No golfer has the same swing as another. With that said, there are some characteristics which can be found in every good swing. Despite variations, a good technique never goes out of style.
The putter is most often considered the most important club you have but the driver is a close second. You get quite a big advantage when you can drive the ball down the middle of the fairway.
If you can play from the fairway, you’re going to find golf a whole lot easier, and likely more enjoyable. Hence, it is crucial that you understand the mechanics of how to swing a driver.
How to Swing a Driver: The Mechanics
There are five key aspects of swinging a driver with which you should be familiar. There are some secrets to getting a great swing with your driver, but for the most part, the fundamentals will serve you just fine.
#1: Keep Your Balance
Keeping your balance really is the number one consideration when you are learning how to swing a driver. A lot of golfers, even the seasoned ones, don’t do well at keeping their balance. They are too focused on getting as much distance as possible or they are trying to swing too hard.
Truly the best way to get a maximum distance is to keep balance. This can help ensure your contact is right in the center of the clubface. You tend to lose your attention to accuracy when you are trying to hit the ball with all of your strength and power.
To keep a good balance, make sure you keep your center of gravity in the middle of your stance, particularly on your backswing. Then you can move aggressively toward your target when on your downswing.
Some new golfers make the common mistake of allowing their weight to drift back to their back foot on their backswing. You want to make sure you don’t do this.
If you shift your weight back and forth during your swing, you are probably going to lose a lot of power and accuracy from the driver. Maintain your weight in the center and you’ll be poised to drive through the ball, instead of just at it.
#2: Take Your Time, Particularly at the Top
It is so easy to fall into the trap of rushing through your swing. If you are rushing, it usually means you are not taking adequate time at the top of your backswing. That time should be used to allow your body and club to move into the right position.
In the perfect swing, there would be a bit of a pause at the top. It would be more of a brief hesitation to allow your body to settle and the club to move in a new direction. It would also give you a split second to take note of your positioning.
If you shorten your backswing because you are rushing, some of your power is lost and you might end up slicing the ball since the club could be on the outside of the swing plane.
A good way to prevent yourself from doing this is to remember that the ball is there waiting for you to hit it. It isn’t going anywhere. There is no reason to rush. Make sure you are in proper position and simply take your time.
#3: Use a Sweeping Motion
A driver is designed for you to use a sweeping motion to attack your shots. You want to avoid as much backspin as possible since backspin is precisely the opposite of what you want. A lot of backspin will prevent you from getting good shots using your driver.
With that said, you do need a little bit of backspin since it will help you to keep the ball on line and in the air. Once you get too much backspin, your shot will be much weaker as it floats in the air.
Ultimately, you want to use a sweeping motion with your driver as opposed to a downward angle. This will provide you with better ball flight overall.
#4: Do Not Overdo It
Obviously, you want to hit your driver as far as you possibly can. This is ultimately the goal of every other golfer as well. Thus, you can really overdo it and end up worse off.
You are always encouraged to swing hard. There is nothing wrong with that. However, you do not want it to be at the expense of balance.
If you can stand it, try swinging while giving it a bit less than your all. Don’t go at it with 100%. You will likely find that you can stay balanced, which means you’ll make better contact right at the center of the clubface.
You might be thinking that by giving it a bit less than your 100% power, you will lose distance. This isn’t really the case. In fact, by stepping off the gas a bit, you will probably find that you get more distance.
You should stay focused on balance rather than speed. You also want to keep your eye on consistency. If you can connect where you want to every single time, your distance is going to increase naturally.
#5: Use a Specific Target
To get the most out of your swing, you really do need to be focused on a specific target. This is a huge pitfall of both beginner and intermediate players. They simply do not stay focused on a target and they just swing without any real purpose.
You need to be prepared for your shot by holding a target steady. When you are trying to hit a shot on the green, you likely aim right for the pin. It is easy to see your target there.
Nonetheless, be mindful of that same approach when you are working off the tee. It is harder but just as crucial. You do not want to fall into the trap of randomly aiming somewhere on the fairway; you need to be more specific.
To do that and keep your focus, select a specific target somewhere in the distance. This is where you want to aim your driver. A good example is a tree. Fairway bunkers also work well.
Take your time on the tee and pick out your spot. Once you have your aim down, make sure you pay your target all of your attention right up until you look up.
Conclusion
Learning how to swing a driver is a key mechanic of any good golfer’s game. In fact, even for seasoned pros, it never hurts to brush up on the fundamentals.
While the mechanics of a good swing aren’t a real secret, there are some hidden gems you can still uncover. One of those is Ben Hogan’s golf swing secret. It will teach you how to hit more powerful shots and stay accurate throughout them.
