Underwhelmed by World Long Drive

[grm24]

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

 

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?

No. The total driver length must conform to the ROG as well. 48 inches is the limit on club length on all clubs except the putter. All of the equipment (balls, tees, club heads, etc) the LDA players use must comform to the ROG.

[Saskwatch]

I wanted to go to an event one day, but then I realized it’s a really long drive.

 

 

[Emmett]

Attended the one at WinStar recently. Enjoyed the event but the hype by the men was like a show. Had free tickets but don’t think you even needed one.

[RSinSG]

A couple of years ago I played in a scramble and my buddy invited his nephew to play with us. His nephew was active in the LD tour though I don’t think he ever got past regionals. I thought we were going to have a huge advantage in the two day tournament but I was wrong. While it was impressive to watch him on the range with his big Krank driver, he was pretty much worthless in the tournament. I think we used maybe 8-10 of his shots over two days. He used a standard Calaway driver because he couldn’t hit his LD one anywhere near the hole we were on.

 

He did drive one 404 yd hole and used an iron on a drivable 320 hole. Other than that we’d been better off with a junior player who could putt.

 

I agree that the television LD competition is near unwatchable. When two guys go 0 for 16 combined on a fairly wide fairway I lose interest.

[Jacked_Loft]

I'd go to one if they tied up the participants grandmothers and gave em an electro shock everytime they missed the grid.

 

Oh wait...that would work better for a 6 footer putt contest.

[gvogel]

I'd go to one if they tied up the participants grandmothers and gave em an electro shock everytime they missed the grid.

 

Oh wait...that would work better for a 6 footer putt contest.

 

I am laughing out loud at this.

 

What a beautiful mind.

[gvogel]

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.

 

So, if chicks dig the long ball, do guys dig chicks who hit the long ball?

 

Where is this going?

 

By the way, I can take about 10 minutes of LD before complete boredom sets in. 12 minutes with Troy.

[Arpeggi]

Terrible clown show

[rawdog]

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

 

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?

No. The total driver length must conform to the ROG as well. 48 inches is the limit on club length on all clubs except the putter. All of the equipment (balls, tees, club heads, etc) the LDA players use must comform to the ROG.

 

Thanks. For some reason I thought LD guys could go to 50". "The more you know..."

[mcs4]

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

 

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?

No. The total driver length must conform to the ROG as well. 48 inches is the limit on club length on all clubs except the putter. All of the equipment (balls, tees, club heads, etc) the LDA players use must comform to the ROG.

 

There's a recent GolfWRX podcast with a long drive competitor who discusses this exact thing. At some point in the past the official long drive competitions moved to all equipment being 100% conforming. He also suggested that a lot of guys found that they hit the fall farther with the shafts down at conforming length anyway because beyond that they had reached the point of diminishing returns where the extra potential speed from length didn't outweigh other complications from swinging a club that long.

[smashdn]

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.

 

Cricket Sixes Derby?

 

So, if chicks dig the long ball, do guys dig chicks who hit the long ball?

 

Where is this going?

 

 

Guys who hit the long ball dig Laura Davies.

[BeerPerHole]

It IS strange. The guys are spraying the ball all over. Doesn't seem very golf-oriented. It's different, but strangely entertaining for me. I might try to find an event for my son, if there is such a thing for kids. He loves to smash it. Whatever...

[grm24]

Thanks. For some reason I thought LD guys could go to 50". "The more you know..."

They changed their rules to start using the 48" (ROG) limit as the end of 2016. Prior to that 50" was the rule/norm for the LD guys..

[Noke]

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

 

Better yet, invite PJ and Squi over to your house for some skis.

 

Do you like beer?

[Dano golf]

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

I've heard those long, nonconforming shafts are hard to come by.

[Pigems]

I watched this years finals on tv, it was kinda cool I guess. They definitely smash it good. They try to explain that at the speeds and distances these guys are hitting that the Grid is equal to a 250y drive trying to land on the cart path. I don’t think it’s quite that extreme of a difference, maybe a 20y wide fairways but not a cart path.