Golf How to Use a Driver

The driver, which is designated as 1-wood, is one of the standard clubs used in golf but it has several distinctions. Because of its design - it has the largest club head, the longest shaft and the least amount of loft except for certain types of putters in the last two cases –the 1-wood can hit the ball the farthest than any other club. As such, its most common uses are in tee shorts on par-4 and par-5 with the ball teed up.

Proper Stance

Every successful shot starts with the combination of fundamentally sound grip, alignment and stance. For the 1-wood, the following tips apply.

• Feet

Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart while your body weight is evenly distributed on each foot. Your body should be aligned so that the ball will be played off your left foot’s heel for right-handers or your right foot’s heel for left handers.

• Alignment

Align your feet and shoulders so that you are “square” to the target – or these body parts are parallel to the target line. Place a golf club on the ground along where your toes are, leave the club, and then walk behind the ball so that you can check your alignment.

• Grip

Professional golfers hold the driver with a relaxed yet firm grip; think of holding a small bird in your hands that will fly away with a too-relaxed grip yet will be strangled with a too-tight grip. Also, a relaxed grip will make turning the club easier while a tight grip can result in lesser distance and accuracy of the shot.

• Draw

In golf, the golfer can be playing a hole doglegging to the left so a draw is necessary for a successful shot. Stand with your feet slightly wider than your normal stance and play the ball slightly back in your stance; your body should be aligned as if you will be hitting slightly to the right of the target before swinging along your body line.

• Fade

If the hole doglegs to the right, a fade may be necessary. Stand on your normal stance but you must aim slightly to the left of the target. Aim your driver directly at the target and then make your normal swing.

As with most things in golf, the abovementioned tips on proper stance can be modified depending on the strength, stature and style of the player. The fundamentals, however, must remain the same.

Proper Swing

Let’s then discuss the elements of the swing using a 1-wood club.

• Takeaway

The common phrase used in using the 1-wood is “low and slow” for good reasons. Take the club back slowly so that when it is halfway through the backswing, its tow should be pointing almost straight into the air; you should also be transferring your weight from your front foot to your back foot. The movement will generate power necessary to increase the ball’s distance.

• Transition

Continue the backswing – the club should be almost parallel to the ground – and then let the club change direction in an easy manner. Tip: Avoid forcing the club downward at the top of its backswing since your tempo will be off and your shot will be off-target.

• Follow-Through

As the 1-wood is moving downward, your body weight should be transferred from the back foot to the front side. The club should then make contact with the ball at the swing’s bottom end while the shot is finished with a high follow-through.

Indeed, let the proper stance and swing when using a 1-wood be one of your secret weapons in playing better games of golf!