If you enjoy playing golf on a regular basis, you know that one of the biggest problems you need to avoid is playing a short golf drive at the wrong time.
In most cases, people will use a driver instead of a standard golf club, primarily to get as much distance as possible. Unfortunately, by making certain errors in your golf stroke, or even in your posture, you could end up with short drives that can increase your overall score.
If you would like to get par on every hole, you need to hit your drives cleanly off the tee and as far as possible.
Here are a few tips that you can use to avoid hitting your drives into water hazards and bunkers designed to catch out those playing short.
Why Is Achieving A Quality Drive So Difficult?
There are many factors involved with hitting a golf ball short. First of all, there are weight distribution errors. In most cases, a golfer will position himself in front of the tee, placing too much weight on the front foot. This will result in stabbing at the ball, which almost always leads to a very low trajectory.
In our post about topping the ball with the driver, it explains about ensuring not to strike the ball above the ball’s equator. To do so will more often than not see the ball trundle just a short distance in front of you.
Additionally, the tee placement is often too low, or their backswing goes short, causing them to hit the ball wrong and with not enough power. Sometimes getting back to the basics that you learned when learning to play golf can do wonders for the swing
How To Resolve These Issues
First of all, your stance needs to be balanced. An even amount of weight needs to be on each foot. Your feet should never be more than slightly wider than the width of your shoulders. When you place the tee, make sure that it is inside the left instep, usually about 3 inches.
Finally, make sure you have a full stroke, fully extending the golf club behind you to get proper rotation. Although this will take practice, especially if you have been teeing off wrong for many years, this can help you avoid a short golf drive from the tee box.
Why Your Mindset Is Important
Golf is a game that is not just physical. Your success is also dependent upon your mindset, specifically your attitude and what you visualize. Many golfers hit short because, perhaps the day before, they were consistently hitting short which has set a pattern.
Instead, once you are in proper position, the only thing you need to keep in mind is the place where you want the ball to land.
Your positioning, and practicing your stroke every day, is what will get the ball to that location.
Other Tips On Avoiding Hitting Your Golf Drives Short
There are a few other tips that you can use to avoid hitting short which will apply to not only drivers but also irons. You need to be aware of your body, making sure you do not let your body turn. This is why many people often slice the ball, as well as hit it short.
You also need to avoid opening your shoulders to wide, as well as putting the ball too far forward on the tee. Make sure that your right shoulder is always passive when you release your swing. This will drive that ball exactly where you want, far down the fairway.
By using these tips on how to avoid hitting short golf drives, you can improve your game with a little practice. Remember to always set up properly to achieve maximum range with your swing. Following through with the shot will send the ball further down the fairway.
Proper positioning of the tee is also important and you need to make sure that your right shoulder stays back. With a little practice, you can avoid the common problem that both amateur and even professional golfers have from time to time, which is hitting their drives short from the tee box.