Hit Longer Off The Tee

Hitting long off the tee, is a beautiful thing. As most golfers know, alot of things have to occur correctly, for you to hit that perfect drive.

When working on adding distance to your drives, do not lose sight of the fact, that accuracy is just as important. There is not a golfer out there, who does not want to hit the ball for both distance and accuracy. It is not as hard as some may lead you to believe.

Hitting the ball straight, means in the general area. Most golfers will hit a natural fade or draw. So, when we say straight, we mean pretty close to where you wanted the ball to go.

Also, when we say far, this could mean different things to different people. To some people, 150 yards is killin’ it. While others will hit the ball 300 yards. So let’s take a look at how we can get your drives long and straight.

Lets begin with how you address the ball:

How you address the ball, is crucial to your swing. Pick a target, and align your body to it. Bend at the waist and bend your knees slightly. You need to put the ball 4 1/2″ left of the center of your stance. Grip the club correctly. Relax, and let your arms hang below yyour shoulders.

Next, let’s look at swing tempo:

Swinging too fast will not necessarily get you more distance. You need to slow your swing down, especially on the backswing. When you reach the peak of your backswing, break before your begin your downswing. This will let you begin your downswing with your hips, followed by your shoulders and arms. An increase in clubhead speed, will add distance to your drives. To achieve this, you need to incorporate your whole body in your swing. Every part of your body must be in sync and meet at impact.

Now let’s talk about balance:

If you want to hit longer straighter drives you must remain balanced. Staying balanced is crucial and it all begins with your set-up and swing tempo. If you swing too hard, you will lose your balance, as well as distance and accuracy of your drives.

Work on your accuracy first, before trying to gain more distance.

If you can hit the ball real far, but, it is always in some hazard, it will probably cost you more strokes, than if you just kept it in play with a shorter drive.

If your are having swing problems, let your local pro give you a few pointers.