Do i have the makings of a long driver?

[Burnboy]

I played my first scramble sunday and won the long drive competition with a 310 yard drive. Im a begginer and started plying this spring. I hit a 11.5 degree adams rpm driver, stiff flex, and usually a topflite d2 straight ball. As long as im not slicing my confortable swing usuall gets me 290-315 yards. with some work and a different driver do u think i could compete?

[apprenti23]

maybe... who knows... you only need to gain about 50 yards or so but a new driver (that's better than decent) can't hurt ya... most of those guys use lower lofted drivers, not 11.5's that are most likely 13...

 

good luck!

[Burnboy]

thatrs what i was thinking the 11.5 straightens me out a bit but is losing me some distance. and the shaft isnt stiff enough, i rarely hit the sweet spot

[billhager]

300 on off center hit ... right

[Burnboy]

i said rarely not never

[idrive400yards]

300 on off center hit ... right

 

 

It really isn't that hard to get distances that are 300+ on off center hits, it happens to the best of us alot.

 

Burnboy,

 

If you're really interested in longdrive than you MUST put all other parts of the golf game off to the side and work mainly on hitting it far. Do not hold back when you are swinging the driver, you will miss alot, but the swing will develop by itself and eventually become second nature. Then if you want you can work on other parts of the golf game. It's a hard sport to get into and takes time, dedication and ALOT of money, but good luck.

 

Mike

[Burnboy]

Thanks! ya I dont find it hard to hit it 300 at all. its a pretty comfortable swing for me. When I start swinging out of my shoes I can get up to the 350 range. When everyone talks about only driving it 240-260 I just dont understand that, but I geuess a long drive was the one talent I was given as far as golf goes.

 

For me its easier to drive it 330 than to drive it 250. I can tell myself Im going to hit it nice and soft but on my downswing its impossible for me not to accelerate through impact and go nuts on the ball.

 

What do you suggest I do to test my skills? I was thinking of just getting an average driver in the 6.5 degree range and seeing how far I can smack the ball. Also what are some reasonable goals I should set as far as distance on a local level and on a national level? thanks in advance.

[wkuo3]

some of the statistics which you could figure out if you could put yourself in that group.

http://www.floridagolfmagazine.com/remaxlo.../2006/index.htm

of course you'll have to get into the training and eqipment and all that, but this is not distance spraying shots all over the fairways, you'll also need accuracy to pull out ahead.

[Burnboy]

Yeah Ive read similar articles but I never understand the large discrepancies in length

[idrive400yards]

the large discrepencies in length come from wind/grid/weather conditions. If you are serious about getting into LD, forget about getting that 6.5* driver in a short length, the LDA max is 50in, which is 48in USGA length. Go with 50in, then cut the shaft in increments of 1/4in until the driver becomes more playable. You need to avg at least 3 balls in the 40yard wide grid with a nice distance of any where between 365-390 to be some what competitive. You can try doing local qualifying next year at the Remax WLDC to get a hint of what's ahead of you. There are a couple of LD websites you can visit and ask questions. www.longdrivers.com and www.incepta.ca.

 

Good luck

 

Mike

[Burnboy]

This is probably a tough question but all things being equal what do u think the difference in length per drive degree of loft?

Just a rough estimate is all I expect because I know all the variables that need to be considered.

 

My reasoning is that my adams driver and shaft are quite good but definately a budget driver. My thinking is that If I had a slightly better driver, a lower loft, and a x-stiff shaft would it be reasonable to think that i could gain 20-30 yards with my current swing

[*sigh*]

It's not just loft.. It's launch angle and spin.

 

If you just go buy a low lofted driver that won't give you optimal launch conditions then it won't do much for you.

[idrive400yards]

you need to get a driver head/shaft combo that gives you the best, launch angle, spin rate, smash factor, and ball speed. forget about swing speed, it's not as important as you might think. Yes the faster you swing the farther it will go, but if you have a dead head, the ball isn't going no where. Swing speed/tempo is good for getting fitted for the right flex/torque of the shaft, but that's about it. Think BALL SPEED.

 

DO NOT get fitted at a golf superstore i.e. Golf Galaxy, Golfsmith, Dicks, they won't/don't give correct unbiased numbers. Go to a reputable PCS clubfitter/builder and get some base numbers and find out your tendencies/consistancies, then call up a Longdriver type store i.e www.horsepowergolf.com(Pat Dempsey) www.Phoenixgolfworks.com(Neil) www.extremegolf.com, www.moi.com. www.krankgolf.com(Vince Riviera/Lance Reader)

just to name a few. Only a professional longdriver store can really help out a longdriver.

