Not quite getting the results you would like from the tee? We headed to Rudding Park in North Yorkshire to run through a drill with professional Rob Watkins on how to be more confident off the tee.
Check out the video below to see how you can gain confidence with your driver…
Driver set up checklist
The ball position is to be just inside the left heel. Too far forward can impact shoulder alignment which can create a steeper angle of attack, which is the opposite of what you’re after.
Shoulders should tilt upwards ready to create an upwards angle of attack to help launch the ball up into the air.
Your stance should be wider with your driver than with any other club. This helps create a stable base as this is the longest club in your bag and the one you will swing the fastest.
The swing motion is more than just using your arms. The driver swing involves a big shoulder turn back, winding yourself up behind the ball.
Speed and power are used from the top down. A smoother swing will help create better contact and better outcome too.
Is your equipment right for you?
A lot of amateur golfers turn up to play with a driver that they have simply picked off the shelf. Custom fittings aren’t just for tour players or low-handicap golfers. Any player needs to have a club that is going to suit their needs and tendancies. That’s how players can improve.
Knowing that you have a driver that is set up to provide you with maximum help, should help provide you with a great amount of confidence when you step on the tee. If you’re a golfer with a huge slice, why not set your driver to have draw bias and visa versa. If you struggle to get the ball in the air, try a more lofted driver. All of these things will help you on the course.
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Don’t try and fix what’s not broken…
If you’re a golfer who has a consistent 20 yards of draw off the tee, go with it! Settle on a shot that suits your game and your swing. If you are one of these people who are trying to play four or five different shots off the tee then you are going to end up getting frustrated.
Trust your natural shot and embrace it. You will gain a lot of confidence from knowing which way the ball is going to go rather than trying to pull a shot off you’re not sure about.
What does your driver practice look like?
A lot of players who head to driving ranges use this time to try and hit longer drives. Whilst firing off driver after driver is pretty fun and might increase your clubhead speed, it’s probably not going to help you find the sweet spot more often.
Going to the golf course and getting some practice on a tee shot you might not like is more productive. Or if you do head to the range set yourself an imaginary fairway target, so that you’re hitting each golf ball with intention as if you were playing golf.
With your driver practice be sure to refer back to the driver set up checklist, as discussed in the video.
Conclusion
Losing confidence with any club in your golf game can be very frustrating. Driver is a very important player and heavily relied on by many players. Hitting your driver more consistently can vastly improve a golfer’s scorecard. Hopefully, these tips can help you find more fairways!
For more helpful golf swing tips, check out our other videos/articles below…
