How to Hit a Driver (Hit it Further and Stop Slicing!)

[mvmac]

40 minutes ago, natureboy said:

Not guite sure what you mean by 'slow arms' on the downswing? Quick right elbow tuck? I would assume you aren't advocating getting quick from the top?

Not elbow tuck, the rate that the right arm straightens or the rate the left arm moves away from the right shoulder.

[natureboy]

12 hours ago, mvmac said:

Not elbow tuck, the rate that the right arm straightens or the rate the left arm moves away from the right shoulder.

So the possible axis tipping back is often a related compensation for hands not staying in front of body- so a tip back to 'create room'?

[iacas]

8 minutes ago, natureboy said:

So the possible axis tipping back is often a related compensation for hands not staying in front of body- so a tip back to 'create room'?

Often it's more a matter of "to get the clubhead down to the golf ball*" and/or "to give yourself more time."

* (Because tipping back lowers the right shoulder, which lowers the right arm, which if you're not going to extend the right arm at a fast enough rate, will get the clubhead to the ball instead of above it.)

[mvmac]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Often it's more a matter of "to get the clubhead down to the golf ball*" and/or "to give yourself more time."

* (Because tipping back lowers the right shoulder, which lowers the right arm, which if you're not going to extend the right arm at a fast enough rate, will get the clubhead to the ball instead of above it.)

What he said 

I also don't want to get too much into "guessing" what's going on. Feel free to start a swing thread @natureboy to get a better idea of what the issue is.

[natureboy]

Sorry, thought this was relevant to topic. Potential fault others may share.

Think you nailed it. A little less axis tilt at setup and more conscious right arm extension through impact. R arm had gotten a little too passive and I was tipping and 'diving under' too much with right shoulder. Drives more boring trajectory. Thanks.

Edited November 5, 2015 by natureboy

[mvmac]

3 hours ago, natureboy said:

Sorry, thought this was relevant to topic. Potential fault others may share.

Think you nailed it. A little less axis tilt at setup and more conscious right arm extension through impact. R arm had gotten a little too passive and I was tipping and 'diving under' too much with right shoulder. Drives more boring trajectory. Thanks.

Cool, good to hear.

[mvmac]

Came across this on Instagram, good driver set-up.

 

Progress #boxtheory

A video posted by Beau Hossler (@the_beau_show_) on Nov 23, 2015 at 12:56pm PST

[mvmac]

 

Education time. This player has a green jacket in the closet. #draws all day

A photo posted by Dana Dahlquist (@danadahlquist) on Jan 19, 2016 at 1:16pm PST

[Abu3baid]

5 hours ago, mvmac said:

107 club speed and 271 carry that's amazing!  

[mvmac]

19 hours ago, Abu3baid said:

107 club speed and 271 carry that's amazing!  

Yep, the beauties of having a positive AoA (and hitting it solid).

[craps]

Very good textbook instruction but there is no explanation about the built of the driver club. This is essential if it is meant for beginners. The driver is usually built with a somewhat flat sole. A lot of people would ground the driver at address and with the sole 'flat' will promote a shut face. The club face should be slightly inclined upwards towards the teed ball and the other end of the clubhead should be slightly touching the ground. This will gave tremendous confidence for someone to hit up and not sky the ball. 

Edited January 21, 2016 by craps

[mvmac]

20 hours ago, craps said:

Very good textbook instruction but there is no explanation about the built of the driver club. This is essential if it is meant for beginners. The driver is usually built with a somewhat flat sole. A lot of people would ground the driver at address and with the sole 'flat' will promote a shut face. The club face should be slightly inclined upwards towards the teed ball and the other end of the clubhead should be slightly touching the ground. This will gave tremendous confidence for someone to hit up and not sky the ball. 

I think you're placing too much importance on the "build" of the driver. Golfers sky the ball because of their mechanics, not because the face is a little left. Most drivers are fairly square at address.

[bmartin461]

I know this thread is a few years old, but I would like to thank @mvmac for the time he took to create it.  I have been struggling off the tee lately so I remembered and revisited this post several times recently.   I have been practicing the setup each week at the range and played 9 holes this morning focusing on the setup mechanics.  The results were very positive, longer drives than normal and I hit 57% of the fairways, using driver on 7 of 9 holes.  None of the misses were far off the fairway and I always had clear shots forward.

Again, thanks for this post and this site. 

 

[colin007]

On 1/20/2016 at 5:50 AM, Abu3baid said:

107 club speed and 271 carry that's amazing!  

1.51 smash factor...those guys are phenomenal. If I ever hit one with that smash factor it would go 500 yards.

[Jeremie Boop]

With all my struggles fighting a flip, I've always been able to get positive AoA. Attached image is the average AoA I had on 5 drivers I tested about a month ago. Probably the only reason my driver carry/distance has never really been something I've struggled with over the years. Here is my worry, as I eliminate my flip will I start to struggle with maintaining the positive AoA with my driver?

[saevel25]

16 minutes ago, Jeremie Boop said:

With all my struggles fighting a flip, I've always been able to get positive AoA. Attached image is the average AoA I had on 5 drivers I tested about a month ago. Probably the only reason my driver carry/distance has never really been something I've struggled with over the years. Here is my worry, as I eliminate my flip will I start to struggle with maintaining the positive AoA with my driver?

Yep.

It will just be a slight set up change and ball position change.

[Jeremie Boop]

6 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Yep.

It will just be a slight set up change and ball position change.

Good to know that it should only require some small changes if I'm lucky.

[MrDC]

I think most weekend players try to tee the ball up too high and too forward in their stance, to hit way up on the ball and achieve maximum distance, it makes sense but I think it costs them, this setup with the long shafts they use creates a flat swing and lots of errant shots.

I say drop the tee height, move the ball back further inside the lead heel, shorten the club shaft and get those hands in the air, watch the ball fly straighter and farther, because with renewed confidence comes a faster swing speed and more smash.