For high-handicap golfers, hitting long and straight drives can be challenging if not difficult. However, with the right golf driving tips and some training aid, even the most amateur golfer can improve their game and play like Tiger Woods.
In this article, we will share 13 golf tips specifically designed to help high-handicap players hit longer and straighter drives. Follow them to improve your overall driving performance on the course.
Key Takeaways
- Hitting long and straight drives can be challenging if not difficult for high handicap golfers.
- With the right golf driving tips and some training aid, even the most amateur golfer can improve their driving game
Tee the Ball at the Right Height
Positioning the ball at the right height is an important aspect of the golf swing, especially for high-handicap players who struggle with consistency off the tee. When the ball is teed up too low, it can cause the golfer to hit the ground before making contact with the ball, resulting in a loss of distance and accuracy.
On the other hand, teeing the ball too high can cause the golfer to hit the ball too high on the clubface, resulting in a loss of distance and accuracy as well. By teeing the ball at the correct height, the sweet spot of the clubhead will be in line with the middle of the ball, allowing for a clean contact and maximum distance.
Make Sure Your Grip is Correct
Maintaining a proper grip is essential for any golf shot, but it’s especially crucial when hitting drivers off the tee. For high-handicap golfers, a weak or improper grip can lead to inconsistent shots, including sliced or hooked drives. The proper grip for the driver involves holding the golf club in the fingers and not the palms, which helps to generate clubhead speed and control.
A strong grip can also help keep the clubface square at impact, which promotes a straighter ball flight. Practicing a proper grip and maintaining it consistently throughout the swing can help high-handicap golfers hit longer and straighter drives and improve their overall skills as they try golf driving tips.
Use the Right Driver
Having the right golf clubs and pitching wedge in your golf bag is critical for many golfers looking to improve their driving skills. A golf club with too little or too much loft can lead to a loss of distance and accuracy, while shorter clubs with an inappropriate shaft flex can make it difficult to generate enough clubhead speed as they try golf driving tips. High-handicap players should choose a driver that suits their swing speed and skill level.
A driver with a larger clubhead can also provide more forgiveness on off-center hits, helping to keep the ball on the fairway. By choosing properly during the club selection and getting custom-fitted if possible, new golfers can significantly improve their driving skills and consistency on the course or driving range.
Align Your Body Correctly
Proper alignment is critical for any beginner golfer to hit straight drives consistently. Poor alignment can lead to poor drives, missed fairways, and lost strokes, as it can cause the golf balls to veer off course.
To align correctly, the golfer should place their feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. A simple alignment check before each shot can ensure that the golfer is set up correctly, which can provide more confidence and consistency off the tee. By practicing proper alignment and making it a habit, high-handicap golfers can improve their driving skills and hit more fairways, leading to lower scores on the course or driving range.
Keep Your Head Still
Keeping your head still is essential for most golfers to improve their driving skills. A moving head during the swing can cause many golfers to lose balance, power, and accuracy. When a golfer moves their head, it can lead to a loss of focus, resulting in mis-hits and inconsistent drives.
By keeping the head still and maintaining a stable spine angle, the golfer can make a more efficient and consistent swing, leading to more accurate and longer drives. Practicing with a focus on keeping the head still throughout the swing can help new golfers improve their driving skills and build a more consistent golf swing.
Practice Your Swing Tempo
Practicing swing tempo is an essential aspect of improving driving skills for high-handicap golfers. A consistent swing tempo can lead to better timing and rhythm, resulting in more accurate and powerful drives.
High-handicap golfers often struggle with maintaining a consistent tempo throughout their swing, leading to mis-hits and inconsistent results. By practicing with a metronome or focusing on a specific swing tempo, golfers can develop muscle memory and consistency in their practice swings.
A smooth, rhythmic swing can also help to generate more clubhead speed and better ball contact, leading to longer and straighter drives. By dedicating time to in their practice session to hone their swing tempo, other golfers can improve their driving skills and take strokes off their game.
Use Your Lower Body
Another good tip for high handicappers is to use the lower body in the golf swing. The lower body provides power and stability during the swing and helps generate clubhead speed.
High-handicap golfers often struggle with using their lower body effectively, leading to weak and inconsistent drives. By initiating the downswing with the lower body and transferring weight to the front foot, the golfer can create a more powerful and efficient swing.
Focusing on using the lower body can also help with timing and rhythm, leading to better ball contact and more accurate drives. By incorporating lower body movement into their golf swing, high-handicap golfers can improve their driving skills and hit longer and straighter drives.
Stay Balanced
Losing balance during the swing can lead to inconsistent ball striking and poor shot results whenever you’re out trying simple golf tips. The golfer should maintain their balance by keeping their weight centered over their feet and avoiding any excessive lateral or forward movement during the swing.
