Some

think that driving the golf ball is a simple process,

it really isn't. Some seasoned golfers just look at driving the ball as

a

simple process. "Grip it and rip it" is a common phrase you can hear

on many tee boxes. However, there are some things you can do to get

more

distance on your drives.

First and foremost, you need to be relaxed when you begin addressing

the ball.

You must be loose before pulling back the club. Do not tighten up over

the golf

ball.  It is important to waggle the club back and forth a few

times in

order to create some flow to start the golf swing.  This

action will

promote proper rhythm and tempo.

To gain more distance, tee the ball higher.  By teeing the

ball higher, it

will help achieve better launch angle and reduce backspin at

impact.  This

will allow the ball to be hit on the up-swing - producing more carry

and

distance.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice this recreational golfer ever

received was to look at the back of the ball. It's easy to take your

eyes off

of that little white orb, but if you are not looking at the ball before

you hit

it, you will be more likely to miss it.

To gain more stability in your backswing, widen your stance.  Maintain approximately sixty

percent of your

body weight on the left side to gain a more powerful coil. If you're

right

handed, point your left toe more inline to the target. You'll need to

swing

harder and put more of your right hand into hitting the ball, and take

advantage of all of the elements – especially the wind, if

there is any.

When you're at the top of your backswing, be sure to turn your

shoulders a full

90 degrees. Your back should actually be facing the target. Look at

John Daly

when he drives the golf ball. He has a massive shoulder turn. Many

players ask

him all the time how he does it. He says it's due to having a sound

technique

and a wide swing arc. He always has a rhythm to his golf swing and is

never out

of sync on his swing.

After you reach the top of your backswing, you're ready to begin the

downswing.

Do not rush this part. If you do, you'll have an increased chance of

swinging

straight down on the ball and eliminating any power you had going. You

will

also most likely chili dip and miss hit the golf ball. Look at Fred

Couples and

his downswing. It's nearly flawless.

Make sure to keep your left arm straight during your transition. When

you keep

your arm straight it enables the club head to remain square and hit the

ball

properly. Don't have a herky-jerky swing. Keep your golf swing smooth.

Picture

yourself hitting through the ball, not just to it.

Be

sure to take advantage of the surrounding elements to help give you

more

distance; especially using the wind to your advantage. When you have

the wind

at your back, you should tee the golf ball higher than normal. This

gives you a

higher ball flight with more carry in the air. That means greater

distance.

When you're playing into the wind you want the opposite. Tee the ball

down a

little more than usual.

As mentioned before, you will want to look at the ball before hitting

it. Some

players find this difficult as it makes them lose focus as they

concentrate too

much on the ball. An easy answer to this problem is to turn your chin

to the

right and point it about two or three inches behind the ball. Keep it

there

until impact and then watch the ball sail through the air.

Believe it or not, the pressure you use to grip the club is important

in

driving the ball longer. Even though you may think that gripping harder

and

swinging harder produces better results.  That

is absolutely incorrect and is probably

why you don't get consistent distance.

The great players indicated that the grip pressure should resemble one

holding

a bird without crushing it but also not letting it go. The tighter you

hold the

club, the less it will release through the ball creating severe pulls

and big

ballooning slices. Swinging hard is ok but the hands must be tension

free.

Your driving wood should stay along the ground for at least the first

20 to 25

percent of your swing. If your club is lifting up, you will pop the

ball up.  You will

not get that long and straight drive

that you see the pros hit regularly, when the ball takes off like a

missile and

slowly climbs to a beautiful height and tracks down the fairway.

Keep the angle on your leading hand. Many amateurs tend to flip the

hands

forward in an effort to get the ball in the air, but this only retards

the

effort of having good equipment. The leading hand (left hand for most

players,

right hand for southpaws) should be angled down towards the ball on the

downswing.

It's like you are hitting the ball with the back of your left hand. If

your

left hand is flipping up on the downswing, your contact will not be

solid and

you will get consistent misses with your wood. This tip also starts the

ball

low and lets it climb on its own through the power you generate.

Finish towards the target. Pick a spot on the ground that lines up with

your

target and from your address stretch your wood towards it. If done

correctly,

your arms should form a V shape with both arms fully extended. Finish

the swing

over your left shoulder.

If you find yourself bending your left arm early, this will reduce your

distance.  Keep your

V as long as

possible before it bends at the finish of your swing and you will find

yourself

getting much more distance.

Speed can be increased by setting the wrists into a cocked position

early, and

on the downswing keeping the wrists cocked for as late as possible, and

then

swishing through the ball. This is similar to flicking your wrists when

using a

badminton, squash, or tennis racket.

Golfers who are inclined to hit at the ball with their hands rather

than

swinging through the ball find that they lose a lot of power, and

distance.

Your power comes from your body, not from your arms and hands. If you

want to

drive the ball further, don't hit the ball with your hands –

let the club do

the work it was designed to do.

Of course, you will want to choose the right club for the distance of

the hole.

Obviously, you will want to choose a driver for the longer holes to get

maximum

distance, but for shorter holes like Par 3s, you will likely want to

choose a

smaller club like an iron. You will want to try and get as close to the

hole as

possible without overshooting the green.

The best way to know how far you can hit specific clubs is to get on

the

driving range. Because golf isn't an exact science, there are a lot of

variables that come into play with the golf swing. But if you practice

a lot, your

chances of hitting the ball consistently are much higher. Plus, you

will know

which club is your hundred yard club and which one is your 50 yard

club.

After you have driven the ball, you'll (hopefully) be in the fairway.