Many golfers enjoy looking down the fairway on a par-4 or par-5 hole and pulling the driver out of the bag. The feeling of crunching a sweet drive down the centre of the fairway is tough to beat for those who love the game.
However, for some beginner golfers, getting out the driver can mean seeing their ball in the rough or hazard. If you cannot control the ball and hit a straight drive, using the driver can become problematic and result in dropped shots.
If you are struggling to hit straight drives, the first thing you can do is check what type of golf ball you are using. Some golf balls spin more than others and it’s the spin which can make the ball slice and swing away from the fairway.
However, you can purchase golf balls which have been designed to spin less and these are two-piece golf balls. Thanks to the way two-piece golf balls are engineered, they do not spin as much as other types of balls and this helps to maintain control and distance.
When using the driver, the key aspect of keeping the ball straight and on the fairway is balance. One of the main reasons for losing balance on the tee is trying to hit the ball too hard but the best way to maximise both accuracy and distance is maintaining good balance throughout the shot.
During the backswing, always try and keep your centre of gravity in the middle as much as possible. The temptation is to move weight to the back during the backswing but to keep in balance, it should always remain central. Then, on the downswing, move your weight forward and do not be afraid to do this aggressively.
That doesn’t mean you should swing the club aggressively, we are talking about weight distribution and nothing else.
In fact, swinging the club too hard could be one of the causes of missing the fairway with the driver. You are not required to swing the driver as hard as possible and for the best, most accurate results, you should swing the club less than 100%.
Swinging the club slightly less than 100% will help maintain balance and result in a straighter drive of the ball.
Finally, always pick a target when hitting a drive. Many Beginner golfers step up to the tee box, look down the fairway and swing the club sending the ball in the general direction they want it to go.
However, picking a target can help with driver accuracy and focus. Look down the fairway and think about where you want the ball to land to make your second shot easier. Then, pick out something in the distance which falls in line with your target area such as a tree or building.
Doing this will give your drive purpose and will result in a more accurate shot off the tee.
Recent Comments