Happy Gilmore was right: Longer drives in golf running at the ball

[steven johnson]

In the 1996 film Happy Gilmore drives the ball more than 400 yards using ice hockey- style swing running up to the ball.

The 37-year-old Irishman, Padraig Harrington, in an experiment increased his average drive distance by 30 yards, from 296 to 326. He was the 2008 PGA tour player of the year and reigning Open champion.

Harrington said, "The best player in the world always tends to be the longest hitter or close to it - he always has a length advantage."

Unfortunately, accuracy does suffer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1183930/Taking-run-hitting-golf-ball-make-sail-lot--fair-way-play.html?ITO=1490