How to hit the driver consistently

[bobmac]

Not wanting to hijack Fish's thread so heres a new one.

What do you do if you cant reach with a 9?
You hit an 8
What do you do if you cant reach with a 6?
You hit a 5
What do you do if you cant reach with a driver?
You hit it harder.

For me there's nothing more fun than ripping the driver as hard as I can and hitting it straight.
But I can't do it every time.
The harder you try and hit it, the worse it gets.
So, how do you hit the driver more consistently?

You simply do the same as you would do with your wedge or 7 iron or 4 hybrid.....

Find a speed that you can hit a 'normal' shot with so say 120 yds with the wedge, 170 with the 7 iron, 200 with the hybrid (insert your own real distances here). When you find out how far a 'normal' drive goes, say 250, then EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE DRIVER, TRY AND HIT IT 250,
irrespective of what is in front of you.

If it's against the wind, don't hit it harder, hit it lower and except it will only go 220
If it's with the wind, hit it higher not harder and enjoy it going 280.

If you normally hit it 250 and you try and hit it 300yds, 99% of the time you will either hit it 150 or you will lose the ball.

Know your own game and distances and dont stray out of your own ability.

 

[tsped83]

I've a question Bob, how can I hit the driver lower? I've suffered in recent weeks playing in heavy wind, yet don't really know how to hit a lower ball off the tee?

 

[Smiffy]

When I first started playing, I read a few books and one (can't remember which one now) was really useful.
I think it was written by a woman player and she said that within a fairly short space of time most players work out how far they hit each iron.
So if you step onto a par 3 and it's 150 yards, and you hit your 7 iron 150 yards, you'll automatically reach for your 7 iron.
But when you step onto the tee and need to hit your driver, all "sensible" thoughts of how far you hit it go out of the window, and suddenly "infinity" becomes your goal.
It doesn't work does it

 

[bobmac]

I've a question Bob, how can I hit the driver lower? I've suffered in recent weeks playing in heavy wind, yet don't really know how to hit a lower ball off the tee?

To answer your question, I'll ask you one.........
How would you hit the ball high?

 

[bobmac]

suddenly "infinity" becomes your goal.
It doesn't work does it

It's all about controlling the mind.
Sadly, as age creeps on you, you tend to lose control of most bodily functions

 

[Smiffy]

It's all about controlling the mind.
Sadly, as age creeps on you, you tend to lose control of most bodily functions

Sorry I need the loo

 

[Maninblack4612]

Not sure I agree 100%. If I'm faced with a long par 4 & can only get up with a really long drive I'll hit it harder than usual, without losing control. If I nail it, I've got a chance of getting up in two. If I miss it, as long as it's reasonably straight, it may not go as far as a normal drive but, so what, there's not much difference between hitting 3 wood, wedge & 3 wood 8 iron. I think, under those circumstances, it's worth a gamble. You must, however, keep some control. I know that if I try to hit it hard I'm likely to hit from the top & produce a huge slice or a pull so I'm careful to avoid this. Ben Hogan, in one of his books, said he sometimes hit the driver as hard as he possibly could. There are times when, I think, it's worth the risk.

 

[Fish]

Not wanting to hijack Fish's thread so heres a new one.

What do you do if you cant reach with a 9?
You hit an 8
What do you do if you cant reach with a 6?
You hit a 5
What do you do if you cant reach with a driver?
You hit it harder.

For me there's nothing more fun than ripping the driver as hard as I can and hitting it straight.
But I can't do it every time.
The harder you try and hit it, the worse it gets.
So, how do you hit the driver more consistently?

You simply do the same as you would do with your wedge or 7 iron or 4 hybrid.....

Find a speed that you can hit a 'normal' shot with so say 120 yds with the wedge, 170 with the 7 iron, 200 with the hybrid (insert your own real distances here). When you find out how far a 'normal' drive goes, say 250, then EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE DRIVER, TRY AND HIT IT 250,
irrespective of what is in front of you.

If it's against the wind, don't hit it harder, hit it lower and except it will only go 220
If it's with the wind, hit it higher not harder and enjoy it going 280.

If you normally hit it 250 and you try and hit it 300yds, 99% of the time you will either hit it 150 or you will lose the ball.

Know your own game and distances and dont stray out of your own ability.

