World Long Drive Championship

[MrDC]

I apologize if there's another thread about this, but I don't see it.

I've never really been a fan of this, but I would watch, and be amazed when one of these monsters got a hold of one, it can be fun.

But wow, talk about a dying contest, RE/MAX is out as the sponsor, the prize money is almost cut in half, the format is different, what a change.
 

[SteveH]

While it's only driving, it's still entertaining. I did enjoy watching Jamie and Joe play some golf on tv a couple of days ago. I watched last night and I don't think the new format is good for them. Trying to rush to hit as many balls as possible just leads to more grid misses. I think it would be better to give them all maybe 10 balls max and just a reasonable time limit. I really noticed it with Sadlowski when the clock went blank, you could see he was rushing. When he slowed down he started to put them in the grid. I felt bad for Joe in the first match, after hitting such a monster drive that he got knocked out.

[pumaAttack]

You mean the World Snap Hook Championship.

[Pendragon]

I apologize if there's another thread about this, but I don't see it.

I've never really been a fan of this, but I would watch, and be amazed when one of these monsters got a hold of one, it can be fun.

But wow, talk about a dying contest, RE/MAX is out as the sponsor, the prize money is almost cut in half, the format is different, what a change.
 

I'm with you. These guys can hit it a long way, but I wonder how many of them could break 80 even at their local muni. 

[GungaGalunga]

Competition aside, just watching them drive the ball 380+ yards makes me envious.  I'd kill to have a constant 1/2 of that drive.

[Jeremie Boop]

I'm with you. These guys can hit it a long way, but I wonder how many of them could break 80 even at their local muni. 

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, most of those guys are right around scratch players. What you have to remember is the swings they are taking in the competition are not their controlled normal swings, they are "swing out of your shoes" swings trying to max out distance. Their controlled swings are much more accurate but would not be anywhere long enough distance wise to win. They would, however, be long enough to put pretty much everyone you've ever seen to shame I'd imagine.

Edited October 23, 2015 by Jeremie Boop

[hillis11]

I remember watching it the other night and one of the guys played in a pro-am and he shot a 72. I forgot which one it was.

[Pendragon]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, most of those guys are right around scratch players. What you have to remember is the swings they are taking in the competition are not their controlled normal swings, they are "swing out of your shoes" swings trying to max out distance. Their controlled swings are much more accurate but would not be anywhere long enough distance wise to win. They would, however, be long enough to put pretty much everyone you've ever seen to shame I'd imagine.

This is going back 20 years or so, but I played a couple of rounds with a guy who competed in the long drive competition. As I recall he played to a 6 or 7 handicap, and had a pretty mediocre short game. I'm sure that a lot of those long drive guys can probably go pretty low at times, but they wouldn't be doing this if their games were pro caliber. It is fun to watch them swing out of their shoes, though.

[MrFlipper]

I'm with you. These guys can hit it a long way, but I wonder how many of them could break 80 even at their local muni. 

Sadlowski has made cuts on the Web.com tour. There's other guys that don't do any golf other than long drive stuff, prob couldn't break 90---

The most recent Playing Lessons I saw on Golf Channel was Rymer with Sadlowski and Joe Miller, they goofed around but also played a few holes at Sycuan Willow Glen in San Diego, a course I've played a few times. They obviously took something off their drives vs their long drive swings (only hit it 350 ish) but it was fun seeing them play holes that I have played. Kind of humbling though when they play par 5s with a smooth driver and a PW. Driving par 4s with 3 woods and baby drivers. The first hole there is a good driver 8 iron for me, they both were just short of the green with their drives. Unreal---

[BuckeyeNut]

Regardless of what anyone has to say, the clubhead/ball speed these guys generate is simply amazing.  The interview with Bob Tway during the semi's said it all..............

 

"Simply Amazing"......400yd drives..........LOL    INSANE....

[garush34]

Watched some of this on YouTube and it is impressive watching. Couldn't watch it all the time but go for once a year stuff. 

[mvmac]

I watched a little of it, it's nuts how far they can pump it out there.

 

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2015/10/22/sorry-world-long-drive-succeeds-on-many-levels.html

I couldn't disagree more with my GolfDigest.com colleague Joel Beall who felt robbed watching the World Long Drive Championship, suggesting what he saw reinforced why it's a "fringe event." He also suggests the Long Drive needs new presentation and format ideas, but as someone whose watched the event the last few years, including in person in 2013, I'd counter that the extended match play format had players better prepared when we got to the final nights. I just wish the landing grid was about 10 yards wider. 

But more to the big picture status of the event: I love Long Drive because it genuine presents real athletes using their athleticism in a different way than PGA Tour players, featuring real stories of golfers doing amazing things to a ball. Beall is right that some of the PGA Tour driving distances make today's 400-yarders in the Long Drive seem less impressive, but considering the contest faced some headwinds, I found the numbers pretty astounding. 

It's also refreshing to see different forms of golf succeed beyond the weekly stroke play. But golf is so tradition-based and uptight that the theatrics presented in the Long Drive make many uncomfortable. I get that. But as a lover of tradition, I'm also open to anything that shows how golf can be embraced in divergent ways that ultimately are about exposing us to people of extraordinary skill.

Meanwhile, the news was positive for new Long Drive owner Golf Channel, as Tuesday's rating for the live Round of 16 was up 263% over 2014, while the final night saw a 43% increase over 2014. Both ratings were in the vicinity of last week's Frys.com Open numbers. With replays and NBC airing in December, the Long Drive will be seen by many more eyeballs than any of the fall PGA Tour events.

[Sante TwoGloves]

Swing out of their shoes is right. Not sure how many of them do it but I briefly caught an interview with one of them who removed the spikes out of his front foot shoe.

[Mr. Desmond]

I was watching, and it is still tough to believe Jamie Sadlowski did not hit the grid in the semis -- 2:45 to hit one ball in the grid.

What makes it weirder, or maybe not so weird, is that in the quarters, he hit about 5 or 6 into the grid, including 3 in a row (I think), and one of his first ones was the 402 (?) or 404. He was on a roll, and then not on a roll. Golf ... err ... I mean long driving, who would have guessed a no grid result for him.

And some of those swings? One should not watch if they are a golfer. Ugly finishes with some not straightening but buckling the front leg. weird.... 

Edited October 25, 2015 by Mr. Desmond