You have to hit your driver if you want to hit the ball further.
@jonathanyarwood / X
Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
Taking longer off the tee is a goal of nearly every golfer, but in the recreational ranks, few know how to effectively pursue this pursuit. Speed drills and drills are great places to start, but there is a way to hit the ball longer without increasing your velocity, and it all starts with the changeup. HOW you sway.
With proper technique, you can add yards off the tee very easily. The trick is to track down that technique and apply it to your game.
You’ve probably heard the term “tae it up and let it fly.” However, unlike most clichés, this one is also quite practical. Hitting the ball longer can easily be accomplished simply by raising the ball and increasing your swing angle of attack.
In the following video, GOLF Top 100 Teachers Jonathan Yarwood demonstrates a great drill to teach you how to hit the ball properly. If you can apply it to your movement, you’ll see distance gains in no time.
How to increase your angle of attack
Increasing your angle of attack with a driver can be difficult for many amateur players. Hitting irons and wedges requires a negative angle of attack, while the driver requires the opposite. This difference in technique between clubs can make getting the right angle of attack difficult for some.
If you’re struggling to hit the ball, try the drill above. Start by pocketing your lead hand and then gripping the stick with your trail hand. Swing back to the top and then to start the downswing, snap your lead hip forward and drop the shoulder of the trail.
“Put your head back and then throw the stick,” says Yarwood. “The swing of the club goes higher, it moves more. Stand back and jump and it will increase the angle of attack.”
Once you get that feel, take your normal address and try to get the same feel during the swing. When you do it right, you’ll get a positive angle of attack and produce much longer drives.
