Underwhelmed by World Long Drive

[hardcaliber]

Not sure if this is the right forum or not...

 

Not meaning any disrespect to those competitors, but does anyone feel the pro long drive thing is kind of lame?

 

I spent about half an hour watching it recently. Even as a golf obsessed addict, I can't really understand the appeal.

 

Sure the distances are ridiculous, but its hard to get excited when every other ball is sliced off the range. Even though a ridiculous yardage pops up on your screen, the swings just typically are not aesthetically appealing to watch. The TV production kind of reminds me of pro wrestling with the aggressive music and fonts.

 

Am I missing something. Just such a weird format. Like watching a football league with a bunch of guys only throwing the ball as far as they can but not actually doing anything else.

[BrianMcG]

Yes. I think they need to get at least 5 out of 10 on the grid.

[MattyO1984]

Side show with little relevance for me.

 

We know that these guys can launch it, we know that which ever one of them catches it the sweetest is going to win, there is little difference in it from event to event once you get over the initial wow factor.

[mosesgolf]

It was cool to watch back in the days of Zuback and Sadlowski. These days it's meh.

[cgbm]

Its all just chick appeal.

 

Other than that its pointless.

[Jagpilotohio]

LOL!! Chick appeal. Yeah. Right. I’m sure there are lots of “chicks” that just go crazy for the long drive. ; )

[cgbm]

Duh!! Went out to the bar last night and every chick i met asked my my driving distance.

As a good wrx’er i told them i only hit it 375. Apparently they wanted 4 bills or nothing.

Cant imagine any other reason they wouldnt want me. I even offered to bring them back to my parents house for the night.

[anth]

I’m confused now. Do chicks dig the long ball or not?

[straightshot7]

They should have no accuracy requirement. And measure the distance with Trackman.

 

Maybe give a 10 yard bonus to balls that do land in the grid.

[cgbm]

Yes. Chicks covet the long ball.

[cgbm]

Ever meet a chick that cruises for dudes at the practice green? Nope. They all huddle around long par 5s.

[tatertot]

Ever meet a chick that cruises for dudes at the practice green? Nope. They all huddle around long par 5s.

 

Funny, when I'm at the practice green the honeys be drippin' like I'm Winnie the Pooh.

 

 

[cgbm]

Ever meet a chick that cruises for dudes at the practice green? Nope. They all huddle around long par 5s.

 

Funny, when I'm at the practice green the honeys be drippin' like I'm Winnie the Pooh.

 

Hahahaha. Dang. Must be your draining the long putts. Or at least lagging them close.

[bscinstnct]

They should let the club, shaft, and ball companies go all out, ignore any "rules" and just trick up stuff to get the ball as far out as it can go.

 

 

 

That would be cool. Bet they could brew up like a 600 yard carry.

[hardcaliber]

They should let the club, shaft, and ball companies go all out, ignore any "rules" and just trick up stuff to get the ball as far out as it can go.

 

 

 

That would be cool. Bet they could brew up like a 600 yard carry.

 

They could make it more about the building and design process, like one of those robot fighting shows. That would be much more interesting than watching guys bash drive after drive hoping to eventually catch one in the center.

[Potatohead]

They should let the club, shaft, and ball companies go all out, ignore any "rules" and just trick up stuff to get the ball as far out as it can go.

 

 

 

That would be cool. Bet they could brew up like a 600 yard carry.

 

Yeah and make the landing area made of asphalt

[MarkFromTheUK]

A LD tournament without Jack Hamm involved is pointless.

[Vardon Grip]

A LD tournament without Jack Hamm involved is pointless.

 

Or is it that a long drive tournament WITH Jack Hamm is pointless?

[playar32]

 

 

Am I missing something. Just such a weird format. Like watching a football league with a bunch of guys only throwing the ball as far as they can but not actually doing anything else.

 

I feel someone looked at the home run derby and thought, how can we apply this to golf?

[Jc0]

Am I missing something. Just such a weird format. Like watching a football league with a bunch of guys only throwing the ball as far as they can but not actually doing anything else.

 

I feel someone looked at the home run derby and thought, how can we apply this to golf?

 

This basically. I'm guessing its better in person than through the TV. I have never been to an event but I have run into a pro long driver at a shop before. The sound they make hitting the ball is just different. Every sport has little spin off series like this. You just don't know they exist unless you folllow that sport.

[BrandonDunes]

That Justin James is a tool, carries around a turtle stuffed animal with him and doesn't show good sportsmanship

 

 

I heard chicks also like the long shaft as long as it conforms to the USGA rules

[bscinstnct]

They should let the club, shaft, and ball companies go all out, ignore any "rules" and just trick up stuff to get the ball as far out as it can go.

 

 

 

That would be cool. Bet they could brew up like a 600 yard carry.

 

They could make it more about the building and design process, like one of those robot fighting shows. That would be much more interesting than watching guys bash drive after drive hoping to eventually catch one in the center.

 

Ya, it should be about how non-conforming you can get.

 

Could get like MIT nano-technology team into it...

 

 

"We have pushed the boundaries of small particle physics and combined with some chemistry of highly unstable compounds. The result is this ball. In theory, it will either travel 6,000 yards at Mach 2...or cause a thermonuclear explosion. Uhhh, pleae dont touch that."

[BearQ]

LD is a few levels below a sideshow

[Pent08]

I find it to be unwatchable. The forced theatrics of the competitors make it an odd side show of a great sport.

[averysdad]

I’ll watch it for a minute here and there just for the ladies...like Troy Mullins...the majority of the ladies have much better form and they generate power with proper sequencing and proper positions....most of the dudes just swing fast and try to use brute strength. I’d take Troy’s swing all day. Smoooooth and effortless power. Go look her up and watch. Very impressive golf swing.

[rawdog]

They should let the club, shaft, and ball companies go all out, ignore any "rules" and just trick up stuff to get the ball as far out as it can go.

 

 

 

That would be cool. Bet they could brew up like a 600 yard carry.

 

Not sure if serious, but I think it would be more legit if they went the other way.

 

Make the equipment adhere to the rules of golf. Which is really just shaft length, I suppose.

 

Maybe make the grid narrower so it more resembles a fairway?

 

Then again, there's already so little resemblance to actual golf that maybe they would like to run as far away in the other direction as possible.

[Golfjack]

I'm amazed at their clubhead speed, but winning by hitting 1 out of 8 or whatever shots in the grid is pretty boring. Maybe it's more fun in person for those 100 people watching them mash it. Not sure what the attendance for these events are actually.

[grm24]

 

Make the equipment adhere to the rules of golf. Which is really just shaft length, I suppose.

 

Their club heads and the Volvik golf ball used by all the competitors have to conform to the ROG. The LD guys do not use non conforming equipment.

[BrandonDunes]

I was considering going to Mesquite to watch an event live, but then I thought probably more exciting to crush some brewskis and yell at my TV at home

[rawdog]

Make the equipment adhere to the rules of golf. Which is really just shaft length, I suppose.

 

Their club heads and the Volvik golf ball used by all the competitors have to conform to the ROG. The LD guys do not use non conforming equipment.

 

So it really is just shaft length that doesn't conform?