How to master the driver off the deck

The European Tour’s desert swing is in full flow and fresh from their winter break, the pros are already showcasing their immense skill. Last week, we saw Eddie Pepperell pull this shot off and now it’s Thomas Pieters’ turn. Here are my tips for how to hit driver off the deck.

It’s an elite player shot but it can be done – you’ll probably know people at your club who have this shot in their locker and some that think they have.

So how do you play it?

Perhaps counter-intuitively, you’ve got to be hitting down on the ball a little bit. Most will see the lack of loft and be tempted to try and help it in the air – this will lead to tops and duffs.

Here’s Pieters to demonstrate:

🚨 DRIVER OFF THE DECK 🚨

Brought to you by @Thomas_Pieters.#ADGolfChamps #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/1sUiXsR12n

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 17, 2020

One of the things that allows Pieters to play this so effectively is that he’s very good at staying in his spine angle throughout his swing. As a result, it’s easier to stay on top of the ball and make solid contact.

Think of the driver as a low-lofted big-headed 3-wood and follow the same principles of trying to squeeze it a little bit rather than hitting on the up as you would off a tee.

A quick word of warning though for those rushing to the course to give this a go. If you’re a fader, proceed with caution. There’s a good chance your swing is already on the steep side so be prepared to take some rather large divots.

How to hit driver off the deck

Imagine you are turning around a pole and your spine is working into the ground. This will help you stay centred and give you the feeling of staying on top of the ball. From there, it’ll be easier to get that slight descending blow that is essential.

It’ll take some practice but it’s a really useful shot to have so give it a go and see how you get on.

Have you got any questions about how to hit driver off the deck? Leave them in the comments or send us a tweet.