Proper balance also helps to generate more clubhead speed and power, leading to longer drives. By practicing balance drills and focusing on staying centered during the swing, high-handicap golfers can improve their driving skills and hit more accurate and powerful drives. Additionally, improving balance can benefit their overall golf game by leading to better ball-striking and more consistent shots.
Use a Forward Ball Position
Placing the ball forward in the stance can help the golfer make a more upward strike when playing golf, resulting in a higher launch angle and more distance. It can also help promote a more positive angle of attack, which can improve ball speed and accuracy. High-handicap golfers who struggle with slicing or hitting the ball too low may also benefit from moving the ball forward in their solid stance.
However, it is essential to ensure that the ball position is not too far forward, as this can lead to inconsistency and mis-hits while trying golf tips. A good golf tip would be to experiment with different ball positions. Alongside finding the optimal position for their swing, thsi helps high-handicap golfers improve their driving skills and hit longer and more accurate drives.
Focus on a Good Shoulder Turn
A proper shoulder turn allows the golfer to create a more efficient and powerful swing, leading to longer and more accurate drives. High-handicap golfers often struggle with making a full shoulder turn, leading to poor ball-striking and weak shots. By focusing on rotating the shoulders fully on the backswing and downswing, the golfer can generate more clubhead speed and power, resulting in longer drives.
It also helps to maintain a stable spine angle throughout the swing, leading to better ball contact and accuracy. Practicing with a focus on a good shoulder turn can help high-handicap golfers improve their driving skills and build a more consistent golf swing.
Finish Your Swing
Finishing the swing correctly means following through with the swing until the clubhead is fully extended and pointing towards the target. It helps to maintain balance, generate more clubhead speed, and ensure proper ball contact.
High-handicap golfers often struggle with finishing their practice swings correctly, leading to inconsistent shots and weak ball-striking. By practicing a full finish, golfers can develop muscle memory and consistency in their golf swing, leading to better ball-striking and more accurate drives.
It also helps to promote a smooth, rhythmic swing and improve overall swing mechanics. By focusing on finishing their swings, high-handicap golfers can improve their driving skills and take their golf game to the next level.
Practice With Different Lies
Hitting off different lies, such as uphill, downhill, or sidehill lies, can help the golfer develop a better understanding of ball flight and adjust their swing accordingly. High-handicap golfers often struggle with hitting off challenging lies, leading to inconsistent shots and poor ball-striking. By practicing with different lies, the average golfer can improve their ability to hit the ball from any position on the course, leading to more accurate and powerful drives.
What’s more, practicing with different lies can help to build confidence and improve overall swing mechanics. By incorporating different lies into their practice routine, high-handicap golfers can take their driving skills to the next level and improve while playing golf.
Stay Relaxed
Tension in the muscles can hinder the golfer’s ability to make a smooth and consistent swing, leading to poor ball-striking and weak shots. High-handicap golfers often struggle with staying relaxed, leading to inconsistency and frustration while practicing golf driving tips. By focusing on staying relaxed throughout the swing, any left or right handed golfer can promote a smooth and rhythmic swing, leading to better ball contact and more accurate drives.
Furthermore, staying relaxed can help to improve overall swing mechanics and reduce the risk of injury. By incorporating relaxation techniques and other golf tips into their practice routine, such as deep breathing or visualization, high-handicap golfers can improve their driving skills and take their golf game to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should high handicap golfer use a driver?
Yes, high handicap golfers should use a driver as it is an essential club for playing the great game of golf and can help them improve their driving skills with practice and proper technique. However, it is crucial to choose the right driver that suits their swing and skill level.
What is considered a high handicap in golf?
In golf, a high handicap is generally considered to be a player with a handicap index of 18 or above. This means they are likely to shoot around 90 or more strokes per round on an average course.
How should a senior golfer hit driver?
A good golf tip would be to hit the driver using a smooth and controlled swing, focusing on generating clubhead speed with their body rather than relying on arm strength. It is also important to choose a driver with a higher loft angle to help get the ball airborne and maximize distance.
How do you hit a golf ball further as you get older?
To hit a golf ball further as you get older, focus on maintaining flexibility and improving your swing mechanics. This can include regular stretching, getting the best strength training aid, trying new golf tips, and working with a golf instructor to fine-tune your swing technique while playing golf.
Conclusion
Improving your golf driving skills and trying out great golf tips in your practice sessions can lead to a more enjoyable and satisfying experience on the golf course. By following the golf driving tips outlined above, a high handicap player can become a better golfer. With practice, focus, and the right techniques, anyone can take their driving skills to the next level and become a better golf player.
