how to drive a golf ball

david tomsJanuary 26, 2023

0 2 10 minutes read

Whether you’re new to golf, haven’t played in a while, or just want to improve your game, there are various measures you can take to drive a golf ball properly. Knowing your equipment, how to stand, refining your swing, and maintaining a clear mind are all necessary for putting your tee shot into play. These strategies will assist you in learning how to correctly drive a golf ball and improving your game. And with a little practice on the range and on the course, you can transform those bogeys into holes in one.

Choose a driver with 9 – 10 degrees of loft to assist you improve your consistency.
Standing 1.5 – 2 ft (0.46 – 0.61 m) apart, align the golf ball with your front heel.
To strike the ball at a decent, consistent distance, grip the club firmly yet lightly.
Begin your downswing slowly and steadily so you can gain speed before striking the ball.

1

Choose a driver with the proper loft.Since the science of the sport and the equipment have progressed, opt for a driver with 9 or 10 degrees of loft rather than an older 7 or 8 degree driver. Amateur golfers may improve ball carry by using a driver with 1-3 degrees higher loft than tour-pros.[1]A higher lofted driver will provide greater carry, allowing you to be more consistent with your shots.
- The launch-angle (determined by the loft of the club-head striking the ball), the speed with which the ball comes off the club-face (determined by the club-head speed as it strikes the golf-ball), and the spin of the golf-ball (determined by the preceding two factors as well as some other factors such as the grooves on the club-face, whether any grass got in between the club-face and the ball at impact, and so on) allow the ball to remain in the air (carry).
2

Pick the right club.[2]While you usually use a driver off the tee on a par 4 or par 5, you may also use a wood or iron.You won’t always use a driverWhen hitting a golf ball. Some holes will be set up so that you have to use a 3, 5, or even 7 wood, or one of your irons, say if you are on a par 3.
- When selecting a club, consider the design of the hole as well as your own game. For instance, if you hit your 3-wood farther than your driver and think you could use an 8-iron tothe greenIf you hit the ball well with the 3-wood, you could wish to try your initial shot with the 3-wood if you did well with the 8-iron.
- You may utilize your swing speed to assist you decide which club to use off the tee. If you hit a 7 iron 150 yards, your swing speed is most likely between 95 and 104 mph. An 8 or 9 iron will go at 105-115 mph.[3]
- Irons have a higher loft than woods and in the case of a par 3 hole, you’ll be aiming directly for the green, which means you want more carry and less roll. If the green is shorter than 200 yards (183 meters), you should use an iron.
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3

Know what kind of ball you’re using.Choosing the correct golf ball for your game may be difficult. Spin, hardness, distance, and, most importantly, feel must all be considered. Unfortunately, there is no “golden ball” that contains all of the answers.
- The best way to determine the right ball for you is to go to your local golf shop and talk to a professional about what you want in your shot. They can work with you to determine your club-head speed and help you choose golf balls with the correct thickness of the cover and density of the core for your golfing style. Hit a couple balls and go with your gut feeling. Golf is one of the most mental sports out there, and feeling confident in what you’re hitting may have a big impact on your stroke.
- Note that professional rules prohibit you from using different types of balls during the same round. If you’re playing with pals, bring a variety of balls and experiment to see which works best for you.
4

Pick the right tee.Everything in golf nowadays has several alternatives, even the tee you use. With a lot of modern drivers having large heads, the need to make taller tees arose, resulting in tees of varying lengths. When you take a shot, the golf ball should be teed up high enough such that the top of the driver club-face dissects the golf ball’s equator.
- Use a higher tee to prevent striking the ground before hitting a teed-up golf ball. Similarly, if you’re on a long par 4 or par 5 and need to smash the ball to get to the green in regulation, a higher tee for your driver is typically the best option.
- However, a taller tee isn’t always the best option when using an iron as you could tee the ball too high and cut under the ball. When using an iron, tee the ball up so that it looks to be on top of the grass. Only the ball’s bottom 14 to 110 inch (0.64 to 0.25 cm) must be above ground.

1

Align your body with a distant vertical marker.Pick a vertical marker like a tree or a standing person directly past the horizontal point where you want the ball the land. It is preferable to use a vertical marker rather than a horizontal one. Once you’ve located your marker, align your body to the goal. You can draw an invisible line from the marker to a spot a few yards in front of the golf ball to help you align yourself.
- If you have a propensity to bend your left arm too early, you will lose distance; retain your “V” as long as possible before it bends at the conclusion of your swing and you will gain a lot of space.
- Many golfers find it simple to choose a marker that corresponds to where they wish to drop their ball on the fairway. You’ll know roughly how far you’re going to hit the ball, so pick a spot and then look for a tree or something past your target to aim for, as an object is easier to aim for than a spot on the ground.
2

Set your feet in the proper position.Because a golf swing has both horizontal and vertical components, the center of your swing will be a few inches to the target side of your sternum.[4]Place the ball in line with the heel of your front foot, or where your shirt’s pocket or logo is (if you’re a righty).
- Avoid positioning the ball toward the front of your stance, as this can make it more difficult to make good contact and hit the ball before the ground. Positioning the ball nearer the front of your stance might potentially increase slicing and fading issues.
- Position your feet 1.5 ft (0.46 m) apart if using an iron, or 2 ft (0.61 m) apart if using a driver.
3

Adjust your arms.When you set up your stance, you want your arms to be straight and make a “V” shape. Consider your body doing a reverse “K” for a drive. Grip the club with the front edge flat on the ground. Place your hands 2.5-3 hand widths in front of your front leg. With your arms in place for your swing you should stand about 8 inches (20 cm) from the butt of your grip at address.[5]
4

