213]

The finest drive I can ever remember hitting was a 335 yard boomer to a 349 yard par four green that was easily 60 yards higher than the tee box, I didn't even birdie the hole but that was my finest hour when I comes to hitting the ball a long way without any helping wind. To this day I haven't been able to come within 30 yards of that shot. I wish I could can a couple hundred of those drives Just for the long drive holes at outings cause I know that I would make some money for sure!!!