After a 3 year hiatus, Nick Miller returned to the Long Drive Circuit participating in his first comeback Long Drive event in Pleasanton CA on June 25th. Miller, now 21 had been sidelined by educational commitments and some bothersome injuries. He said, "I feel that I am ready to compete again, and this is as good a time as ever. I am stronger and more focused."
In this, his first event, he placed 3rd out of 44 participants with a blast of 338 yards into a slight headwind. The winning shot was 366 yards, with a slight helping tailwind.
In August 2000, "Sputnik" at the age of 15, set the Amateur World Record Long Drive, competing with World Class Professionals in a Re-Max Long Drive Qualifier in Madera, California. He won this qualifier with an unaided "Blast" of 449 yards (over ¼ of a mile or 410 meters) and 2 inches eclipsing the 10 year old world record of 396 yards and was only 13 yards short of the then professional long drive record of 462 yards at sea level.
Since then "Sputnik," so nicknamed by his professional Long Drive competitors, (due to the extremely high altitude he hits his drives) participated as an amateur in professional long drive events on a very limited basis.
He intends now after a short period, to turn Professional and participate on the Long Drive tour after two shaft companies have offered him a Long Drive contract and of course, with his Feel Golf grip contract. Miller, is the son of Lee Miller, CEO of Feel Golf and his long time coach.
In 2000 when he established the world record and went into Book of Records, and while being covered by every major golf magazine in the world, his swing speed was a puny 140 mph. Now that 6 years has passed, his swing speed has increased to 152 mph and by way of example "Tiger’s" swing speed is a "paltry 128 mph." Many fellow competitors predict that Miller is capable of approaching 500 yards drives at sea level.
Miller uses a 48" driver, with a XXXX shaft in a 3 and 5 degree driver made by Feel Golf Co. He also is using their new "Full Release" performance grip, which simply by changing to their "Full Release" performance grip, added 3 mph to his swing speed and improved his accuracy.
In 2002 at the age of 17 he entered only one Re-Max Long Drive qualifier that was held on August 9th in Hanford, CA. He won this event with a drive of 393 yards, with many flying over the end of the 400 yard range, not to be found, nor measured. So he stated in his extremely modest voice "I’ll need to hit one to the end of the range, so they can find the ball" and proceeded with a 393 yard drive, besting the second place finisher by 30 yards.
"Sputnik", who can also hit drives in excess of 325 yards…. using only one hand…!!
This young man who stands 6′ 2" and 190 lbs has a swing length that makes John Daly’s swing look like a half swing and can he pound the ball. If you get the chance, go watch his awesome ability to apply "Hurt" to the ball…like hitting a 52 degree wedge over 180 yards!
Contact:
Lee Miller
831-647-3110
info@feelwedges.com
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