Use the proper grip pressure.[6]Even though you believe that gripping and swinging harder delivers greater outcomes, this is not the reality. A tight grip might make it difficult to generate consistent distance. Instructing legend, Phil Galvano first introduced the idea that you will find that the great players indicated that the grip pressure should resemble holding a bird without crushing it, but also not letting it go. The more tightly you grip, theclubThe less it releases throughout the ball, the better. Your hands should be free of tension.
- At the range, experiment with various grip strengths and observe the outcomes. Notice when your club doesn’t connect well because you grip too loose, or you skull the ball because you’re gripping too tightly.
- If you’re a righty, you want to grip the club with your left hand where your fingers meet the palm of your hand. Do the same with your right hand if you’re a lefty.
- Curl your fingers around the club, then move your hand over so your thumb is on top of the grip without moving your hand.
- Rep with your other hand (right if you’re a righty, left if you’re a lefty). Place your pinky on the knuckle between your index and middle fingers, and the club between your fingers and palm. If you like, you may interlock them.
- Roll your thumb over the thumb on your other hand.

1

Know what kind of swing you’re using.You’ll need two swings: one for power and one for control.[7]Not every hole will enable you to smash the ball as far as possible. Some holes may have a water hazard cutting through it or dogleg to the right or left, so you have to be able to control the distance of your shot as well.
- With a slightly wider stance, move your head and shaft slightly back behind your ball for a power swing.
- To hit a control shot, narrow your stance slightly, place the ball slightly farther back in your stance, and squeeze the club slightly.
2

Start your backswing.[8]Your driver swingcan be the difference between birdie and bogey.[9]
- When you go for your backswing, you should shift your weight backward. This will increase the power of your swing.
- A lot of times your instinct might be to have a fast backswing thinking that it will give you more power to crush the ball. This is a trap because swinging too quickly can throw you out of alignment.
- Maintain your flat position. Your driving wood should stay along the ground, or just kissing the grass-you don’t want to drive it into the ground-for at least the first 20 to 25 percent of yourswingIf your club is lifting up, you will pop the ball up and not be able to hit the long, smooth drives that you watch the professionals hit all the time.
- Backswing steadily and stop at the peak to reset before beginning your downswing. This does not imply stopping, since this would disrupt your progress. Consider it floating slightly before falling.
3

Keep the start of your downswingcalmand unhurried.[10]This allows you to gain speed so that the golf club is still moving when it reaches the ball.
- Your downswing should be one single movement that utilizes your entire body at the same time. But don’t hurry because if you do, you’ll crash land.
- Maintaining your head down and in position is critical on your downswing. This all occurs rapidly, and you may be surprised at how far you’ve struck the ball. However, shifting your head will cause your whole body to move and destroy your shot.
- You may be tempted to assist the ball by lifting your arms. But keep your swing consistent and trust that your club will do the work.
4

Keep the angle on your leading hand.Many inexperienced players may flick their hands forward in an attempt to get the ball in the air, which negates the point of having excellent equipment and a decent setup. On the downswing, the leading hand (left for most players, right for lefties) should be slanted down towards the ball.
- Consider striking the ball with the back of your leading hand. If your hand flips down on the downswing, you may strike the ground before the ball, or you may simply strike the top of the ball. Keeping the angle keeps the ball low and allows it to ascend on its own using the power you provide.
5

Finish the golf swing by following through.The club should swing over your left shoulder (for right-handed golfers) or your right shoulder (for left-handed players) (for left-handed golfers). Again, don’t hurry to glance up and check where the ball has gone. If you accomplished everything right, the ball will go where you want it to go.

Add New Question

Question

How do you drive a golf ball farther?

Michael Metz is the Director of Instruction at Simi Hills Golf Course and a Golf Instructor. Michael has more than 15 years of expertise instructing all aspects of golf. Mike uses technology, such as Flightscope, V1 Swing Suite, Blast Motion, and BodiTrak pressure mapping, to provide advanced golf training with quick results.

Golf Instructor

Expert Answer

On a driver, the most efficient position is high center on the face. Take some foot spray and spray the face if you want to improve on that. Then, when the ball collides with the face, we can observe where it collides and how to improve from there.
Question

Where do you stand when driving a golf ball?

Michael Metz is the Director of Instruction at Simi Hills Golf Course and a Golf Instructor. Michael has more than 15 years of expertise instructing all aspects of golf. Mike uses technology, such as Flightscope, V1 Swing Suite, Blast Motion, and BodiTrak pressure mapping, to provide advanced golf training with quick results.

Golf Instructor

Expert Answer

You must take on an athletic role! When you’re leaned over at the waist, you should feel your hands dangling a fist away from your thighs. This will encourage the optimum spine angle for a good drive.
Question

How do I stop hooking my golf ball to the right?

You’re “slicing” your ball if you’re a righty. Prevent swinging your club in an out-to-in action to avoid slicing your ball. You are holding the club too far out during your backswing and pulling it inside during your downswing. This will result in you slicing your ball.

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Western locations such as New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Arizona feature some of the greatest year-round weather for golf practice.

↑Expert Interview with Michael Metz, Golf Instructor, on February 24, 2022.
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Article SummaryX

To drive a golf ball, start by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and your arms holding the golf club so that they form a “V” shape. Then, when you elevate your club behind you, move your weight rearward. Swing it down in a single motion while keeping your head down. After making contact with the ball, complete the swing such that the club is over your shoulder. Continue reading for advice on selecting the best driving club!

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