John Phillips Tuition Series: Playing with the Driver
Setup / Takeaway / Backswing / Downswing / Follow Through / Drills

This is the part of the game you've all been waiting for. How to hit those long 300 yard straight drives! Firstly, there is no easy way to hit the ball a long way. Even the tour pros vary in the length that they hit the ball, from Nick Faldo, who although tall hits his drive on average about 265 yards, to Tiger Woods whose average is about 290 yards. Some of the great players of our time like Gary Player and Lee Trevino, who both won major championships, were not long hitters of the ball. Here's how to choose a driver with the right loft:

If you are a higher handicap, use a driver with an oversize head with 11° or 12° loft. Lots of tour pros use the oversize metal woods with only 6° or 7°, but remember the less loft, the more you will tend to slice the ball.

Set Up

Try to tee the ball so that at least 1/2 the ball is above the club on the ground. This promotes a slightly upward swing which in turn will help to keep the ball straighter and give you those extra few yards.

The ball should be played off the inside of your left heel, with your feet shoulder width apart. Try to feel that about 55% of your weight is on your right side, with your hands level with the ball. You should stand with a slightly straighter spine angle than with your irons and this in turn will encourage a shallower angle of attack which is needed to hit the driver well. At no time should you be taking a divot with your driver on tee shots.

Playing with the Driver: Setup / Takeaway / Backswing /
Downswing / Follow Through / Drills