:thup:

It's all about controlling the mind.
Sadly, as age creeps on you, you tend to lose control of most bodily functions

I was slightly surprised I was the oldest yesterday

Sorry I need the loo

Hurry up........I'm shakin' it boss......

 

[bobmac]

Not sure I agree 100%. If I'm faced with a long par 4 & can only get up with a really long drive I'll hit it harder than usual, without losing control. If I nail it, I've got a chance of getting up in two. If I miss it, as long as it's reasonably straight, it may not go as far as a normal drive but, so what, there's not much difference between hitting 3 wood, wedge & 3 wood 8 iron. I think, under those circumstances, it's worth a gamble. You must, however, keep some control. I know that if I try to hit it hard I'm likely to hit from the top & produce a huge slice or a pull so I'm careful to avoid this. Ben Hogan, in one of his books, said he sometimes hit the driver as hard as he possibly could. There are times when, I think, it's worth the risk.

To be fair, there's not many forum members who are as good as Hogan was.
If you want to hit it hard and risk the huge slice or pull then carry on. I would be interested in where you aim those drives though.
The thread was about how to be consistent with the driver which is something I'm asked on a regular basis.

 

[CMAC]

I've a question Bob, how can I hit the driver lower? I've suffered in recent weeks playing in heavy wind, yet don't really know how to hit a lower ball off the tee?

http://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/articles/article/how-to-drive-the-ball-lower-into-the-wind.html

 

[Beezerk]

I definitely find my bad drives start when I get over-confident and try and hit the ball too hard.

 

[Maninblack4612]

To be fair, there's not many forum members who are as good as Hogan was.
If you want to hit it hard and risk the huge slice or pull then carry on. I would be interested in where you aim those drives though.
The thread was about how to be consistent with the driver which is something I'm asked on a regular basis.

Me included. Sorry if I've diverted the thread, I was responding to the bit in your post which said "What do you do if you cant reach with a driver? You hit it harder", which is sometimes an option. In reply to your question about my aim, down the middle, & I'd only do it where the fairway was reasonably wide, and I'm aware of how it might go and try to avoid it.

To hit consistently, I have tried gripping down the shaft on occasions where it's really important to keep it on the fairway & distance is not a problem. For some reason, for me, this works better than taking a 3 wood.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I know when I try & get a few extra yards out of the driver that's when things go wrong.
For some reason I hate hitting driver up hill.
It really is my nemesis club.

 

[bobmac]

''What do you do if you cant reach with a driver? You hit it harder", which is sometimes an option.

Not if you're trying to be consistent, which is what this thread is all about.

 

[3565]

http://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/articles/article/how-to-drive-the-ball-lower-into-the-wind.html

seems that the fixation is to hit it harder when you need to do the opposite and what the pro said in the video is what you need to do, smooth rhythmical swing, which will improve your timing of the swing which is the key. Timing = distance not brute strength.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Not if you're trying to be consistent, which is what this thread is all about.

You didn't quote the bit where I made a positive contribution!

 

[snell]

This makes perfect sense to me, I don't think ever hit a drive well when I've tred to smash it.

 

[Sybez]

Anyone struggling with their driver accuracy and plays it at over 45" needs to go get fit properly and look at shortening it. I play mine at 43 3/4" and know that I need to keep my swing "smooth" to get the best strike I can. This generates the extra distance!

Just watch the pros, I mean really watch! How many "hit it hard" but are always in balance at the finish? Then look at your own swings and decide if you think swing speed gets you long and straight, or contact and timing....?

I also do a little drill on the range when I know my timings off. Use driver, and purposefully swing as slow and smooth as you can to hit a "solid" shot (feel for a good centre strike) when you get two in a row, try adding a touch more swing speed until to find a rhythm and pace that hits the shot you want. Do this over time and it improve you driver ball striking no end!

Remember golf is and oxymoron...

 

[Foxholer]

My 'new' Driver has encouraged my to swing faster/harder - and I've gained quite a bit of distance as a result, with a serious case of the straights too! Haven't yet swung 'completely out of my shoes', but still finding that comfort zone of fastest swing with optimum contact!

 

[3565]

My 'new' Driver has encouraged my to swing faster/harder - and I've gained quite a bit of distance as a result, with a serious case of the straights too! Haven't yet swung 'completely out of my shoes', but still finding that comfort zone of fastest swing with optimum contact!

that can be just as destructive as keeping your head still.