Drive it longer

Modern drivers have helped us increase distance from the tee, but are you getting the maximum out of yours? With larger clubheads and the centre of gravity being lower and further back in the head it is important that you set up correctly when you hit this club. When hitting a driver you should widen your stance a little providing a more stable base, place the ball forwards opposite your left foot and make sure that your left shoulder sits higher than your right (pic.1). On your backswing concentrate on making a full shoulder turn, loading your weight onto the instep of your right foot and ensuring that your head does not sway to the right (pic.2). The emphasis when playing with a driver must be on swinging up and through the ball rather than hitting at the ball. The correct movement will launch the ball higher with reduced backspin making your ball carry further and run more on landing. When you follow through correctly you will find that your weight ends up fully on your left foot with the sole of your right shoe pointing away from the target and your club all the way round behind your head (pic.3). Don’t be shy the give it a whack with the driver, even if you are a bit offline you will be hitting a shorter iron to the green and on average you will score better. If you are going to swing softly with a driver in an effort to hit straight, then you might as well hit 3 wood!