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Simple Driver Set Up Tip


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Hey just thought I would share this simple but logical driver tip I read on http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/a/hitting460cc.htm

Here is the highlight tip from that page. Makes sense to me. After reading
this I was like ...DUH!

Set Up to Hit the Ball on the Center of the Face
Most golfers set their driver on the ground at address. This results in a high percentage of driver shots being hit on the heel-side of the face, especially when we tee the ball higher. Test yourself this way: The next time you are at the range and set up to hit your driver, once in the address position stretch your arms out and move the club up to the ball's height. Notice where the ball is going to contact the face of your driver? On the heel side – or possibly the hosel – of your driver.

This is a very common problem for golfers – and it's an awkward adjustment. The solution is very simple, however. Instead of setting your driver behind the ball such that the center of the face is aligned with the ball, move backwards a couple of inches (towards your back) such that the toe of your driver is aligned with the ball. Now do the test again. Stretch out your arms and pick the club up to the ball's height. Is the ball aligned with the center of the driver face? If so, put the club back down and fire! If not, keep moving back until it is.

Don't worry that once you set the driver down it doesn't align with the ball. The ball isn't on the ground - it's three inches above the ground!
"When I play with him, he talks to me on every green. He turns to me and says, 'You're away.' "
-Jimmy Demaret referring to Ben Hogan

In The Bag:
Driver: Cleveland HiBore XL (10.5 -conforming)3 Wood: MacGregor V-FOIL5 Wood: Mizuno MP-001Irons: Ben Hogan BH-5 (4-PW)Wedges:52 - Nike SV Tour56 - Cleve...
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Seems like something to try. I will have to look at it when I go to the range. Thanks for the tip.

In my Grom:
Driver: :nike: Sasquatch 9.5° Graffalloy Shaft-Stiff Flex
FW: :nike: 3 (15°) & 5 (19°) Sasquatch Diamana Shaft-Stiff Flex
Hybrid: :touredge: Tour Edge Exotics Ironwood 21° Adila Shaft-Stiff Flex
Irons: :nike: 4-AW OSS Steel Shaft-Stiff Flex
Wedges: :vokey: Vokey Spin Milled 54 and 60
Putter:  :edel: Basic Series 

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Most golfers set their driver on the ground at address. This results in a high percentage of driver shots being hit on the heel-side of the face, especially when we tee the ball higher.

I tee up off the toe, then prior to my take-away hover the club slightly. That way it's in the center of the face.

I agree, a lot of people address it off the heel. Then again, a lot of people come over the top, leading to contact towards the toe, so maybe it works out for them.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I laughed when it said "3 inches in the air" - who tees their ball that high? It just leads to erratic drive patterns for most.

I think many people tee it up that high for a few reasons.

1. Higher tee height promotes a flatter swing plane - good with the driver. 2. The "tall face" club heads of today have sweet spots higher off the ground 3. Vertical Gear Effect improves launch dynamics - by striking the ball higher on the face - just above middle face - you launch the ball higher and with less spin - a condition that will maximize carry. Tee it high and watch it fly!

J.P.

Bridgestone J33 10.5* Fujikura Rombax w
Bridgestone J33 15* Fujikura Zcom tw74
Tour Edge XCG 18* 3 hybrid Mizuno MP30 4-PW DG S300Vokey SM 52 bent 51Vokey Spin Milled 56 & 60Cameron Newport BchBridgestone B330s

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I have to admit that this sounds really good. My bad drives are almost always out of the heel.

I will definitely give this a shot next time i play.

Driver - 905r 9.5* with UST Proforce VT Stiff
3 Wood - SQ 3+ 13* with Grafallloy prolaunch blue Stiff
5 Wood - SQ 5* 19 with Aldila NV65 stiff
Irons - MP 67 3 + 5-PW 2deg Up + 1/2" with DG S300 shaft.
Wedges - SV 52/10 with true temper s400 BV Spin Milled 56/10 Wedge Flex BV Spin Milled 60/04...

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Tried and True:
I tried this tip last night as I was practicing my driver. Before I hit some balls I cleaned the face of my driver (so I could see my ball marks). Then I hit a few like I normally do. Not lining up the toe with the ball but grounding the club and lining the center with the ball. And what a surprise, all of my hits were off the heel.

Then after lining the ball up with the toe lifting my club and seeing that it lined up center with the ball I hit a few. I was hitting the ball right in the sweet spot and I gained about 25+ yards! I was ecstatic!

Such a simple tip but it worked wonders for me.

Amazing how many things go into a golf swing, it is so hard to try and remember them all...
"When I play with him, he talks to me on every green. He turns to me and says, 'You're away.' "
-Jimmy Demaret referring to Ben Hogan

In The Bag:
Driver: Cleveland HiBore XL (10.5 -conforming)3 Wood: MacGregor V-FOIL5 Wood: Mizuno MP-001Irons: Ben Hogan BH-5 (4-PW)Wedges:52 - Nike SV Tour56 - Cleve...
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I've been doing this for a while now...kinda came upon it randomly at the range one day. It helps promote inside out swinging too.

-----------------------------------------------------
Driver - MX560 10.5 stiff
Hybrid Tour Edge rescue 18 degree
Irons - Knife 3-PW
Wedge - SV Tour 58 deg.Putter - Harmonized 425 Soft TouchBall - e6+or Feel

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Hey just thought I would share this simple but logical driver tip I read on

I believe that tip encourages people to stand too far away from the ball, and put too much tension in the arms. I see a lot of players that tend to move their body (hips, chest, and legs) toward the ball on the down swing and that often causes them to hit the ball off the heel of the club. (Look at a lot of the beginner swings on

www.swingacadey.com to see examples of that motion). As far as addressing the ball off the toe. For a long time tour pros Greg Norman and Davis Love III walked up to the ball, stood extremely close to it, and addressed the ball toward the toe before they waggled and slid the center of the driver in line with the ball and began their swings. Greg Norman (driver): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iomvRx8KcoI Davis Love III (driver): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b06TAqOsxPY Notice that neither one of them is stretching out their arms, and they both are standing pretty close to the ball and tall. additional examples: Greg Norman (iron): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiysFPofSPM Davis Love (again with a driver): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkiU-4rE7fM

In my bag:

Driver: Burner TP 8.5*
Fairway metals/woods: Burner TP 13* Tour Spoon, and Burner TP 17.5*
Irons: RAC MB TP Wedges: RAC TPPutter: Spider Ball: (varies ) (Most of the time): TP Red or HX Tour/56---------------------------------------------------

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Well i played a very quick nine holes this morning, and hit four drivers as per this new setup and was extremely impressed.

I didn't feel like i was stretching, just standing a hair further away. I was hitting a high draw, something i have always hit with every club except the driver. It's too early to call it definitive, but i was certianly impressed, and manged to shoot a 40 with 2 3 putts!

Driver - 905r 9.5* with UST Proforce VT Stiff
3 Wood - SQ 3+ 13* with Grafallloy prolaunch blue Stiff
5 Wood - SQ 5* 19 with Aldila NV65 stiff
Irons - MP 67 3 + 5-PW 2deg Up + 1/2" with DG S300 shaft.
Wedges - SV 52/10 with true temper s400 BV Spin Milled 56/10 Wedge Flex BV Spin Milled 60/04...

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Note: This thread is 5827 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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