This week I would like to focus on what is probably the most enjoyable and captivating aspect in the game of golf… driving the ball… and driving it LONG!
Take a look at any professional tour and the players who attract the biggest crowds are the long ball hitters. John Daly is still a major draw despite his high scores because fans just love to see him pound it off the tee. The current crop of stars on the PGA tour, Jason Day, Rory Mcllroy, Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler, Adam Scott, all hit it long as distance pretty much goes hand in hand with scoring low. Tony Finau, who is ranked 1st in driving distance this year, just got his first win a couple of weeks ago. If you’re a short hitter you better be putting well to have any chance of beating the players who bomb it.
Having an advantage by hitting a long ball also applies to golfers of all levels. One of my best friends has a hard time driving the ball more than 230 yds. As a result, he’s always hitting fairway woods and hybrids into par 4’s while I’m using short irons or wedges. If he could get an extra 20 yards off the tee I’m positive that he could knock 5 strokes off his game immediately just by hitting more greens with shorter clubs in his hands. Here’s how you can hit it farther off the tee and lower your scores without changing your swing!
How to get 20 yards more off the tee!
If you have ever watched the world’s long ball driving championship you would see that the contestants all have two things in common, wide stances and teeing the ball high. First, they are going to swing hard… very hard, so they need a stable base to keep their balance, which a wide stance provides. Secondly, they want to catch the ball on the upswing which is best achieved from a ball teed high. I can remember, several years ago, watching Canadian Jason Zuback, the four time world long drive champion, driving balls here in Calgary at the RCGA center and he was using a four inch rubber tee on top of the mat with a string tied to it so it wouldn’t fly off into range after each drive. Check out his swing on youtube and see how high he has it teed and his wide stance. Oh, one more thing…he swings hard!
Most amateur’s stances are way too narrow and they tee the ball way too low. Again, the wide stance allows you to let it rip…and stay balanced. Teeing it up eliminates the ground and fat shots, lets you catch the ball on the upswing which results in a nice long high drive. Teeing it high will also help to eliminate a slice as you will generate more back spin than side spin. Finally, hover the club behind the ball just like Bubba Watson and many other players. This gives you a wider arch as it prevents “picking” the club up on the backswing. Hovering also gives you a better chance to hit the sweet spot when you tee it up high.
Summary of tips to drive it long!
1. Hover the club.
2. take a wide stance (feet are outside your shoulders)
3. tee it high (use extra long tees)
4. tilt your shoulders (right shoulder is lower than your left to promote the proper launch angle)
5. swing hard and let it rip…but in balance!
Follow these tips and you WILL drive the ball farther, get more enjoyment and ultimately… Play YOUR best golf!
