| Driving is one of the most important elements of your | | | | throughout the swing. This draws the lead shoulder |
| golf game. It's how you start every round and every | | | | around so that at the top of the backswing the |
| hole, and the quality of your driving impacts the rest of | | | | shoulders will be perpendicular to your feet which face |
| your game. Will you lay up nicely for a birdie, or will you | | | | the ball. Allow your hips to rotate slightly with your |
| be chasing your drives into the rough? Every golfer | | | | shoulders. This rotation creates power for the drive. |
| needs to spend time practicing their game, that's why | | | | When you are practicing, make sure that your |
| they invented driving ranges. Wouldn't it be nice if you | | | | clubface itself is parallel to your lead arm. The angle of |
| could have a driving range in your back yard? Well, | | | | your club-head is not irrelevant because it affects the |
| golf nets can allow you to practice your driving game | | | | impact of the club-face with the ball. |
| in the convenience of your own back yard. Let's look | | | | Tempo |
| at some different aspects of driving the ball that you | | | | Now we have to bring everything back to earth. Many |
| can practice with a golf net so that the next time you | | | | golfers get over-eager at this point and speed things |
| go to the links you will strike the ball with power and | | | | up on the way down. Again, the thinking is that more |
| precision. | | | | speed equals more power. With all of the factors |
| Stance | | | | involved in the swing, the math is not that simple. |
| The approach or the setup precedes the stance and | | | | Power will come primarily from the torque in your |
| is crucial to the swing. This element is controlled by | | | | shoulders and hips released through your arms. An |
| your judgment. Your feet and shoulders should be in | | | | even tempo is more important than speed, especially |
| line with the desired path of the ball (unless playing a | | | | during practice. This is a prime reason to take practice |
| draw or fade). By laying a club at your feet you can | | | | swings before your shot. During practice, try |
| see the direction of your line. An instructor or golfing | | | | developing an even counting system that corresponds |
| buddy can also correct the lineup on your approach. | | | | to your backswing and downswing. As your game |
| Generally speaking, the ball should be forward in your | | | | develops, you can begin to speed up your downswing, |
| stance (close to your lead foot). Your knees should be | | | | but a comfortable tempo will always govern the swing. |
| slightly bent, and good footing helps ensure stability for | | | | Don't forget to swing comfortably! |
| the swing. While the eyes should always remain on the | | | | Sweet Spot |
| ball during the shot, the chin should be raised to allow | | | | All of these things are preparation for the decisive |
| for the shoulder to rotate through the shot. This is the | | | | moment - impacting the ball. Every club has a "sweet |
| most intellectual element of the swing, so take time to | | | | spot," and drivers are designed with extra sugar. A |
| check your line, footing and other parts of your | | | | larger clubface is no reason to be careless though. A |
| approach. You don't want to waste a perfectly | | | | shot with poor impact can result in an embarrassing |
| executed swing on bad preparation. | | | | shank or a crank in the rough. Solid impact will create |
| Now let's check your stance. Your stance should | | | | the distance and direction you are looking for. If you |
| change depending on the kind of shot you are making | | | | are struggling with making a solid impact, check all of |
| (drive, iron, chip, putt) and any number of variations you | | | | the preparatory elements already discussed including |
| might desire to perform (draw, fade, distance, etc.). | | | | set-up, distance from the ball, and backswing. |
| Because you need extra power and stability for the | | | | Essentially, you want the moment of impact to reflect |
| drive, you should spread your legs just wider than | | | | the approach stance. Of course, your shoulders and |
| shoulder length. Tiger Woods makes this comment in | | | | hips will be moving through the ball, but the club should |
| his book How I Play Golf, "When I plan to go all out | | | | impact the ball at the same point at which it began the |
| with the driver, I spread my feet even wider than | | | | takeaway. As with other sports, eye contact is crucial |
| normal. That gives me a firmer base so I won't lose | | | | to solid impact. Be sure to keep your head down and |
