How to Hit a Golf Driver

By Glenn Mcanally

The golf driver is the longest club in your bag. It is the most difficult to use because the longer the club the harder it is to control the ball's direction of flight. With a golf driver, what you lose in accuracy you gain in distance. Usually you will hit your drive on a par 4 or 5 hole, or sometimes a par 3, depending on how far you can drive. All golfers hit their drive as far as they can unless a hazard lies ahead. This article will take you through the set-up and execution of a driver swing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step 1

Tee the ball up about 2 1/2 to 3 inches off the grass. Your swing style may require that height to be lower or higher.

Step 2

Line up the club head squarely to the ball.

Step 3

Stand farther from the ball because of the club's length.

Step 4

Place your feet shoulder width apart. Align your right foot with the ball with your toes pointed slightly left.

Step 5

Maintain your posture as you would with any other club. Keep your knees slightly bent and your head up with your eyes on the ball. Keep your arms straight down and the club end directly above your toes. Dip the right shoulder a little.

Step 1

Begin the takeaway with the left arm straight and maintain a shallow swing plane.

Step 2

Bend the left knee to help keep your club on the swing plane.

Step 3

Turn your shoulders 90 degrees.

Step 4

Create more torque by turning the hips counter-clockwise before you initiate the downswing.

Step 5

Thrust the hips to the left and transfer your weight to your left leg.

Step 1

Let gravity take the club down. Tuck your right arm into your body.

Step 2

Keep your head behind the ball and create as wide an angle between the left arm and the club shaft as you can.

Step 3

Break your wrists the moment your hands are over the ball.

Step 4

Strike the ball just as the club head starts to swing upward.

Step 5

Follow through as though you are launching your right arm out of its socket.

Tips & Warnings

Always rotate around your spine, since your spine never moves until you've made contact with the ball.

Don't try to build more speed down with your arms. The swing speed you need will come when you break your wrists and release the club.

About The Author

Glenn McAnally is a thriller novelist and life long golfer who lives in Southern California. His most recent work is the action thriller Endangered as well as a story credit for the upcoming Nintendo DS title Elite Forces: Unit 77. He is a graduate of Villanova University.