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Club setup is also important for hitting long drives. Today, I will reveal my driver specs exactly as they are and also clear up the common misconception that "if you are strong, you must use a stiff shaft."
01The length is 47.9 inches
In regular rounds, the driver length is regulated to be 46 inches, but in long drive competitions, it is allowed up to 48 inches. So, I am using a 47.9-inch driver.
02The stronger the power, the softer the shaft actually is
You probably know that strong players need to use stiffer shafts. However, it is easier to understand a long-hitting player's shaft if you think of it as a fishing rod. A fishing rod uses elasticity to cast the float far, right? I actually use a shaft that bends much more easily—softer than even women's clubs. Since it is difficult to utilize elasticity as the stiffness increases, I prioritize maximizing elasticity to transfer power to the club more effectively, even if it means sacrificing a little directional control.
03The loft is 2.5 degrees
My driver's standard loft is 4.5 degrees (this specification is not sold domestically). Drivers typically range from 9 to 13 degrees, but long hitters have such powerful impact force and equally strong pull-up power that their trajectories tend to fly too high. Therefore, they actually need to control the trajectory by using a lower loft. My driver allows for adjustment down to -2 degrees using a sleeve, but I use it set to around 2.5 degrees.
The specs of Pro Kim Gun-hwa, who I broadcasted with, are the opposite of mine. A 9-degree loft and a 70g 7X—he actually prefers stiffer shafts. As you can see, specifications can vary completely depending on the player and their swing style.
04Advice for amateurs
When giving distance lessons, I often see male members, driven by greed, seeking stiff and heavy shafts like the 70g TX. However, honestly, those specifications are too cumbersome to swing. I use this analogy: when catching a fly, do you grip it hard and heavily? No, you hit it lightly and forcefully. That is when power transfer is actually more effective. Golf is the same. Rather than forcing yourself to hit hard with a heavy club, swinging lightly with a light club (or one with good elasticity) creates effective distance.
05With these settings, it comes out to 322m.
My official tournament record is 403 yards. On that day in the studio, I recorded a ball speed of 95.4 miles and a carry of 313 meters; this was just during the initial warm-up phase, and the distance kept increasing as I repeated the swing. In fact, everyone in the studio was surprised when it hit 322 meters. Long drives don't happen all at once; they are perfected by continuously warming up (pumping up) your body like this.
06Organizing today
If you want to increase your distance, instead of blindly seeking heavy and stiff specs, try starting with lighter specs that you can swing comfortably and quickly. You will feel the effects much more clearly if you adjust your setup in conjunction with the right hip power gathering drill I shared in the last column.
