Hitting driver is a crucial aspect of the game that must be mastered to improve your handicap. PGA professional Jack Backhouse provides insights on how to achieve this.
Driving the golf ball effectively is essential for lowering your handicap and enhancing your enjoyment of the game. Playing from the middle of the fairway increases your chances of scoring lower and simplifies the game. In this video, PGA pro Jack Backhouse offers tips on hitting the driver straight and long.
It All Starts In The Set Up
Improving your game becomes easier when adjustments are made early in the golf swing. Correcting your set-up is a simple way to make significant improvements. Perfecting your set-up is a great starting point to enhance your game.
Here are some key adjustments to make at address to increase club head speed and hit your tee shots straight:
- Widen your stance slightly beyond shoulder width
- Tee the ball up higher than usual
- Position the ball near the lead heel, adjusting slightly forward or back depending on your desired shot shape
- Tilt your spine away from the target, ensuring the lead shoulder is higher than the trail shoulder
Implementing these changes can help straighten your ball flight, optimize your angle of attack, and improve your performance with this essential golf club.
Backswing Ideas
In some cases, achieving a perfect address position may not be sufficient to improve your driver swing and hit more fairways. Studying the techniques of the best drivers in golf history can provide valuable insights into enhancing your swing for straight and long drives.
- Top drivers typically have a wide backswing to increase swing length, speed, and launch angle at impact
- They maintain good depth in their hands, leading to a shallow downswing and an inside approach to the ball, increasing speed and facilitating a draw
- Big shoulder turns resulting from a substantial hip turn are also common among effective drivers
Last-Ditch Downswing Thoughts For Better Driving
After making address adjustments and incorporating key backswing characteristics, if you still struggle with driving, focusing on downswing techniques may be beneficial in hitting up on the ball and striking the driver effectively.
- Shift your hips towards the target while starting the downswing, maintaining your head behind the ball to achieve proper body tilts that help you launch the ball higher with reduced backspin
- Straighten your arms at impact to maximize clubhead speed and transfer energy efficiently to the ball, aiding in achieving a higher draw
All the technical aspects of hitting the driver effectively are covered in this video. By observing and emulating the techniques of great players, you can enhance your own abilities and lower your scores.
If you wish to view more of Jack’s swing tips instructional videos, you can access his YouTube Technique Tips playlist by clicking here. Explore our other instructional articles for additional insights on how to hit the driver straight and long!
