| Driving a golf ball well can be a great | | | | most of the work. Another important thing to |
| challenge. The driver is the hardest club in | | | | keep in mind is that the driver you are using |
| the bag to hit and requires a lot of skill to | | | | should fit your swing type. If you have a |
| master. The first key to driving the golf | | | | slower swing speed then you should use a |
| ball well is to swing well within yourself. | | | | driver with a regular flex. However if your |
| Many players when they are trying to drive a | | | | swing speed is higher then you will want a |
| golf ball far try to use their muscle power | | | | driver with a stiff flex. |
| thinking that using more muscle will mean | | | | |
| more distance. | | | | Also make sure your driver is not too long, |
| | | | usually 42 to 45 inches is the ideal length |
| This is a common misconception, remember that | | | | for most people. Another good tip to help you |
| there are many players out there that have | | | | hit the golf ball far is to think of your |
| very thin builds and they hit the ball very | | | | left shoulder driving straight up towards the |
| far. How is this possible? These golfers have | | | | sky when the downswing starts. This will help |
| learned that distance is a function of an | | | | to get the club on the right plane for the |
| accurate golf swing combined with club head | | | | downswing and will also help to create more |
| speed. Swinging easy or within your limits | | | | lag. |
| will give you a better chance of making a | | | | |
| more accurate golf swing. | | | | It is important to be effective with your |
| | | | wedges and short irons first before you try |
| The key to greater club head speed is to | | | | to master the driver. Remember that the |
| create more lag or leverage. Lag is defined | | | | driver swing is simply an extension of the |
| as the angle that is created between the club | | | | smaller swings so if you are having problems |
| and your left hand. You want this angle to be | | | | hitting a wedge then you will almost |
| small and you need to hold this angle for as | | | | certainly struggle with the driver. Many of |
| long as possible before impact. This will | | | | the best players learned how to hit short |
| allow maximum energy to be released through | | | | clubs first before trying to master the |
| the hitting zone and will translate to | | | | longer ones so follow their lead. |
| greater distance. | | | | |
| | | | To consistently hit the driver far and |
| One simple way to create more lag is to think | | | | straight will require consistent practice on |
| of the club as a whip and use a whipping | | | | your part. |
| motion through the hitting zone. Also | | | | |
| starting the downswing with a weight shift | | | | There are now many home golf simulators for |
| toward the target before bringing down the | | | | under $200 that you can purchase. Just make |
| club can also help to produce greater | | | | sure you have some free space to swing your |
| leverage. It is important to stay fully under | | | | clubs freely. These simulators can allow you |
| control when executing your golf swing. One | | | | to practice regularly right at home and can |
| way to check if you are under control is | | | | be effective. Of course try to go to the |
| whether or not you are balanced at the end of | | | | range and the course as much as you can too. |
| the swing. | | | | There are no shortcuts to becoming a better |
| | | | golfer so put in the time and effort |
| If you see that you are losing balance then | | | | necessary to learn how to drive a golf ball |
| you may need to slow things down a little and | | | | far and straight. |
| not try as hard. Relax and let the club do | | | | |