A good driving game is essential because hitting it long and straight off the tee offers you more chances to score lower. It also takes the pressure off the other areas of your game. If you can keep the ball in play with reasonable distance, you’ll have a great chance to shoot lower scores.
Here are four keys to a powerful and accurate swing.
1. Address
You have probably heard coaches say that power comes from the ground up. It’s important to be in a setup position that offers the best chance for a good body rotation and delivers speed in the downswing without disrupting balance. Here are three things to focus on at address:
1.The ball position needs to be forward in the stance because you want to hit the ball on the upswing with your driver. The ball forward will lower your trail shoulder, encouraging an upward swing.
2.The stance should be a little wider than with your irons. I like to see the inside of your heels on the outside of your hips. It would help if you also favored a little more weight on your back foot to help encourage hitting up on the ball.
3.Your arms should reach out more than an iron, and your hands will be slightly higher. This encourages a more around swing and flattens your swing plane, making it easier to sweep the ball off the tee.
2. Backswing
The takeaway dictates your rhythm and where the club goes at the start of the backswing. Being out of position going back makes it harder to be in position coming down. I like to have the upper body initiate the backswing to keep the club in front of the body at the takeaway. This keeps the arms wide in the club face square going back. There is no one perfect position at the top. However, the few things all good drivers have in common are the lead shoulder behind the ball, the shoulders turned more than the hips, and more weight on the trail leg.
3. Downswing
The transition from backswing to downswing is an essential element of the golf swing. Keeping the club working at a good speed and on the right path lies at the heart of great driving. The proper sequence in the downswing starts with the lower body and ends with the hands. The correct sequence is very similar to throwing the ball. Your legs initiate the change in direction, your hips and torso rotate, and your hands swing through.
4. Finish
You can learn a lot from your finish position. If you finish in balance with your weight on your lead side, odds are you made a good swing. I like to see your hips and chest facing the target and your hands over your shoulder. If you are falling off balance or can’t get to a full-finish position, something probably went wrong with your transition.
Kevin Sprecher is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the director of instruction at Sleepy Hollow GC in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
