Jon's Ultimate Collection of Driving Tips

For High Handicappers:

Balance is the key to a great golf swing You can tell if you are in balance after hitting a shot by your finish position. Tempo of the golf swing is the great equalizer and compensates for the mechanical flaws in your swing. It can reduce slices, hooks and above all inconsistent ball
contact. The lack of good tempo causes loss of focus on your target and increased concentration on the golf ball. The result is the desire to hit at the ball as opposed to a flawed swinging motion. Good tempo comes from practice, and creativity. Make these two drills a regular part of your practice routine and enjoy the significant results.

Try this:

     1. Stand feet together to diminish balance.
     2. Hit a number of golf balls in this manner and make sure to keep consistency.
     3. Any fault in your tempo (swing) will throw you off balance
     4. Creates consistency in order to stay balanced
     5. Helps you develop a larger turn of your shoulders
     6. Concentrate on turning your back to the target on the takeaway and have your stomach face the target at the finish.

Proper Grip Position

The position of your grip determines the position of the club face at the point of impact. Improper grip placement will exaggerate an existing slice or hook. Because a grip change will have significant results, experiment with different positions before adopting the grip position that best suits your game.

For Strong Grip Position

     1. weaken your grip
     2. rotate your hands counterclockwise (open the club face)
     3. the gap created along the grip should be pointing at your chin opening the club face at point of impact.

For Weak Grip Position

A weak grip position will cause the golfer to have an open club face at impact, the result is a slice.

     1. take a stronger grip on club
     2. rotate your hands clockwise ( close the club face)
     3. the gap created along the grip should be pointed at your right shoulder closing the club face at point of impact.

Once you have developed a comfortable grip position experiment with club face angle, address position, and alignment.
 

Golf Swings:

The key to a successful driving golf swing begins with the proper address position. Beginning and high handicap golfers must realize the importance of stance, balance and posture all the ingredients necessary for development of a good golf swing. Once the proper stance is achieved the beginning golfer can begin to improve and enhance their game. A important note to remember is that your swing is yours and yours alone therefore, the importance of a proper address position becomes paramount. Here is a drill that you can practice at the office, family room, basically anywhere.

     1. stand with feet shoulder width apart and your shoulders and arms relaxed.
     2. bend your knees slightly, hot too pronounced, think of it as someone is pushing down on the top of your head.
     3. take your left forefinger and touch the middle of your chest, while your right hand is in front of your body where the
     4. club's grip would be.
     5. imagine that your right hand is a tray of drinks.
     6. take your right arm back in your normal swing motion ( as if you are swinging a golf club) and when you are at the extent
     7. of your back swing, visualize that you are balancing that tray.
     8. from this position proceed with your downswing and finish the follow through by touching    your left shoulder with your
     9. right hand.

This drill will always give an indication of your set-up at address through the swing path to your finish and it can be practiced anywhere. If you are a left handed golfer follow the same steps but reverse your hands.

This info. was taken from http://www.golfball.com/practice/high.htm

For the medium handicapper:

Preset Back swing Drill:

The back swing acts as the trigger for a controlled swing through the ball and towards your intended target. It is during the down phase of the swing that clubhead speed is produced and without controlled clubhead speed even the most technical perfect swing is of little use to the golfer. The preset drill is an excellent method to check your position and balance at the beginning of your downswing.

     1. from your normal address position cock your wrists so that the shaft of the club is horizontal as well as parallel to your target line.
     2. this position is the basic set-up that occurs at the top of your back swing, know turn your upper body at the waist until your left shoulder is under your chin. (just as in a normal back swing).
     3. you are know in the perfect position for a controlled downswing. From the top of the back swing position make your normal downswing, you should notice that you have more clubhead control which will generate more clubhead speed.
This makes a strong and consistent golf swing...

