Ross Fisher: How to hit tough drives
It’s commonly accepted that today’s equipment isn’t as easy to shape as that of yesteryear. But we all still have our favourite shape of shot. Even on tour, you’ll find almost every player has a ‘preferred’ way to shape the ball.
When we have a really difficult drive, we’ll always go to our stock shot. I strongly urge you to do the same.
SMOOTH SWING
We all like to smash our driver, but on the difficult, tight tee shots, get that thought out of your head. Swing within yourself and focus on a smooth sweep through the ball.
Accept you might lose 15 yards off the tee, but be pleased when you’re hitting into a green from the short stuff – not through a narrow gap between some trees.
USE THE TEE
If your shot shape doesn’t match the hole, use the tee to your advantage – there’s plenty of space to move around. Moving from one side of the tee to another changes the angle and stops you feeling as if you are poorly aligned. So, on the right-to-left dogleg I mentioned, stand on the right side and aim it down the left and fade it back.
STICK TO YOUR SHAPE
Don’t try to produce something that you’re not comfortable hitting. Even on a right-to-left hole, if your favourite shot shape is a fade, hit a fade. Hit your normal shot, using your normal swing. Just be clever about the line you start it on. Unless you are a low single-figure handicap, you will struggle to change shot shapes consistently.
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
