Have you recently developed an interest in golf and are spending your leisure hours binge-watching golf lessons, all in order to learn how to crush a driver straight and far? While it might help you, let me describe some simple tactics to help you.
The best way to hit a driver straight and far boils down to your alignment, your golf address, grip, and swing technique. That being said, there are easy fixes if any of these are causing you yardage or mishits.
Are you struggling to hit a driver straight and far and leave everyone speechless?
Then there is some good news for you. You are not alone. Not being able to crush your drives can be disappointing and frustrating. While some golfers complain about not mastering the right golf grip, some players are suffering from swing plane mistakes or having a consistent swing (best golf swing trainer for beginners) and others don’t know where to begin
Some even end up slicing or hooking the ball frequently. Before you start with the game, it is important to know and learn the basics. I
In this article, I have brought to you some tips and techniques on how to hit a driver straight and far. Get the right knowledge, practice your game, and prepare yourself to hit fairways. So, let’s begin!
How to Drive Straight and Far
Golf Alignment:
To perfect each of your golf shots, it is important to have the fundamentals clear. Improper alignment might lead to a miss of around 10-15 yards or more, not to mention landing out in the rough.
To make sure your alignment is perfect, you can either use an alignment stick or another golf club. Place the golf club so it’s pointing in the direction you want to hit the ball. If you’re using a golf alignment stick it should be about 6-12 inches in length, between your toes, between you and the ball. If your toes are parallel with the golf club, your alignment will be set.
Make sure your feet are set in the correct position. They should be square to the line. Keep your knees, hip, and shoulder properly postured. Align your feet and then turn your one foot out, if required.
Proper Golf Address:
Unless you’re a seasoned pro, there can be some trepidation flowing through you as you’re getting ready to hit your drives. Golf coaches tell their students to maintain a little bit of movement upon address. You’ve probably heard of the term “waggle.”
By doing a simple waggle or two and maintaining a little bit of movement in the fingers, it can alleviate the tendency to tense up. Having a little bit of movement going through your body will promote a smooth consistent swing.
Proper Golf Grip:
For amateurs, getting the proper grip (how to hold a golf club) is one of the essentials of this game. The improper grip will lead to inconsistencies. Usually, players employ three types of grips. They are – 10 Finger Grip, Interlocking Grip, and Overlapping Grip. Try each of them to find out the one best suited for you.
If you are a beginner and a right-handed player, place the grip in such a way that it is in a diagonal position with the fingers into your left palm. The left palm then should be kept at the top of the club.
If you look down at the club now, you shall see the knuckles of both your index and middle fingers. Place your right palm on your left thumb towards the closing part of the grip.
If you are squeezing the club too tightly, your forearms will be tense and this could push or pull the ball. Make sure your arms and golf grip is fairly relaxed. Not so much that upon impact with the ball, the club can spin in your hands, but not so tight that you’re tensed up.
In such cases, you will lose the tempo altogether. Have good control over your muscles. Keep your forearms, wrists, and hands completely relaxed. There should be no tension in these areas. Your fingers should not sit too firmly on the club.
Allow it to have some movement. Keep your body in a loose, relaxed motion that will help you in getting the smooth swing.
Proper Golf Swing Technique:
Getting the right swing is very important for being able to play the right golf shots. By setting up the right foundation, you can easily avoid mishits and inconsistencies in your game.
Try and catch the driver on the upswing. Your front shoulder should be slightly higher than your back shoulder. This will allow you to stay behind the shot and control it effectively.
This will depend on each golfer, but some say to give yourself time at the top of your backswing. A short pause or hesitation will give the shaft some time to be fully loaded. Your body will also be able to accumulate the energy required for the shot. This will let you make a proper downswing with accurate timing.
Keep your arms swinging at a constant speed throughout the journey of the ball, till it lands. Find the swing which is suitable for you and also helpful for your drives.
If you end up swinging too hard you could lose your balance and errant shots are sure to follow. If you cannot maintain your balance, you will not be able to hit those solid golf shots consistently. Maintain your balance by keeping your center of gravity low throughout your backswing. Holding your finish is as important as swinging in control. Keeping a good tempo is also essential.
Prevent Hooking or Slicing The Ball
Slicing (How to Stop Slicing a Driver) is a very common problem that most golfers face. If you have an adjustable driver, you can try adjusting the setting.
Avoid standing too near to the ball or too far from it. What happens with a typical slice (how to stop slicing the ball) is the shoulders flares out, causing your swing to come from the outside to inside, or at a steep plane. This will cause the ball to veer right. To avoid this, you might want to step your left foot (if you’re right-handed) a little forward. This will help the swing plane. As a result, the club will drop to the inside as you go down.
Do not keep the ball too far forward. This will let you begin your swing. The square shoulders will provide you the necessary space so that you can make a full shoulder while going back.
In case of a downswing, continue to keep your back facing the ball for a longer time. Try and make a full turn just behind the ball. Make sure your upper body does not spin out and to keep the right shoulder relaxed.
Correct Ball Position
If you want to get some distance on your drives you want to be making contact with the ball as your clubhead is starting its upswing. When you tee up the ball, the top half of the ball should be higher than the driver, when it’s on the ground next to hit.
Next, in your stance, the ball should be about parallel to your left heel. If the ball is too far back in your stance you might be hitting down on the ball, which will prevent distance and carry.
How to Generate More Golf Swing Speed
It makes sense that if you generate more club speed (How to Swing A Golf Club Faster) the ball will likely carry farther. If you can allow your hips and arms to turn farther back in your backswing, this will give you more time to generate more speed.
As you go through your downswing, you want the make sure your hips and weight are traveling forward, with the club finally releasing a little past contact with the ball.
If you’re anything like me, a video tutorial combined with this information will make the information easy to consume, so here you go:
Conclusion of Hitting Your Driver Straight
If you want to better your game, then you need to go through several practice sessions to achieve perfection. Hitting fairways isn’t easy if you don’t train yourself regularly and properly. By following the tips and techniques in this article, now you know how to hit a driver straight and far. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to score well. Improve your game and start playing golf the best way!