Long Drive - wikipedia Long Drive A military veteran long drive competition Long drive is a competitive sport where success is derived by hitting a golf ball the farthest by driving. A small but dedicated talent base of golfers populate the world of Long - Drive, with the top talent competing professionally in various events and exhibitions. Contents 1 Distance 2 Equipment 3 Notable long drivers 4 References 5 External links Distance Professional long drivers can average over 350 yards ( 320 m ) in competition, compared with 300 yard ( 274 m ) averages from the top PGA Tour drivers and 220 yards ( 201 m ) for an average amateur. Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards ( 366 m ). The world record recognized by Guinness Records as the longest drive in a competition is 516 yards ( 472 m ) by 64 - year - old Mike Austin in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5 '' steel shafted persimmon wood driver. The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX European Long Drive Championship is 473 yards ( 433m ) by Allen Doyle in September 2005. The record distance achieved in The RE / MAX South African Long Drive Championship is 506 yards ( 462.9 m ) by Nico Grobbelaar in September 2012. Fast swingers can swing their club heads at over 150 mph ( 245 km / h ), well beyond the 85 mph ( 140 km / h ) average for an amateur. They train for strength, flexibility, and speed and often perform corporate exhibitions for money, exhibiting a variety of trick shots. Ball speeds are nearly double that of an average golfer ( 220 mph ). There are several well - known names in long drive. Jason Zuback is perhaps the most famous, being one of three people to win multiple RE / MAX World Long Drive Championships, with four consecutive wins from 1996 -- 99 and a win in 2006. Sean `` The Beast '' Fister is another, winning in 1995, 2001, and 2005. Jamie Sadlowski had back to back wins in 2008 -- 09. The Golf Channel is currently the owner of the Long Drivers of America organization. Equipment Long drive clubs, which are always drivers, are different in many ways from consumer clubs. Until the recent club length limitation rules, the shafts were much longer than a normal 45 in ( 114.3 cm ) shaft, sometimes exceeding 55 in ( 139.7 cm ). In 2005, 50 in ( 127.0 cm ) limitation was introduced ( measured vertically ). In November, 2016, the World Long Drive Association ( WLDA ) announced a rule change as it relates to club length that went into effect immediately for all WLDA sanctioned events. The new rule states that all clubs used in competition must conform with the USGA ® Rules of Golf ( Appendix II, 1c ), which limits club length to a maximum of 48 in ( 120 cm ). The rule is upheld by the WLDA at all sanctioned events through the use of a CLUBLENGTH TM Ruler Measuring Tool that conforms to the USGA ® method for measuring club length. The rule change reduces the previous maximum length allowed by the WLDA, and is being implemented to allow Long Drive competitors to be held to the same standard of competition as Tour professionals in accordance with the USGA. Long drive shafts differ from standard shafts. The main difference is stiffness, as a shaft not stiff enough will lag in an inconsistent manner, causing a loss of control. These shafts are stiffer in flex and almost always made of graphite, which is lighter than steel. In order to be stiff, a shaft is usually heavier and stronger. The kick point or bend point is also higher for a lower trajectory relative to the swing, and the shaft has a lower torque, meaning that it will not twist as much, allowing the clubhead to stay straighter. Clubheads usually approach the 460 cubic centimeter limit, rarely below 400 cc. They must stay within the Coefficient Of Restitution ( COR ) limit of 0.83, which measures how a ball hits off the surface. Most clubheads only approach the COR in the center of the club, so technology has allowed more area of the club to possess a COR of above 0.80. Thus, mishits are less affected by the newer clubheads. The loft of a long drive club is also much lower than a consumer club, sometimes around 4 or 5 degrees, as opposed to 10.5 degrees for an amateur 's driver. The reason for lower lofted driver heads is to greatly reduce back spin. Too much back spin causes the ball to balloon or climb, creating a steep landing angle which does not allow the ball roll out. A flatter landing angle is desired to get the most out of the ball 's forward velocity and energy. Many competitions require golfers to use a specification ball for the tournament. The specific design characteristics of this ball include a dimple design that helps to maintain lower spin rates and a ball compression of 110. The average ball compression in golf varies from the mid-70s to the upper 80s. Notable Long drivers David Mobley, World Long Drive Champion -- 2004 -- Ranked # 1 in the World by Long Drivers of America in 2003, 2004, and 2005 Bubba Watson, 424 yd. drive ( lost Long Drive contest to Jamie Sadlowski ) Alan Shepard, `` Miles and miles and miles. '' Apollo 14, February 5, 1971. ( This occurred on the Moon with a 6 - iron and is unofficial. ) Mike Austin, He was credited by Guinness World Records with hitting the longest drive in tournament play ( 471m / 515 yards ) in 1974 Sean Fister ( `` The Beast '' ), World Long Drive Champion 1995, 2001, 2005. Monte Scheinblum, 1992 U.S. National and World Long Drive Champion. Jason Zuback ( `` Golfzilla '' ), World Long Drive Champion 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006. Seniors World Long Drive Champion 2015. Sandra Carlborg, Ladies Division WR holder 391, Yards World Long Drive Champion 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 