How to Hit Driver Like Tiger Woods

I am going to teach you the basics of how to hit a driver for beginners. This is an article that will help you become better at golf while also giving some helpful tips on how to play your best game. 

As a golfer, I understand the frustration when it comes time for tee off and you are not prepared. You may have been out of practice or just playing too much other sports. If this sounds like something that might be happening to you then read on!

What is a driver

A driver is a wood-headed club intended for long distance shots. The swing used to hit the ball with drivers is very different from that of other clubs due to its unique design. During a drive, players have greater control over direction and power than they do when using irons or woods.  

A driver consists of a clubhead, shaft and grip . A driver typically has a long shaft of 40- to 46-inches (1.02-1.17 m) with a larger, rounded clubhead intended for maximum distance.  Drivers typically have a loft of 9° or more (compared to 3°-4° for most irons).

Why should you use one

You should use  driver to hit for golf because it will give you more accuracy and distance. Golf driver will help you to make a better game in the competition.  It will help you to keep your shot from the roughs, add distance and accuracy.

If you are a beginner who wants to build a better golf game in your life, then driver will help you to hit more accurately and longer. It is best choice for people who love playing golf but have no time to play golf.

How to hit a driver

For beginners step-by-step instruction:

  1. Wind up to the ball with your knees bent and your lower body relaxed a bit. Your arms should be relaxed, not tight and straight (e.g., as if holding a gun). You can swing your arms loosely or in a more exaggerated fashion, whatever is comfortable for you.
  2. Move your left arm slightly behind you and to the right. This will help with club path consistency, which is key to hitting the ball farther.
  3. Take a small step back from the ball (only about 6-12 inches) and then turn your hips toward the target while keeping your upper body still.
  4. Now move your hands toward the ball and contract your upper body -- this is where most of the power comes from. As you move your hands, feel like you are pressing on an imaginary wall in front of you. Your chest should be facing directly at the ball while still keeping your hips open.
  5. Continue to turn your shoulders toward the target as  you begin to lean your upper body toward the ball.
  6. Now you are in a great position and ready to strike the ball. With your left hand, accelerate it through impact with the club head while keeping it upright (instead of dropping it too steeply). Your right hand should drive through as well before taking off again for another full swing.
  7. Use your lower body (hips) to generate power instead of only your arms and upper body like many beginning players do. Be patient with the swing; try hitting around half shots for a while until you get the feel for it. Once this is comfortable, gradually increase your distance per hit until you're able to hit it as far as you want.

When and where to use it

If you want to be more efficient when using a driver, such as getting more distance, consistency and accuracy. When you are at ease with hitting the ball. When you are standing on the tee.

Some professional golfers only need to hit the ball at least 20 yards with their driver to put the ball on greens and get a low score. I think it is possible for anyone can learn how to hit a driver better, so people will have more fun during games or practices.

The biggest challenge of hitting a driver better is controlling your club  and its power and direction. So if you are able to control your club and swing, it will be a lot easier to use the driver.

What you have learned from hitting with irons may help. However when you change your golf clubs, there are some differences in drivers such as the width of the face and shaft length. It is better to understand how they affect the trajectory of your ball, so you can do well in a game.

Golf etiquette for using the driver

When you play golf, it's important to follow the rules of golf etiquette. This especially true when you're using your driver. However, there are basic rules that all players should know and follow no matter which club they're using.

These include:

  • Do not cause any distractions or make comments that could annoy other players.
  • Do not move or place any personal items on the green (unless you're moving them to a different spot).
  • Don't run, walk quickly or ride golf carts faster than necessary. Concentrate on your play and don't let anything else distract you.
  • Always stay behind the golf ball until you have hit it; then go to where your ball lands.
  • Do not build a tee out of debris from the course.
  • If your ball lands near another player, always ask permission to check and see if it is in a hazard (water or rough). If it's on the green, let that person play first.
  • Always allow faster players to play through.

When not to use the driver

Avoid using the driver when your ball cannot carry over 150 yards due to length or the route of the hole. For example, if you are on a par 5 and you need to hit in between two bunkers from 200 yards away, avoid using the driver because it will usually not be able to go past where the sand bunker ends.

If you are not comfortable using a driver because of its length, try reducing your back swing. Most people have a tendency to overswing causing them to hit it in unwanted locations and lose control. The back-hand motion should be smooth and level while the golf club is making contact with the ball. Practice hitting the ball with a reduced swing so as to keep control of your club.

Tour players will usually hit their drivers when they have at least 130 yards left from where they are standing because it will most likely carry over that distance and allow them to hit within 20 feet of where the  pin is.

A good rule of thumb when using your driver is to make sure that you can hit the ball at least 230 yards and 270 yards on a tee box. This will enable you to drive past both bunkers or even around them with a slight draw. 

Where can I hit a driver for practice?

If you are a beginner, it's better if you can find an empty field or range next to your

own place. Make sure that no one will bother you while practicing and that the driving range has safety nets around it in case of any accidents happened.

How to choose a driver set?

Choose your own clubs according to your height. The commonly used length of the driver is 44 inches, and it can be adjusted by 2 in - 3 inch (depending on which manufacturers or brands). If you like the feeling of shorter drivers, go ahead and buy one that's 42 inches.

The most important factor of choosing driver is MOI. MOI (moment of inertia) is a measure to indicate the stability and forgiveness a driver has throughout its swing range, thus you can easily find out if your club provides more stability than the other. The higher the MOI, the further it will keep your ball in play.

Many club companies claim to have high MOI; however, in order for you to know exactly how high the MOI is, it is crucial for you to do a comparison among other driver brands.

The common MOIs can be categorized into three: 460cc-500cc = low (for beginners who still needs more stability); 450cc-460cc = medium (for those who are still in progress); 450cc-500cc = high (for experts).

Also, when you are looking for a driver, always look into the model number on the bottom of the club. For example: TDR 460cc has a "T" instead of "TX." The higher the letter, the higher MOI it will have.

The different design of a club can also affect how you hit a ball, such as the size and shape of the head, and even weight distribution. In addition to that, when buying clubs online or offline they always include details about swing speed required; however most people with low speeds (sub-90 mph) are required to hit stiff shafts.

When buying clubs from online stores, you can compare the MOI and swing speed required for each club; however in-store you won't really know what materials were used for making that club, so it is difficult to determine if the MOI of a particular club set would be suitable for yourself.

TIP: Ask the seller of the club set or pro in golf courses for help to choose clubs that suit you best. If they don't, ask others who do know about it about it .

For beginners, I strongly recommend using a driver with an adjustable shaft just in case something  does not match you well, because it can be "tailored" according to your need.

Another thing, do not use your favorite irons and woods for hitting drivers when practicing; otherwise it would affect the angle and distortion of the  shaft.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading about my advice on how to hit a driver for beginners step-by-step instruction. The secret to hitting your driver better is in the lower body and using it accordingly, which is what I tried to emphasize above. Hope this helped! Have fun hitting! :)

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