Hitting Wood Shots for Left-Handed Golfers
By Contributing Writer
It is an old saying that in golf "you drive for show, but you putt for dough." However true this may be and however important accurate iron play is to your scoring, it is undeniable that the most satisfying feeling in golf is hitting a long drive off the tee. The rest of the game is also much easier if you are playing from the fairway instead of the deep rough. A combination of getting the maximum distance possible, while keeping the ball in the short grass as often as possible, will make the rest of the game much easier, more fun and will improve your scores.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Tee the ball high. With the new large-headed drivers, the best shots come from higher on the clubface. Tee the ball high enough so that half of it is above the clubface when it is on the tee.
Position the ball further forward than you do for irons. Experiment on the range to find your ideal ball position---opposite the right heel will be about correct. This will promote striking the ball after the club has reached the bottom of its arc. The upward movement will reduce backspin and help promote the correct launch angle for maximum distance. The forward position of the ball will also help position your hands correctly---level with the ball and your left shoulder lower than your right.
Start the backswing slowly with arms and shoulders, not by cocking the wrists. This gives the necessary wide arc to your swing and avoids contact that is too steep, causing high, weak slices.
Keep the swing slow and smooth. A steady acceleration through the ball to a full follow-through is better than trying to force the ball with a lunge from the top of the backswing. This lunging movement will throw the club into an over-the-top swing path and will dissipate your power before you strike the ball.
Tips & Warnings
When teeing off with a fairway wood, position the ball about an inch further back than you do for a driver. Tee the ball lower to match the smaller size of the clubhead. Then make the same smooth, accelerating swing you do for a driver. Swing within yourself. If you are teeing off with a fairway wood, you must be going for accuracy more than distance, so there is no point ruining that by overswinging and forcing the shot.
