By: Jitender Zaman

The driver is perhaps the most difficult club in the bag to hit. It requires very good swing mechanics and concentration to be able to consistently make solid contact with this club in order to hit the ball far and straight. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you master driving a golf ball.

Tip 1: Focus on accuracy first

Instead of trying to put all your muscle power and energy into every drive, focus first on hitting your drives straight. Remember that an accurate drive will almost always go farther than a crooked drive.

In order to hit the golf ball accurately you will need to develop good swing mechanics. A good swing tip to keep in mind is that your back swing should be slow and deliberate. Most amateurs seem to put more energy in their back swing than their downswing. Slow down your back swing and you should notice an immediate improvement in ball striking.

Tip 2: Create an effortless swing: stop trying so hard

How is it that on the PGA tour you see so many thin players hitting the ball extremely far? It is not because they are extremely powerful but rather they learned to let the club do the majority of the work when it comes to hitting the golf ball.

Remember that a golf club is designed to hit the ball far and straight, all you need to do is support the club through your swing and let it do the work. You should not feel exhausted after each golf swing because if you are then you are trying too hard.

Tip 3: Feel the club head as you swing

Most amateur players tend to grip the club very tightly and this will diminish your ability to feel the club head. Grip the club a little looser as this will also allow you to generate the most club head speed since you will also create the most lag. Lag is a term used to refer to angle between the club and your left arm. The smaller this angle is as you are about to hit the ball the more lag you create and the more energy is released at impact.

Tips 4: Tee the ball the correct height

Many players either tee the golf ball too high or low and end up hitting their drives at the wrong launch angle which results in a loss of distance. The ideal tee height will have half the golf ball above the top edge of your driver. This ensures that your drives will get launched at an optimal angle and with the right kind of spin.

Tip 5: Use the right kind of driver

The correct driver choice for your swing type can make a significant difference to your drives. If your club head speed is over 100 mph then make sure that the shaft of your driver has a stiff flex and also you need a lower lofted club, usually around 8 degrees or so. If your club head speed is under that then go for a driver with a regular flex and a higher loft, usually around 10 to 12 degrees.

Tip 6: Maintain good balance

Balance is very important in the golf swing and you need to make sure that every swing you take ends in a comfortable balanced position. Trying to muscle the driver or any other club will usually result in you losing your balance so back off a little.

The interesting thing is that the less muscular effort you put in the farther and straighter the ball will usually go. Make sure you finish each swing with a balanced pose towards the target usually with the club also pointing towards the target as you recoil from your downswing.

There are many things to remember and learn in order to consistently hit the driver far and straight. Learn one thing at a time, be consistent with your practice routines and in time you are sure to hit those drives more accurately and farther down the fairway.

About the Author
Jitender operates several websites. Learn how to reduce your golf handicap with great golf swing tips, putting tips, golf fitness ideas and much more at http://www.golfswingtips4u.com/