Much of playing golf is about keeping control of the ball and if you can keep your ball in play and reach the putting surface in regulation, you have a great chance of recording a low score.
However, there are times when keeping control of the ball is not enough and you need to hit a big drive off the tee. Perhaps the fairway is long and wide, and you cannot help yourself but attempt a crunching drive but sometimes, there may be a hazard, such as a bunker you need to carry or you feel you can reach the green on a par-4 from the tee.
When stepping up to the tee to hit a big drive, the adrenaline will be flowing and the key to hitting a long drive is to keep the adrenaline in check. Do not carried away with the excitement and try to hit the ball has hard as you can.
Doing this will only increase the chances of you mis-hitting the shot and hitting a shorter drive than you can produce.
Instead, think about making some changes to your set-up and start by teeing the ball higher and widening your stance. You want to have your whole body behind the shot when hitting your longest drive and having a wider stance will help with that.
When completing the back swing, it is not necessary to take the club back as far as you can. As you make the backswing, feel for the muscles in your upper back tightening as you become close to the top of the backswing and when you do, you are ready to make the downswing.
When making the downswing and contacting the ball, try and keep your upper body straight and do not lean into the drive. You will feel the weight shift onto your front foot and that’s fine but do not allow your upper body to lunge forward at the same time. The upper body must stay behind the ball, even after contact.
To help with this, think about using your hips when at the top of the backswing. You can pause for a split-second at the top of the backswing and use this time to think about using your hips and keeping your upper body back.
Doing this will help the club to contact the ball at maximum speed, without having to try and swing the club harder.
Head to the practice range and use the tips above to hit your longest drive. Next time you are on the course, it could be you driving the short par-4 or hitting your driver over the par-5 bunker and into contention for reaching the green in two.
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