| my balance" (Woods 161). [1] Finally, make sure you | | | | your eye on the ball through impact and even follow |
| have a good grip on the club. Different golfers will try | | | | through. This mistake is so common that the discipline |
| different grip methods, but it's important that your grip is | | | | of keeping your eye on the ball should be strongly |
| firm because you need to have absolute control over | | | | enforced during practice. |
| the club-head through the swing in order to make solid | | | | Follow Through |
| impact. | | | | Jack Moorehouse again advises, "The follow-through is |
| The approach and stance take meticulous precision. | | | | a good indicator of the shot's quality. If it ends with a |
| You want to be comfortable with your approach and | | | | nice finish, chances are the swing was effective." [2] |
| be sure to practice it. The approach sets the tone for | | | | For all practical purposes, the follow through simple |
| the shot and gives you a sense of regularity and | | | | resolves the movement of the swing. Yet, it is so |
| consistency in changing situations. Be sure to always | | | | united to the rest of the swing that you want to attend |
| practice the science of your approach so that you can | | | | to your follow through in practice. Tiger Woods |
| master the art of your swing. | | | | explains the importance of extension in follow through |
| Swing | | | | when he says, "My right arm is fully extended straight |
| The swing involves several key factors all coming | | | | down the target line. That shows I've tried to generate |
| together in a matter of seconds to execute a | | | | as much clubhead speed as possible" (Woods 181). [4] |
| powerful and precise shot. Sometimes, only one thing | | | | Also be sure to keep your feet in proper stance. Your |
| needs to go wrong to make a poor shot. Consistent | | | | back foot should come up with your toe pointing to the |
| practice will refine your drive as you focus on each of | | | | ground, and you should be balanced on your lead foot. |
| these elements of the swing. | | | | If you are losing your balance, then you need to adjust |
| Backswing | | | | the width of your stance or maybe your tempo. Don't |
| Beginning the motion of the swing is the all important | | | | choke yourself with your follow through; make your |
| backswing or takeaway. Instructor Jack Moorehouse | | | | follow through comfortable. |
| says, "The first 24 inches or so of the takeaway is | | | | Results |
| crucial. It helps determine the swing's width and the | | | | Your practice will determine how you play. With all of |
| clubhead's path." [1] Concerning path and width, you | | | | the different aspects of a drive to develop, it is |
| want to be sure not to let the shaft stray wide or | | | | important to practice. Most people are reduced to only |
| inside of your line. In other words, during the mid-point | | | | practicing their short game in their yards, but now you |
| of your backswing, the shaft should be parallel with | | | | can practice all elements of your game at home. With |
| your target line - parallel to your feet. The backswing | | | | a golf net you will be able to hit as many balls as you |
| should be simple and smooth, try not to make any | | | | want without chasing them, and you can practice at |
| jerky movements. | | | | your leisure without traveling to the range. Here is what |
| From the Top | | | | the great Tiger says about the importance of practice, |
| You should check several things at the end (or top) of | | | | "I committed myself to the idea that there are no |
| your backswing. Often, golfers can make the mistake | | | | shortcuts to improvement. The best way to ingrain the |
| of over-reaching on their backswing as if to wrap the | | | | correct movements and positions is through repetition" |
| club around their body. The thought is to gain more | | | | (Woods 106). [5] After developing the fine points of |
| power on the downswing, but that is not the case. The | | | | your swing at home, you will be able to experience the |
| opposite risk is not going far enough, which sacrifices | | | | joy and pleasure of a great game from start to finish. |
| the power of your drive. At the top of the swing, the | | | | Paul Galla, President |
| shaft of the club should again be parallel to your target | | | | [1] Woods, Tiger. How I Play Golf. New York: Warner |
| line. To ensure that you are parallel at the top, check | | | | Books, 2001 |
| your lower arm (usually considered the dominant hand) | | | | [2, 3] |
| and make sure your elbow forms a right angle to the | | | | [4, 5] Woods, Tiger. How I Play Golf. |
| ground. Your other arm (top hand) should stay straight | | | | |