Here is an article I recently wrote for the Carolina Golf Journal. It explains how you can hit your drives farther and straighter than you ever have.
The High Launch Low Spin Bomb-
The key to long high bomb drives is hitting up on the ball. The LPGA hits up 3 degrees on the ball and the Remax Long Drive Champions all hit up on the ball upwards of 5 degrees. Bubba Watson has been measured to have an attack of 9 degrees upward. The average I see from amateurs is 3 degrees down. When you hit down on the ball you lower the launch angle and increase the spin rate causing your ball to balloon into the air sapping out precious distance. If you could take your normal swing speed and apply an upward angle of attack you could easily add 40-50 yards of total distance. Below I have included 4 steps to hitting up on the ball with your driver that will have you bombing it past your playing competitors every time.
Step 1- Ball Forward- Make sure the ball is placed on the shoelaces of the front foot to insure the ball is forward enough to hit upward on the ball.
Step 2- Tilt Away- Bump your target side hip closer to the target as you tilt your spine away and behind the ball. With your lower body forward and your upper body slightly back you are in a balanced position to hit up on the ball. Your weight should still be equally distributed.
Step 3- Low and Wide Takeaway- Set up the upward attack for the downswing by taking the club back as low and wide as possible. To keep the width in the back-swing try to keep your arms straighter. This will make the arc of the swing the widest possible.
Step 4- Raise the Handle Through Impact- Using your body as a thrusting catapult push your hips (or Belt) as far forward and up as you can as your head stays back behind the ball. This will help you raise the grip end of the club enough to hit up on the ball. To add some draw to the shot raise the handle more up and to the right. This will help the club swing in to out more producing more right to left spin for even more distance!
Thanks for reading!
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