Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
No player wants to admit to doing it, but hitting driver off the heel is a common problem that many golfers struggle with.
Personally speaking, as I’ve reshaped my golf swing and continue to get accustomed to a new grip, setup, and posture, I’ve found myself hitting the heel quite frequently over the past month or so. Instead of having the yips with my driver in hand, I decided to just play a round with only my 6-iron, which helped restore some confidence off the tee.
How far golfers at every handicap level hit their drivers, according to data
While I can run, it’s going to be impossible to hide from the issue. I need to fix the problem by learning the proper technique to stop hitting driver off the heel.
Since I need all the help I can get — and I’m sure many of you do as well — GOLF Teacher to Watch Rick Silva is giving his tips to avoid the heel, find the sweet spot, and start hitting more bombs when using the big dog.
So take a look below at what Silva has to say in today’s Play Smart lesson.
Stop hitting driver off the heel by following these tips
As mentioned above, many recreational golfers struggle with hitting driver off the heel — so don’t get down on yourself if or when it happens.
According to Silva, part of the issue may be with how you’re setting up at address.
How to ensure you’re using the right setup for your driver
“Nearly every club manufacturer places a decal marking the ‘center of the club’,” says Silva. “But should you trust that it’s truly the sweet spot? And should we align ourselves with it at address?”
Silva thinks that aligning the club this way could be part of the problem for golfers hitting off the heel.
“When golfers naturally align the ball with this decal at address, they’re doing so with the club resting on the ground — not at the level at which they’ll actually strike the ball.
Vice x Nicklaus Collection (60 tees + bag)
“Consequently, the ball ends up getting stuck on the heel of the club, or they unintentionally pull the club in towards themselves, causing them to swipe across it.”
This is where Silva suggests some simple solutions.
“First, with the ball set at your desired tee height, align the true sweet spot of the club and let the clubhead rest on the ground,” he says. “Next, from your point of view, you’ll notice that the ball appears to be positioned towards the toe. Don’t fret, as when you raise the club to the height of the ball, it will be perfectly aligned!”
The way a shaft bends during the golf swing also impacts how where you address the golf ball changes to when it’s actually struck.
“Firstly, from the face-on view, the shaft will be bending forward, causing the clubhead to move slightly ahead of the handle,” adds Silva. “Secondly, from the target line view, the shaft will be bent downward, shifting the strike point back towards the heel of the club.”
Making this adjustment will allow you to address the ball more precisely, aligning your club to the true sweet spot.
“This should be the desired impact point,” says Silva. “This small modification will help you eliminate those frustrating heel hits and unlock the potential for long, powerful drives.”
