9 min
Long Drive Keys for Distance
3 min
Analytics are changing how serious golfers approach the game. You can't argue with numbers and one of the more revealing discoveries that has come out of Mark Brodie's "Strokes Gained" research is that distance off the tee is much more important than experts previously believed. Many tour players today are taking a cue from the bombers who compete on the World Long Drive circuit, gaining extra distance off the tee that translates into lower scores and better chances for winning.
In this video, Titleist staff member Mark Blackburn shows how you can benefit, too. Just apply these keys to your driver game and see how a little added distance will improve your scores.
1. The best recipe for long drives is a high launch angle off the tee with low spin. To achieve this, first move your ball position forward, roughly opposite your left toe.
2. Next, you need a positive angle of attack into the ball. To do this, tilt your spine away from the target, with your trail shoulder angled lower than your lead shoulder.
3. As you tilt your shoulders, feel that you're loading powerfully into your trail leg. As Mark says, you need to LOAD in the backswing so you can EXPLODE in the downswing.
4. The bigger the swing you make, the more potential you have to create speed. The first thing you can do to make a longer swing is to let your lead heel come off the ground during your backswing.
5. Another swing-lengthener you can try is to let your lead elbow bend a bit. This will extend the swing arc.
6. Lastly, SWING HARD! There's no sense in setting up for power unless you're going to go after it, so give it a rip!
It takes a little practice, but you'll find that there is optimal blend between this more powerful swing and an acceptable degree of accuracy. Find your own happy medium and reap the rewards of having another gear on your driver when you need it.
In this video, Titleist staff member Mark Blackburn shows how you can benefit, too. Just apply these keys to your driver game and see how a little added distance will improve your scores.
1. The best recipe for long drives is a high launch angle off the tee with low spin. To achieve this, first move your ball position forward, roughly opposite your left toe.
2. Next, you need a positive angle of attack into the ball. To do this, tilt your spine away from the target, with your trail shoulder angled lower than your lead shoulder.
3. As you tilt your shoulders, feel that you're loading powerfully into your trail leg. As Mark says, you need to LOAD in the backswing so you can EXPLODE in the downswing.
4. The bigger the swing you make, the more potential you have to create speed. The first thing you can do to make a longer swing is to let your lead heel come off the ground during your backswing.
5. Another swing-lengthener you can try is to let your lead elbow bend a bit. This will extend the swing arc.
6. Lastly, SWING HARD! There's no sense in setting up for power unless you're going to go after it, so give it a rip!
It takes a little practice, but you'll find that there is optimal blend between this more powerful swing and an acceptable degree of accuracy. Find your own happy medium and reap the rewards of having another gear on your driver when you need it.
