WATCH: DJ Hits Nicklaus' Persimmon Driver 290 Yards

By Elliott Heath published 30 August 18

How far would modern players hit it with persimmon drivers? This might give you an idea...

WATCH: DJ Hits Nicklaus' Persimmon Driver 290 Yards

World number one Dustin Johnson is one of the longest hitters in the game, consistently averaging above 310 yards off the tee on the PGA Tour.

He hits his modern day driver anywhere between 300 and 350 yards depending on conditions, but how far would he hit a persimmon driver?

Well now we know.

DJ was practising at the Bears Club in Florida ahead of the Dell Technologies Championship when Jack Nicklaus gave him one of his old drivers and a 1 iron to hit.

DJ hit the persimmon 290 yards, although do remember that he was likely hitting a modern day golf ball.

With a ball the same age as the driver he was hitting, it would go more like 250 yards.

He also hit Nicklaus' old 1 iron 230 yards, again with a modern day ball but still that is impressive hitting.

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DJ made use of his length at Kapalua

Rickie Fowler was shown hitting a persimmon driver in 2017 in a video from his coach Claude Harmon and appeared to have similar numbers to DJ.

Rickie hit it 274 yards in the air with run out to 292 yards. He was, like DJ, hitting a modern day ball.

Claude Harmon III also posted a video of Brooks Koepka hitting the persimmon driver in 2017 and he was a lot longer than Fowler and DJ.

The three-time major winner is without doubt one of the longest hitting pros on Tour and carried the persimmon driver 284 for a total distance of 306 yards.

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Elliott Heath

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016. He graduated in Sports Journalism in 2016 and currently manages the Golf Monthly news, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He has also covered three Open Championships on-site including at Carnoustie in 2018 when he was inside the ropes with Tiger Woods. He has played 31 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Alwoodley. He currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats between 3-5. His golfing highlight is making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, and he has made one hole-in-one.

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Honma TR20

3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max

Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max

Irons: Mizuno MP5

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x