Greetings Golfers! Today, we are here to give you some invaluable tips on how to hit longer and straighter drives. Today, we're focusing on where power comes from, how to feel that perfect impact, and how to maximize your drive's power and accuracy.
The Importance of Setup
Your setup is crucial for hitting a powerful drive. There's a lot of information out there, which can be confusing, so let's simplify it. I'll demonstrate using Brock's driver.
Common Setup Mistakes
Many golfers make the mistake of over-tilting when trying to hit up on the ball. Instead of creating a powerful upward angle, they shrink their trailing side (right side for right-handed golfers), which reduces their ability to generate power. This leads to a weak and inconsistent drive.
Correct Setup Technique
To set up correctly:
- Ball Position: Place the ball inside your left heel.
- Body Weight: Keep your body weight centered.
- Subtle Tilt: Your spine and shoulders should have a slight, natural tilt.
This subtle tilt ensures your club will arrive at the ball on a slight upward path without compromising your balance or power.
The Swing Arc and Hitting Up
Understanding the swing arc is essential. When hitting irons, you're striking the ball on the flat side of the arc. With woods, you're hitting on the upswing. The key is not to force the upward motion but to let it happen naturally as your club moves through the swing arc.
Visualizing the Upward Swing
Imagine rolling your hand forward; it naturally moves upward as it goes. The same applies to your golf swing. As you rotate and bring the club to the ball, the club head should be on an upward path.
Effective Drills for Better Drives
One of my favorite drills to help you feel this upward motion involves using a boomerang. I'll demonstrate with Brock.
The Boomerang Drill
- Setup: Position a boomerang about 3-4 inches in front of the ball.
- Swing: As you hit the ball, your club should be on the flat part of the arc a few inches behind the ball and move upward as it contacts the ball.
- Objective: The goal is to hit the ball and miss the boomerang, ensuring your club is on the upswing.
This drill helps you experience the correct upward path without over-tilting or compromising your setup.
Demonstration with Brock
Brock sets up with the ball inside his left heel, maintaining a slight natural tilt. As he swings, the club arrives at the ball on the upswing, missing the boomerang perfectly. This simple, efficient drill can significantly improve your drives.
Conclusion
Hitting longer, straighter drives is about mastering your setup and understanding the swing arc. Use these tips and the boomerang drill to practice, and you'll see a remarkable improvement in your driving performance.
For more tips and tools, visit Leadbetter Swing Aids. Keep practicing, and watch your drives soar!
great ,perfectly demonstrated , lesson. this one is hitting me at the perfect time. i’ve recently been doing the tilt, however from this lesson, i’ve been over doing it. can’t wait to get to the range.