In order to hit the ball more than 380 meters in competition, it is not enough to have big arms. In recent years, long hitters have used a variety of technological tools to better understand their swing and outcomes, which depend on math and physics.
• Also read: Golf: A Quebecer is one of the long hitters in the world again
• Also read: Bryson DeChambeau has breathed new life into the Long Drive discipline
Listening to Gabriel Caron-Landry, we quickly realize that he never mentions the distance his shots travel. It repeats the specs: clubhead speed at impact and ball speed at impact.
The speed of the racquet determines the distance the ball can go, while the speed of the ball is created by the force of the impact. The faster the clubhead speed, the more explosive the shot and the further the ball will fly.
A little more miles per hour can gain up to three additional yards.
Gabriel Caron-Landry combines business with pleasure by being able to train in a simulator on the premises of his work at Devolutions in Lavaltrie. During last week’s passage of the journal, he managed to hit a few balls dry while Mother Nature unleashed her powers outside. Without his famous 48-inch racquet and without a warm-up, he still managed to rush for more than 370 yards, according to simulator data. François-David Rouleau / JdeM
Stunning
For long hitters, club speed must be over 150 mph (240 km/h) to have a chance of winning. The speed of the ball must be approximately 215 mph (345 km/h).
The rotation of the ball is added to this equation. This data has a direct impact on the height and distance of a shot. She is the enemy of long hitters. These need to be closer to 1800 RPM than a pro’s 2700 on the PGA Tour.
The equation of hitting further is therefore easier to calculate than to execute!
“We kind of reached the limit that the ball is made for. It can’t take a hit at more than 215 mph. In addition, the profit is marginal, explains Caron-Landry. This is where it gets very interesting.
“Because when the ball hits a speed of 223 miles per hour on impact [c’est le cas de] Kyle Berkshire (the three-time world long drive champion), you’re going to hit about four yards further, he continues. The problem is the precision.
By attaching the package, the long hitter must agree to place one of their prized balls on the grid less often. If so, the result could go past 420 yards depending on conditions and other specs.
“This is where a guy like Bryson DeChambeau can be dangerous because he’s more accurate hitting around 215mph. In competition, we aim to achieve a ball speed of between 215 and 220 mph,” adds the Quebecer, who comes close.
New records
Two world records have just been broken by young sensation Seb Twaddell. In his unique double backswing, the 22-year-old, 1.80m tall Australian pushed himself to the limit by unleashing all his power.
Last April, his club head speed reached 169.6 mph (273 km/h), while ball head speed reached 240.8 mph (388 km/h).
For comparison, according to Trackman, a technology radar specializing in golf, pros on the PGA Tour average about 113 (181.8 km/h) and 168 mph (270 km/h), respectively.
With these technological tools, long hitters will continue to push the limits of their tools and the human body.