Phillis Meti 2006 & 2016 Womens World Long Drive Champion. WR for women 's longest drive 406 yards and being the youngest female World Champion 19 years, 2 months. Hit 349 yards on the WLD grid in 2008.,, References Jump up ^ Re / Max World Long Drive Championships 2011, Rounds 8 - 13 Long Drivers of America, Retrieved 13 July 2012 Jump up ^ `` PGA Tour Driving Distance ''. PGA Tour. Retrieved 15 January 2014. Jump up ^ How far do average golfers really hit it ? New distance data will surprise you Golf Digest Jump up ^ Re / Max World Long Drive Championships 2011, Finals Long Drivers of America, Retrieved 13 July 2012 Jump up ^ Hudson, Alex ( 10 December 2010 ) Why has the longest golf drive record not been broken ? BBC Click, Retrieved 8 December 2011 Jump up ^ Grobbelaar, Nico - Records Smashed ! ( 3 September 2012 ) Jump up ^ `` World Long Drive Association Announces Rule Change - World Long Drive ''. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Longest Golfers on Earth '' ( PDF ). www.longdrivers.com. 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015. Jump up ^ `` Bubba Watson smashes a drive 424 yards at Bridgestone Invitational ''. PGA.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Apollo 14 : Facts About the ' Rookie ' Crew & the Golf Ball ''. Space.com. 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2015. Jump up ^ Sens, Josh ( January 17, 2007 ). `` The Boom Boom Drivers of America ''. Golf Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fister, Shinnick win world long drive championship titles ''. ESPN. Associated Press. October 26, 2005. Retrieved February 9, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Monte Scheinblum Shines When He 's Hitting Off the Tee '', Bucky Albers, Dayton Daily News, May 19, 1993, Retrieved December 23, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Zuback back on top of Long Drive world ''. ESPN. October 30, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2011. Jump up ^ Wuebben, Joe ( May 2008 ). `` Driving force ; Jason Zuback is the biggest hitter golf has ever seen. He also answers to one of sport 's most fitting nicknames : Golfzilla ''. Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved February 10, 2011. Jump up ^ http://www.worldlongdrive.com/video/ Jump up ^ https://www.longdrivers.com/news/remax-world-long-drive-championship-results-1995-date-0 Jump up ^ `` Q : How far can a woman hit a golf ball ? ( A : Farther than you. ) ''. TravelGolf.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Jump up ^ https://buildlongdrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Long-Drive-Past-Champions-Archive_Nov-2015-UpdateV2.pdf Jump up ^ `` SMT Golf puts record - setting DB Plus driver in hands of regular golfers ''. vivians-blogs.blogspot.co.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2017. External links Long Drivers of America Euro Longdrivers Results for 2005 RE / MAX World Long Drive Championships Results for 2006 RE / MAX World Long Drive Championships Long Drivers of Holland ( 1 ) Golf Overview History Glossary Outline Rules penalties playoffs etiquette Stroke play scoring handicap Match play four - ball alternate shot Golf course links teeing ground hazards Equipment golf clubs golf ball tee Technical Golf stroke mechanics Instruction Drive Golfers Professional golfer tours Male golfers Female golfers Men 's major winners Women 's major winners Senior major winners Olympic medalists Most wins Asian Tour Australasia Tour Challenge Tour European Tour European Senior Tour Japan Golf Tour Ladies European Tour LPGA Tour PGA Tour PGA Tour Champions Sunshine Tour Web.com Tour Majors Men Masters Tournament U.S. Open The Open Championship PGA Championship Women ANA Inspiration Women 's PGA Championship U.S. Women 's Open Women 's British Open The Evian Championship Senior The Tradition Senior PGA Championship Senior Players Championship U.S. Senior Open Senior Open Championship International events Multi-sport event Asian Games Inter-Allied Games Island Games Pacific Games Pan American Games Summer Olympics Summer Universiade Youth Olympic Games Team Curtis Cup EurAsia Cup International Crown Presidents Cup Ryder Cup Solheim Cup Walker Cup Rankings Men Women Amateur Countries Australia China India Ireland Philippines Russia Scotland Thailand United States Venues Driving range Lists of golf courses Canada Hawaii India North Dakota Philippines Portugal United Kingdom links courses designed by Jack Nicklaus Years 1353 -- 1850 1851 -- 1945 1945 -- 99 2000 -- 05 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Governing bodies International Golf Federation The R&A United States Golf Association Professional Golfers ' Association ( Great Britain and Ireland ) Professional Golfers ' Association of America LPGA PGA Tour PGA European Tour American Society of Golf Course Architects World Golf Teachers Federation Variations Skins game Shotgun start Speed golf Pitch and putt Indoor golf Miniature golf Long drive Park golf Snow golf Stableford scoring Urban golf Miscellaneous Awards Architects Caddie Greenskeeper World Golf Hall of Fame British Golf Museum USGA Museum Jack Nicklaus Museum Caddie Hall of Fame Evans Scholars Foundation Media Golf Channel personalities Golf Digest Golf Magazine Golf World Golfweek Links Travel + Leisure Golf Video games Commons WikiProject Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Long_drive&oldid=799994145 '' Categories : Forms of golf Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Edit links This page was last edited on 11 September 2017, at 01 : 20. 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Question: who has the longest drive in pga history
Answer: Mike Austin