Five Tips for Longer Driving

You may have the best golf equipment and the smoothest swing in the world, but that will not mean a thing if you do not properly address the ball. In order to drive the ball well, you need to properly position the ball in your stance. If you are too close to the ball, or too far away, you run the risk of slicing or hooking the shot. If the ball is too far forward or back in you stance, you run the risk of topping the ball or popping it up. A good rule of thumb is, with the club head resting on the ground behind the ball, your hands should hang just over your toes if you are slightly bent at the waist. With regards to front to back positioning, the ball should be lined up just inside your front heel. You will want to tee the ball up just high enough so that it lines up with the sweet spot of your particular driver, when the driver head just grazes the ground.

2. Proper Driving Stance

Because you take a bigger swing when driving, it is important to use a slightly wider stance than you do with other clubs. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, when you are driving balance is critical. Balance is an important in any golf shot, but when you are driving especially. A wider stance provides the added balance you need. Secondly, when hitting your driver it is crucial to get your upper body out of the way of your follow through. A little wider stance allows you to clear your shoulders and get your upper body rotated out of the way of you follow through.

3. Keep Your Arms Straight

When you impact the ball on your drive your arms should be fully extended. This will ensure that you are swinging out forward, through the ball, not down at it or coming up from under it.

4. Do Not Over Swing

This may sound backwards, but in order to drive the ball farther, sometimes you may need to swing a little easier. Many people make the mistake of swinging just as hard as they possibly can to try to gain distance on their drives. This approach, however, often has the exact opposite results. Tense muscles and too tight of a grip, do not allow you to execute a smooth swing, with fully extended arms and a nice follow through. The best thing you can do before starting your backswing, is to take a deep breath and relax your mind and muscles.

5. Visualise

As with almost all athletic endeavors, visualising the shot before you take it can greatly increase your chances of success. Picture a target in your mind. Know exactly where you want the shot to go. See the shot in your head before you ever address the ball. It may sound silly, but it is a proven fact that visualizing the shot in your mind before swinging the club will yield positive results.

Regardless of what golf equipment you have in the bag, if you follow these few simple tips, you can add yards to your drive. The key is to practice these techniques. Write the five tips down and take them with you to the course or the driving range. Before you tee the ball up, take a look and go over them in your mind. Soon you will see very positive results.