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| David P.
McQuade |
Although you may use a
driver only 14 times during an 18-hole round, its
importance to your score cannot be taken for granted. A good
drive makes the rest of the hole easier and gives you the
confidence to execute the remaining shots. On the other
hand, a poor drive can make the hole seem impossible and add to
your score significantly.
The driver is made to sweep the ball off the tee, actually
making contact almost on the upswing. The ball should be
played forward in the stance, opposite the left heel to
achieve this sweeping motion. A good rule of thumb is to
have at least half of the ball above the club-head at
address. A ball that is teed too low will promote a steeper
swing into the ball, which is not the proper approach with
the driver.
Always tee the ball on the same side of the trouble. For
example, if you are playing a hole with out-of-bounds on the
right side, tee the ball up on the right side of the tee and
hit to the left side of the fairway. This will increase your
percentage of keeping the ball in play. Also, if you are
playing a hole with a tight driving area, take out a 3-wood
to keep the ball out of trouble. The higher loft of the
3-wood will make the ball curve less and control the shot
better.
Playing the percentages and planning your tee shots
will decrease your score and keep you out of the palmettos.
Next time you play, become a planner instead of a reckless
driver! |
