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PrintGolf Tip: Hit it 300 with the Driver
Start by teeing the ball higher than normal and positioning the ball off your front foot’s instep. This will create a stance where your head is positioned significantly behind the golf ball. Sixty percent of your weight should be positioned on your back foot, enabling your back shoulder to be significantly lower at address than your front shoulder.
It is extremely important to relax the muscles in your arms and hands, allowing the club to move freely. That will develop the needed club-head speed for distance. In addition, raise your chin so your shoulders can move easily under your chin to create a wide arc at the top of the swing.
As you reach the top of the backswing, you should feel between 70 and 80 percent of your weight on your back foot. Your shoulders and hips should turn with your back facing the target, your back knee should be bent, not straight, and your head should be behind the golf ball. You should feel in balance and ready to fire the club through the ball in one smooth motion.
The biggest mistake you can make on the downswing is hitting at the ball with your hands and sliding your body forward past the ball before impact. You need to unwind your shoulders, hips and arms behind the ball, hanging on your back foot. You should feel yourself rotating slightly behind the ball and swinging up and through the ball.
Another common mistake is to stop accelerating at impact. Make sure you continue to accelerate the club through impact and into the finish position. Your body should continue to turn long after the ball has been impacted. Your weight should be pulled onto your front foot and leg if you allow your arms to swing freely through impact.
Remember to stay in balance and relaxed throughout the swing to create speed and distance with your driver.