A constant golf swing begins with proper swing path direction. Any deviation in the line of swing will cause the ball to slice or hook. Your target line/swing path are basically one in the same, with you swing following in the line of your target. The beginning of a strong swing path is the development of a consistent pre-shot routine. The target line should be determined before you address the golf ball, any indecision will cause you to compensate during the swing. Think of your swing path/target line in terms of a clock. Your target line represents the parallel of 12:00 to 6:00 while the buttons on your golf shirt are facing 3:00, perpendicular to the target line. This position creates the foundation for a strong and consistent golf swing. Development of a pre-shot routine and proper swing path will lead to a controlled and enjoyable golf game. I hope that the following drills will enable the average golfer to take their game to the next level.

Drill:

     1. draw a line toward the target with chalk or a piece of string. (this will represent the swing path/target line.)
     2. place two tees at the 1:00 and 7:00 positions of an imaginary clock (see above description)
     3. take your usual stance / address position with the ball positioned along the target line.
     4. practice your swing direction, the back swing is towards the 7:00 position through the point of contact to the 1:00
     5. finishing position. Think of the back and follow swings towards these clock positions.
     6. to ensure that your swing is following the correct path, observe the position of your shirt buttons at the end of your back swing and again at the finish of the follow through. The buttons should be facing 6:00 on completion of the back swing, and the 12:00 position on completion of the follow through.

    Do not be alarmed that this swing motion will cause you to slice or hook the ball. Remember that at the point of contact the clubhead will be along your desired target line, so resist the temptation to over compensate this swing path with your grip or stance.

This info. was taken from http://www.golfball.com/practice/medium.htm

For the low handicapper:

The Knockdown Shot:

When faced with a strong headwind or are in between clubs, this situation calls for the execution of the difficult knockdown shot. The knockdown requires a different swing motion than used for a regular full golf shot. The problems that develop with this particular shot occur from the extra effort one uses in an attempt to keep the ball low.

The secret to keeping your shot low is to KILL your leg drive. A consistent knockdown swing can be developed with the elimination of as much leg action as possible. The following tips can assist you in the conquering of this not so difficult specialty golf shot...

     - feet should be shoulder width apart
     - aim slightly left of intended target
     - play the ball back in your stance for low ball trajectory
     - hands are ahead of the ball
     - keep weight more to your left side from start to finish of swing
     - swing arms through body keeping the wrists quiet

The most important aspect of the knockdown is not to worry about your leg movement or weight shift. Hopefully this advice will assist you on those blustery days out on the course.

Grip It and Rip It

Adding more power to your tee shot is a concept that frightens many good golfers. The common misconception is that increase in power will lead to unpredictable ball control and erratic tee shots. It is true that to increase your power you must have confidence in your swing and hitting from the tee, but the mechanics needed for this next step are very in complicated. Next time you are at the range experiment with the following tips to give you that added oomph of the tee.

     1. tee the ball slightly higher than normal so half of the ball is visible above the clubhead, this will encourage an upward swing.
     2. widen your stance so that the insides of your heels are shoulder width apart to increase stability.
     3. take the club back very SLOW and try to keep your lower body as quite as possible
     4. lastly remember to finish strong do not block the follow through but continue with a fluid and strong follow through

The Tight Lie Shot

On at least one or more occasions we have found ourselves with a tight lie. Pitching from this type of lie is one of golf’s more difficult shots. To ensure a good up and down from this type of problem lie good technique can make a world of difference. So the next time you find you ball is located on hardpan or on a bed of pine needles apply the following tips and you will be on the
way to good pitching techniques.

     1. the most important aspect of this type of shot is to always have your hands in front of the clubhead.
     2. set up with your weight and hands in front of the ball and keep this position through impact and into the follow through.
     3. stay relaxed especially your left arm, a stiff left arm will inhibit flow of rhythm to the swing.

Once you develop the proper technique, you need to strengthen your confidence in your ability to carry out this difficult task. A strong combination of technique and confidence will eliminate the fear caused by a tight lie.

This info. was taken from http://www.golfball.com/practice/low.htm

Ó Jon Burgess
Georges Valley High School