 

Mike

 

Also go check out the longdrive websites that I posted earlier

[wkuo3]

Have you ever been a spectator to a LD competition?

If you have an event close by, I'd suggest for you to go take a look ( even the local qualifying event ).

From there, you could decide if you wish to dump all those money and effort into the equipment and training. To my knowledge, sponsorship is very difficult to come by if any with no proven track record.

Then you could get into the local regional competition to test the water, and who knows, you might go far with this.

Keep in mind, you do not wish to ruin your health by doing try the LD sport, injury from participating LD events is quite common, so, make certain if you're going to pursue the LD competition, get into training with a physical trainer. Have a training program tailored to the physical demand by the LD.

[idrive400yards]

Have you ever been a spectator to a LD competition?

If you have an event close by, I'd suggest for you to go take a look ( even the local qualifying event ).

From there, you could decide if you wish to dump all those money and effort into the equipment and training. To my knowledge, sponsorship is very difficult to come by if any with no proven track record.

Then you could get into the local regional competition to test the water, and who knows, you might go far with this.

Keep in mind, you do not wish to ruin your health by doing try the LD sport, injury from participating LD events is quite common, so, make certain if you're going to pursue the LD competition, get into training with a physical trainer. Have a training program tailored to the physical demand by the LD.

 

 

Since there are no more locals or other events going on at this time(last two are at Primm for the final spots at the Remax, and Remax itself) it's kind of hard to watch one(Remax finals are televised during Christmas holidays)

 

But if your ever at a driving range keep your eyes open and possibly you may see another longdriver. Try to talk with him/her and gather all the info you can. We are very approachable and are always willing to talk(for the most part, unless getting ready for an event in which we are there to practice and concentrate on our game).

 

There are sponsorships for longdrivers, but you have to get out there and prove yourself. Companies will not give freebies or cheapies to someone who hasn't proven themselves.

 

You may get hurt or you may not by doing LD, but you somewhat have to be fit to handle the long days of competition and have the endurance to be able to hit your last ball just as hard as your first. you don't necessarily have to have a physical trainer, but a nice work out program and proper weighted training devices could get you going. You will only get as far as you put into it(goes with anything you do).

 

Mike

[idrive400yards]

This is probably a tough question but all things being equal what do u think the difference in length per drive degree of loft?

Just a rough estimate is all I expect because I know all the variables that need to be considered.

 

My reasoning is that my adams driver and shaft are quite good but definately a budget driver. My thinking is that If I had a slightly better driver, a lower loft, and a x-stiff shaft would it be reasonable to think that i could gain 20-30 yards with my current swing

 

 

First I would need to know alot more informantion on what numbers you have in terms of complete driver specs(loft, shaft, torque rating on shaft, CPM's, length, launch angle, spin rate, dispersion rate, smash factor, ball speed, swing path, open/closed clubface at impact, swing speed(realsistic numbers)).

befor I or anyone else can help you out with drivers. I know the distances I can carry with each driver I have and use the one that is necessary for the conditions at hand. All drivers are not alike even if made by the same manufacturer.

 

Mike

[Burnboy]

im just getting back nto the game but manage to be at the range about 3 days a week but the only problem is I dont see anyone here hitting it further than me. I had to stop going to some ranges because they just werent long enough. I currently go to man o' war driving range here in Lexington ky, Its considered one of the top 100 ranges in the country but it maxes out at a tad over 350 yards. i guess Im just going to have to start driving diagonally across the range at an angle and use my laser range finder.

[LD Thailand]

I played my first scramble sunday and won the long drive competition with a 310 yard drive. Im a begginer and started plying this spring. I hit a 11.5 degree adams rpm driver, stiff flex, and usually a topflite d2 straight ball. As long as im not slicing my confortable swing usuall gets me 290-315 yards. with some work and a different driver do u think i could compete?

 

Thats the great thing about sports. You don't have to be a world champion to have fun with it. Anyone who hits a legitamate 310 yards like you do can have alot of fun competing in long drive. There are all kinds of levels of competition to enter.

 

You actually sound alot like myself. I also play a stock club that is very lofted (simply becasue I am not that consistent yet with my swing). I have entered some local stuff here in Thailand and took 4th at just over 300 yads. As my swing develops, maybe I'll get into some less lofted clubs and look into more shaft length. Until then I am having alot of fun killing it off the tee box and challenging doglegs.