A Few Driving Tips
A Few Driving Tips
Are you an avid golfer looking to improve your driving skills and take your game to the next level? Whether you're a seasoned player or a beginner, mastering the art of driving is essential to achieving success on the golf course. But fear not, we've got you covered with some expert tips that will revolutionize your driving game and help you hit those fairways with confidence and precision.
Unless you are playing 7,500 yards competing on the PGA Tour or elite amateur competition, driving is not about hitting the ball hard; it's about strategy, technique, and preparation. In this blog post, we'll delve into three essential driving tips that will take your golf game to new heights. From honing your swing to practicing under pressure and ensuring you have the right equipment; these tips are game changers that will give you the competitive edge you need.
So, buckle up, grab your golf clubs, and let's dive into these driving tips that will transform your golf game and help you tee off with confidence and success.
#1 - Taking out one side of the golf course
Our first tip and principle of driving for you is taking out one side of the golf course. What we mean by this is creating a shot shape with a predictable pattern and miss.
If you have ever watched any amount of professional golf, you have definitely heard a struggling player complain about a two-way miss. If you were to watch this player hit drivers on the range, you would not think that this person was struggling. In fact, most of their shots would be very straight with some fading slightly and some drawing slightly. However, as good as this shot pattern looks, it is debilitating on tricky tee shots or when the pressure ramps up; the main reason for this being this pattern makes it very difficult to air one way or the other and pick a good target.
To avoid having a two-way miss, we recommend that you develop a shot shape that you rarely stray from and stick to it. Whether it is a cut or a draw, pick the one that fits you the best and do not get away from it unless you absolutely have to. An example of this is Jack Nicklaus’ cut. He knew that he wanted to take the left side of the golf course out of play off the tee, so he weakened his grip and learned how to hit a consistent fade; if anything, he made sure that he over cut the ball and missed right. Having this one-way miss allowed him to confidently pick proper targets and take a lot of trouble off the table.
#2 - Practicing with a Purpose and Bringing the Pressure On
Our second tip for you is to make a very strong effort to practice just like you play and create a consequence for hitting a bad drive.
One of the most destructive things you can do for your tee shots is blindly hit drivers on the range. Even the narrowest driving range out there is much wider than any fairway out there; well maybe except for number 1 & 18 at St. Andrews Golf Links. Also, on the range there are no consequences for hitting a drive.
To combat this, we suggest you do this drill each time you practice:
Define your fairway by choosing two flags to hit the ball between. Make this fairway big enough that you can consistently hit it, but small enough to make it a challenge to get ten in a row within the boundaries.
Go through your routine on each drive just like you would on the golf course and don’t leave your driving range until you get ten drives in a row between the uprights. If ten is unattainable for you, either make your fairway bigger, or lower your goal to five.
Use our first tip above and try to choose a shot shape that takes one side of your boundaries out of play.
#3 - Ensure you are Using the Correct Equipment
For the amateur golfer, one thing that a lot of the time goes overlooked is equipment. Questions that everyone should know the answer to are:
● Am I playing the correct length shaft?
● Does my shaft have the correct launch profile for my swing?
● Am I playing the correct shaft stiffness?
● Am I playing a forgiving enough driver head?
● Am I playing the correct loft on my driver?
● Is my ball spinning too much?
● Is my ball not spinning enough?
● Am I playing a driver head to promote a certain shot shape?
These are questions that most recreational golfers never ask themselves and a lot of their driving problems could be alleviated simply by using different equipment. Maybe that low ball flight isn’t entirely your fault or maybe that high spinning ball flight that gets chewed up by the wind could be fixed with a lower launch and higher kick-point shaft. Go talk to your local golf pro this week and let them watch you hit a few drives. They are trained to be able to make sure that your driver fits your game.
Mastering the art of driving in golf takes practice, technique, and the right equipment. By incorporating these three essential tips into your driving routine, you'll be well on your way to becoming a more confident and successful golfer. Remember to work on your swing by focusing on taking one side of the course out of play, practicing like you play by creating pressure on the range, and investing in the correct equipment that suits your game. With dedication and perseverance, you'll see remarkable improvements in your driving skills, leading to lower scores and more enjoyable rounds of golf. So, go ahead, apply these driving tips, and watch your golf game soar to new heights! Happy driving!