Longdriving.nl

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 200 yards (183 m) for an average amateur. Some shots in competitions surpass 400 yards (366 m). The world record in a long drive competition is 539 yards (493 m) by Scott Smith, although the record recognized by Guinness Records as longest drive in a competition is 515 yards by 64 year old Mike Austin in 1974 of the US National Seniors Open with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver and balata ball.

The record distance achieved in The RE/MAX European Long Drive Championship is 474 yards (433m) by Englishman Joe Miller in September 2005. 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. Contrary to popular belief, the better long drivers usually tend to be scratch players, sometimes skilled enough to play on the PGA Tour. Many believe long drivers are not scratch golfers, and the phrase "drive for show, putt for dough" began.

There are several well-known names in long drive. Jason Zuback is perhaps the most famous, being one of two people to win multiple World Long Drive Championships, with four consecutive wins from 1996-1999 and a win in 2006. Sean "The Beast" Fister is the other, winning in 1995, 2001, and 2005. Art Sellinger, once a two-time national champion, is currently the owner of the Long Drivers of America organization.

The sport of longdriving in Europe is governed, organized, promoted and sanctioned by Long Drivers of Europe www.longdrivers-eu.com who are the main body representing the sport in Europe.