This page is dedicated to the most commonly used core equipment in Long Drive.
All equipment for Long Drive is required to conform to the USGA and R&A rules for equipment. If you have questions about the rules for equipment used in Long Drive, you can read the full details in the equipment section of the Official Rules of Long Drive.
Driver Heads – While long drive competitors can use a stock driver head, many opt for custom designed driver heads made specifically for Long Drive with less loft and reinforced faces. The lower loft allows long drive competitors to maintain optimal launch angle and spin while increasing their attack angle for more power. An upward attack angle allows the player to release the club more efficiently, increasing power. The de-lofted clubface keeps the spin rate and launch angle lower. A little spin helps keep the ball in the air. Too much spin can cause the ball to balloon up and lose distance.
Popular brands that make Long Drive specific heads include: Callaway, Cobra, and Krank.
Long Drive specific heads range from 4° – 8.5°. Traditional driver heads usually range from 9.5° to 12.5°
Modern driver heads use an adapter to allow for quick replacement and some degree of adjustability to the loft of the clubface.
Driver Shafts – Long Driver competitors traditionally used super extra stiff shafts to handle the extreme speeds, however modern technology has proven that flexible shafts can be used equally well.
Stiff shafts help maintain more control over the clubhead. Softer, more flexible shafts provide an added kick, however this kick comes with added variability in the clubface. The choice of shaft flex is entirely based on your swing and timing. A poorly fit shaft for your swing can result in inconsistent contact and even broken shafts. For this reason, it’s important to get fit for the right shaft at least once a season.
Many Long Drive competitors have multiple Driver Head / Shaft combinations to account for varied conditions and feels.
Grips – There have never been more options for grips including different materials and sizes. Grips range from traditional tapered grips to super-jumbo grips. There are many articles touting the benefits of large grips, however, it is important that the grips you choose work well with your hand size and grip strength.
Tees – Not all tees are created equal. Long Drive competitors hit hundreds of balls with swing speeds up to 170 MPH. Traditional wood tees break easily. Traditional plastic tees mark up your clubface, not to mention having to chase them.
Tornado Tee is the Official Tee of Long Drive Golf because it can be used for 1000+ swings and stays where you put it. An entire speed session of 200+ balls can be completed with a single Tornado Tee… and because you don’t have to chase the tee, you spend less time bending over to pick up and reset your tee. There’s a reason more Long Drive competitors use Tornado Tee than any other tee in the world.
Balls – All balls that are certified as legal for play by the USGA and the R&A are legal for Long Drive. It is recommended that all Long Drive competitions use a single type of ball for the duration of the competition. Long Drive competitions and tours are allowed to have a ball sponsor so long as the balls being used for the competition are legal for play.
Long Driver competitors frequently use 2-piece golf balls designed to max out the distance category of the USGA’s guidelines. Since Long Drive doesn’t require softness or finesse with different clubs, modern multi-part core golf balls have little benefit.