Let’s talk about one of every golfer’s favorite topics, the driver! Is there anyone out there who wouldn’t like to add 20 yards to their Big Dog? Of course not! Well let’s discuss a few things that could help lead every golfer male or female to the promised land of longer drives. Let’s also dispel a few myths at the same time.

First a few of the myths. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN! I hate hearing that. In my 30 plus year teaching career I have NEVER once asked a student to keep his or her head down. Still yes, centered yes, down NEVER! I think that often,
if not always, when the average player attempts to keep their head down, what they in fact do is retard the weight transfer dramatically! Go to your computer right now and YouTube the great Annika Sorenstam who drove her golf ball a wonderful distance for her stature (and straight!) and tell me what her heads does through the impact zone?!

The other myth I want to have a word about is shaft length. Manufacturers have been trying to sell all of you longer shafts for some time now. It’s not unusual to have a mid-handicap female show up on my lesson tee with a 45″ driver! FYI my driver is 44”. Here is the point. We have discovered through our experiences teaching golf and fitting clubs that perhaps the single biggest influence in increased distance is center face contact. Yes center face contact, not shaft length. Understand that as the shaft gets longer the opportunity
for center face contact decreases!
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​This is not to say that a qualified fitter wouldn’t be trying to get the longest shaft possible in your hands without sacrificing center face contact. It’s telling to me when so many of my recreational students show up on my lesson tee with longer driver shafts then the tour players I have worked with! Makes no sense to me!
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​Now let’s cover a few things to focus on to find you some yardage. First and foremost, let’s make sure, as we mentioned above, the driver you are swinging is giving you the best possible chance to be successful. Let’s make sure shaft length, shaft flex, shaft weight, swing weight, overall weight, loft, and grip size have all been looked at by a qualified fitter.
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​Second – are you flexible? In fact are you golf flexible? If you know in your heart the answer is no and to date you haven’t addressed the issue you will be amazed at what just a 20% increase will do for your distance. Now if you really jump in and get crazy involved and increase your range of motion 30 or 40% then you’ll be amazed at what occurs on course! FYI I have only seen a few folks in my career really go to the wall. It’s hard work. That said the rewards are huge! Check out mytpi.com, it’s a wonderful place to start your journey.
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​Next examine the following things in your golf swing, grip pressure and arm tension levels. Remember the old school phrase swing easy, hit hard! The golf swing is just that a swing NOT a hit! I remember the great Jack Nicklaus once make a comment at a clinic he did, he said that when he wanted to really bust one, he always lightened his grip pressure and relaxed his arms! Makes sense right. Less tension, bigger turn free arms, BOOM!
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​Let’s have all of you set out to attack the above mentioned areas and suggestions. Let me know how it all works out for you. I’m positive if you follow the above plan exactly with patience you love the added yardage.
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​LET THE BIG DOG EAT!!
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