Here are some tips to improve your Drive.

Think smooth takeaway, full extension, long,  slow, sweeping swing and smooth  acceleration on downswing. 

• Start with 60% of weight on right foot.
• Keep body relaxed and grip soft.
• During swing, think only of following through and finishing the swing down the target line.
• For accuracy, pretend you are throwing a basketball down the fairway underhand with our right arm.
• Hit with the same tempo you use for a seven iron.
• You should feel as though you are throwing the driver straight (not far or hard) down the fairway.
• Make sure your left hip never passes your left foot on the downswing.

This may seem a little complicated reading it, however, as you continue to practice, you should be able to visualize what I'm talking about and improve your swing.  Good luck.

Check to see if your putter is square-

Many players putt with the putter face open and then roll their hands to close the putter at impact.  This method might work sometimes but more often than not it will lead to inconsistency.  Stand in a doorway so that you can take your putting stance and then place your putter up against the wall or door jam.  Get a good look at how the putter's top line looks to you.  It may seem closed or open but it has to be square.  Replicate this putter position when you putt and you should make more putts.

Put mind over matter to use on the course-

Many studies of athletes who perform at their best have revealed that positive and happy emotions work in producing adrenaline and muscle control.  In golf, visualize the perfect shot that you want to hit and then smile to yourself as if you just hit that long drive or great iron shot.  Walk up to your ball with that feeling and swing with confidence. 

Lob Shots-

Make a long, lazy swing with loose grip and abrupt and maximum wristcock on backswing.  Take a widestance, lower handle of club, open the clubface and tilt the shaft away from the target.  Play ball off left instep with weight on right foot and hands behind clubhead at impact.

To ensure a consistent golf putting stroke...-

• *First; maintain a stable head.
• *Second; your eyes directly or near directly over the ball.
• *Third; a rocking-motion of the shoulder blades but maintaining firm elbows and wrists.
• *Fourth; keeping the putter head perpendicular to your intended line the ball shall take.
• *Fifth; strike the ball at the very point in which the putter begins to rise above the ground, due to the natural arch it travels (because of the fixed location of your shoulders, the putter head will not be parallel with the ground). and,
• *Sixth; the back of the lead hand must travel parallel with the path the ball is intended to roll, as long as possible.

 Stop and pop-

If your ball comes to rest in deep rough near the green, play the ball back in your stance and use a lofted wedge.  Bring the club up abruptly by breaking your wrist immediately on the backswing.  Come straight down behing the ball and let the club contact the ball without following through.  The ball should pop up and onto the green.  Grip the club firmly with your left hand so the club does not turn over at impact.

Rehearse the routine-

The very best players in the world stick to a set routine before every shot.  High handicappers often have no pre-shot routine except a practice swing.  In practice, force yourself to go through a set routine for every shot that you hit for about one half-hour.  Rehearse lining up your shot from behind the ball, taking your alignment, and settling into your posture with each ball.  This makes the routine part of your make up and you'll find that you will hit better shots in practice rather than banging one ball after another.

Don't hang back to get ahead-

Many players hang back on their back foot through impact, sending the ball flying to the right.  At setup, bow your right knee a little inward and feel your weight shift back to your right heel at the top of your swing.  From there, make a driving move off of your right foot and let the club release, so that you finish with the club over your left shoulder and all your weight on your front foot.

Use a slight forward press in putting-

When you set up to putt, move the putter handle just slightly forward before you take the club back.  Hold the angle that you created by making a forward press, as this will allow you to lead with your hands and start the ball rolling instead of bouncing at impact.  Do not overdo this move but make a press that helps you break the tension and sets the putter face behind your hands.

Stop hanging back-

If you hang back on your right side, you will hit the ball on the upswing and top it or hit it with a glancing blow.  You should hit your irons with a down-and-through motion.  To help you feel this move, place a head cover about one foot behing your ball while practicing.  Swing back and then come down and through the ball without having your club head touch the head cover.  You will find that you must get your weight on your front side and that you have to drive down and through with your iron.  This is a great drill for promoting good ball striking.

 Feel a sense of freedom with your driver-

The driver is meant to be swung with freedom.  That is, there is not restricted fellings or aiming of the club.  Align to a target and then just let the driver go in a long smooth swing.  If you try to direct or control a ball with your driver, you will never hit long and accurate shots.  feel relaxed and tension-free and your drives will take care of themselves.

 Adjust your stance to accommodate your irons-

The shaft of your irons will change in length and call for  you to make adjustments.  To match the shaft length to your swings you need to look at ball position and your stance width.  For shorter clubs, play the ball a little farther back in your stance, as this is where the club will strike the ground.  Take a narrower stance to allow for a faster weight shift with the shorter irons.  Widen your stance and play the ball a little front of center for your longer irons.

To read previous tips from Eric click on the Archive Link on the top menu bar and then click on Eric from the Tips Archive.