For more distance off the tee, its important to select a driver with enough loft to match your swing speed. (Michael Zito/Eclipse Sportswire)

Learn to drive the ball like the PGA Tour pros

By Les Miller,
Contributor

All golfers want to drive like the PGA Tour pros. But the driver has the longest shaft of any golf club and the lowest amount of loft, so it is by far the hardest club in the bag to hit consistently.

For improved driving, follow these tips:

1. Select a driver with enough loft to match your swing speed. Players with slower swing speeds should experiment with high launch drivers, such as 12 degrees or more of loft.

2. Tee the ball high and play the ball forward in your stance. The ball should be played off your front toe so you can catch the ball on the upswing.

3. Take a wide, slightly closed stance, at least an inch or two wider than shoulder width.

4. At the address position take an athletic stance, weight slightly forward on the toes, knees flexed with the arms and hands reaching out for the ball. (Take a few practice swings with the club head 6 to 8 inches off the ground. Feel like you are swinging the club around your body.)

5. Turn your back toe slightly in at address with 60 percent of your weight on your back foot. This will help keep your weight toward the inside of your right foot on the backswing, allowing you to fire off your back foot at impact.

6. At address hold the club head above the ground just before starting your backswing. Great drivers such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods do this to ensure a smooth, shallow takeaway.

Follow these driving tips, and you will hit the ball long and straight.

March 26, 2009

Les Miller was a longtime Golf Writers of America member who covered golf instruction for several newspapers and golf publications. His many years of experience as a golf professional, director of product development and tour relations for several major golf companies gave him a unique background and ability to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game.