Players love to be constant when engaging in a game of golf. This ensures that the game is fun and enables them to enjoy this amazing sport. However, it can be frustrating if you don't know how to add distance to driver.
Despite this game being fun with an incredible boost to your physical and mental wellness, all golfers want to obtain as much driver distance as they can when playing. Unfortunately, many amateur golfers think that whacking the ball as hard as possible is the answer to attaining a maximum driver distance, but this is not the case.
You might be surprised that you only need to improve extra yards in your drive. This establishes a distinction between taking a two-stroke drop and clearing a water hazard or having a 7-iron second shot rather than a 5-iron to increase driver distance.
Putting in a little extra distance off the tee can be a great accomplishment. This article comprises extensive research on the drive's distance, so keep reading if you want to know more!
What is Driver Distance in Golf?
When we talk using golf language, a drive is also referred to as a tee shot. It is a shot played at a maximum distance from the tee box. In addition, it aims at striding the golf ball a substantial distance down the fairway towards the green.
In a more technical phrase, golfers want to accomplish the highest ball speed (more distance) and the desired accuracy (flight pattern). Many variables come to play when determining the answer to the question of how much distance a golfer should cover.
These factors include the types of clubhead being used and the ball being used. Additionally, the condition under which a golfer plays, for example, dry or humid, calm or windy, soft fairway or hard fairway, affects the driving distance.
Which Elements of Your Golf Spring Affect the Driver Distance?
Every golf lover wants to increase the speed of their ball and the same time, hit the ball further and straight off the tee. However, multiple factors can affect your driver's distance. We will discuss some of the factors below. They include;
1. Ball Height
Among tons of golf players, the ball flight depends on the height at which they tee their balls. Whether the ball is teed too low or too high, the players will qualify to attain a prime trajectory and distance in their tee shots.
If you want to attain an appropriate ball height, you should tee the golf ball such that the bottom is in a level position with the clubface on top of your driver. It doesn't matter the kind of club you are using to make your tee shot.
Height of the ball
The height of the ball is the best in boosting your odds of squarely whacking the ball using the clubface center instead of whacking the ball using the bottom or top of it.
The height also guarantees you deliver the best course for the shot since you will be making contact while you swing your club in an upward strike.
Too high/ Too low
When you tee a golf ball too high, you may hit the half lower of your ball using your clubhead. The result will be a drastic swing spin at the back of a high ball, which will result in a short driving distance.
Teeing your golf ball too low might boost the odds of making contact with the upper half of the ball during a golf swing.
Hitting the upper half of the golf ball may steer the ball right into the ground or result in a drastic swing spin at the top, reducing the driving distance.
Clubs
Both professional and recreational golfers tee their balls in different ball positions. This mostly depends on the type of golf club they are using.
It is advisable to tee your ball the highest when using a driver. The lowest tee can be used when using an iron. Always position the lower part of your ball to tee off on a hybrid or a fairway. This applies to even when you are using the top of your clubface.
Tees
When you rely on the sizes of the drivers to use, you should note that not all tees are fitted for a golf swing.
An oversized driver with a massive clubface will oblige you to use extra-long tees to guarantee the ball is positioned as high as possible. Shorter tees are perfect when using a hybrid club, a fairway wood, or an iron in the tee box.
2. Wide Stance
You can attain the ultimate golf swing during a golf game by confirming that you have a perfect golf stance. Make sure you have a strong grip and correct posture. The feet should be in the right place too.
Be confident and constant with the type of stance you choose and this will guarantee you get your ball in the air without struggling. You will also get enough time to launch with each swing.
A wide stance in the golf game is attained when an individual's feet are considered apart, like shoulders width apart or when they are set outside of the shoulders. This position will guarantee stability and flexibility; therefore, you can whack the ball straight and at a full distance.
Nonetheless, golfing has never been a simple game and the width of your stance is more likely to change with the type of club. For example, hitting a golf ball with a driver will require a wide stance compared to using a wedge to hit the golf ball.
How does a wide stance affect the game of golf?
The golf stance affects the clubhead speed, swing speed, and balance. In turn, this can either make or break your love for the game. Not to mention that you will have a hard time if your feet are not secure and comfortable.
A wider stance guarantees that players have a wider arc to develop extra clubhead speed. This is why golf PGA tour players, like Bryson Dechambeau, confirm that they have their feet wide apart when teeing up to hit a massive drive.
