TOES FIRST: LINE UP THE DRIVER FAVORING THE TOE
Coach Trevor Broesamle, Santa Barbara, CA
REASON SECRET IS REVEALED:
If you ground your driver when lining it up, chances are you are promoting heel contact, robbing you of distance and accuracy.
CHANGE RECOMMENDED:
There is a natural raising of the hands and arms in the swing due to the powerful centrifugal forces created by the rotation of the body. We expect and allow for this to happen with a driver, but if we have not addressed the ball correctly, it could promote an off-center hit. Try one of the following solutions, depending on which is more comfortable.
Set-up with the driver grounded behind the teed up ball so it appears as if the ball is closer to the toe of the club, using the top line as a reference. Test the resulting impact position by slightly raising your hands and arms in the natural up-and-out arc that will occur in the swing. The ball should line up with the sweet spot of the driver.
Alternative set-up: Hover the club, matching the sweet spot with the center of the ball. The added bonus of this set-up is that it engages the hands and arms just enough to maintain a consistent grip pressure as you start the club back.
OTHER FACTORS:
When you are first trying this out, get a playing partner to stand behind you in line with the club head to confirm that you are in fact lining the ball up to the sweet spot. Remember, your eyes are roughly 5 feet from the ball at this point with a driver, making it a true test of hand-eye coordination.
RESULTS TO ANTICIPATE:
Hitting even a 1/4 inch off the sweet spot with the driver can rob you of nearly 10% of your distance. Ensure that you're getting everything out of the most powerful club in your bag by setting up to promote center contact.
