Encyclopedia of Sport: Every sport from around the world
Topend Sports Logo

Golf Long Drive

Longest drive competitions is a version of golf, where players hit a golf ball for maximal distance. At the World Long Drive Championship, competitors have three minutes to hit eight golf balls. To be counted as a scoring shot, the ball must land in "the grid", a range that varies from 45 to 60 yards wide.



Competitors use specific driver clubs designed for maximum hit distance. Compared to regular golf clubs, the clubs used for long drive competitions differ mostly in their shafts. The competition shafts are stiffer, and usually made of graphite, which is lighter than steel. The long drive shafts used to be longer, but now the golf rules limit their length. In 2005, a 50 in (127.0 cm) limitation was introduced (measured vertically). Many competitions require golfers to use a specific ball for the tournament.

golfer driving the ball off a tee golfer driving the ball off a tee

In addition to the effect of the golf club, the distance covered by the ball will depend on many factors including the size, surface and composition of the golf ball, weather conditions, air temperature, tailing wind, altitude (affect air resistance), rolling surface, length of grass.

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, hitting it 65 yards past the flag on the par 4 fifth hole. This record has surprisingly never been surpassed, despite great improvements in golf club technology since then.

There is an annual World Long Drive Championship which started in 1976. They have awards in three divisions – Open, Masters and Women's.



Similar Sports

Related Pages

send us a comment Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.

Sport Extra

Check out the 800+ sports in the Encyclopedia of Every Sport. Well not every sport, as there is a list of unusual sports, extinct sports and newly created sports. How to get on these lists? See What is a sport? We also have sports winners lists, and about major sports events and a summary of every year.

 → How to Cite