If you are looking for power in the game of golf, you should go for a wide stance. It will help in the production of speed and power, which is a good thing in hitting the driver farther from the tee box.
A wide stance while playing golf ensures that the player has stability. With a wide base, the bottom part of a player's body is firmly planted into the ground.
Also, a stable base guarantees that the body is fully supported. This helps you pick up the swing speed needed to take the ball at a lengthier distance.
Furthermore, a wide stance gives golfers wide turns, which boosts the clubhead speed when playing the game. Players with fast wrists and hips can improve their swinging speed by slowing down their tempo.
Golfers try to stand at different width stances to find that line between a limited rotation and stability to ensure they have the overall power of the game. Some even go beyond and sacrifice some power to gain consistency.
A wider stance is also helpful in reducing the player's legs by making sure that they are not all over the place while trying to gain swing speed. This might result in inconsistency with the contact of the ball.
3. Ball Position
The position of a ball affects the direction in which the ball travels. Therefore, when you move the ball position either forward or backward, it might result in significant changes in the direction and flight of the ball.
Ball position is the location of your ball between your feet. This position can change according to your swing and it allows contact at the right angle of the ball and with the correct face of the angle.
Ball position can also affect the arc at which the player swings. But it will depend on how the club makes contact with the ball.
Neutral Stance
When you are in a neutral stance, the ball should be in the middle of your legs. The club of your choice and the ball are supposed to be in a single lane with the polo golf shirt buttons if you are wearing one.
This position ensures that the arc of the club swing is centered. The player, in turn, gains the most control over the ball's direction and if the ball is hit at the right angle, it will move in a straight trajectory.
Forward Stance
A forward stance where the ball is near the inside of the player's left leg will help the player strike the ball later in the swing arc. Players usually use the left shoulder and if they hit the ball right, it can increase the driving distance.
Rearward Stance
The rearward stance positions the ball near the inside of the right leg. This stance helps the player strike the ball earlier in the swing arc and as a result, the ball can only travel at a shorter distance.
In addition to the above, refusing to change the position of your ball will result in struggles to hit some shots since the golf clubs are not all the same.
For example, drivers, the longest club will require you to use the forward stance for more distance coverage. On the other hand, irons will require a backward stance since they are becoming smaller in a progressive manner.
Wedges will require a neutral position because they are shorter than irons. This will ensure you cover quite a distance to get to the green without overshooting the ball. Putters being the shortest clubs, will require a rearward position.
4. Spine Angle
You can enhance your ball speed without influencing your accuracy with a positive angle of attack while playing golf. Also, it is possible to hit the ball at a far distance without boosting the speed of your clubhead.
The spine angle is the angle your body(spine) creates with the ground. Each attack angle is important in generating a balanced, athletic position to improve driver distance and attain higher ball flight.
We have done hours of reading on how to sustain a positive attack angle while playing golf and even after trying different drills, it can still be difficult to grasp decent movement when swinging a golf club.
However, understanding the right techniques and practicing them regularly while retaining a positive angle of attack is crucial in giving your chest a still position in which you can rotate around.
Rotating your spine at a downswing and a backswing is crucial in assisting your body to remain in posture and prohibits you from extending early and standing up. Therefore, you can hit the ball using the center of the clubface more frequently.
Failure to retain a spine angle of attack when swinging the ball while standing out of your posture can result in: The player being too inside the path of the club and hips, the chest does not open enough during the impact, ball strikes become inconsistent, i.e., thin or fat shots, casting of the club and flipping of hands at the ball.
To achieve a great striking of the ball, retain your angle of attack to backswing and downswing movements. You can get this by focusing on the movement of your chest while making a golf swing.
When doing a backswing or a downswing, ensure you feel as if your chest has covered the ball and should remain pointed to the ground at impact.
A proper spine swing will also safeguard you from injuries and back pains. In addition, placing your spine in the correct position will support your muscles so you can turn efficiently and with stability.
In addition, your back is supported and safeguarded by the production of massive centrifugal forces through impact. As a result, you also stay balanced and centered throughout the swing. Therefore, a proper angle of the spine is crucial in gaining balance when swinging, but it also provides a reliable axis to rotate in and a firm foundation.