Golf Driving

Hitting a drive long and straight is one of the best experiences in the game of golf however few people know how to hit the driver long and straight on a regular basis. This is because the driver is also the longest club in the bag and requires very good mastery of swing mechanics in order to hit well consistently. Here are a few golf driving tips to help you learn how to hit longer and straighter drives in the fairway:

Tip 1: Learn how to hit shorter wedge shots well first

Remember that the driver swing is simply an extension of the shorter swings so if you are struggling with the wedge game then you will also inevitably suffer with hitting drives well too. Spend some time hitting wedge shots on the range before you start working on your longer swings.

Tip 2: Grip the club light

Gripping the golf club very tight promotes tension in the body which can then lead to poor golf mechanics and bad shots. A lighter grip helps to relieve tension in body and promotes a looser and more free swing which will help to hit straighter and longer shots.

Tip 3: Learn how to use leverage or lag

Lag is your best friend when it comes to hitting long drives because it allows you to take advantage of leverage to hit the ball far without having to swing any harder. The basic concept is to release the club at the last possible moment in the downswing so that maximum energy is transferred to the ball at impact resulting in higher initial ball speed and greater distance.

Avoid getting your right hand (for right handed golfers) involved in the swing as this can kill the lag in your swing and can result in casting the club or coming over the top which will cause you to lose distance and accuracy. Another tip to increase lag is  to shift your weight first slightly towards the target before making the downswing move with your hands at the top of the swing. This will load the club and help promote maximum lag.

Tip 4: Weight train

There is a reason most of the professional players hit the gym on a regular basis. Having stronger muscles can only make the game easier. It will allow you to have greater stamina on the course and be able to swing the club with greater power. Having greater muscle power is a definite asset if combined with good swing mechanics so do your best to train with weights even once a week can be effective.

Start slow and work your way up over time as your muscles get stronger. Take some personal training lessons if you have never lifted weights before so you can learn proper form to avoid injury and to increase the effectiveness of each exercise. Learning how to stretch properly can also help you become a better driver of the ball. There are many great golf fitness training programs out there so just do a search and you are bound to find something useful and effective. Click here to learn more golf driving secrets to help you shoot lower golf scores.