Whether you are struggling with some of the simple faults that kill power in the golf swing, or you are looking to reset your fundamentals with some of the best golf tips, the end goal is the same... we all want to hit the ball further and maximise the efficiency of our swing.
In the video and article below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coaches Gary Munro and Katie Dawkins share their tips on how to improve your driver golf swing basics for more power and consistency...
Driver Golf Swing Basics – The Setup
Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Gary Munro demonstrating the correct driver address position
Extra distance demands the best ball speed. we can create this via clubhead speed and a centred strike, plus an optimal driver launch angle and spin. A big power leak is stance width – many players get too narrow, which reduces range of motion and stability.
The fix is a wide stable base with feet outside our shoulder line, which gives more natural tilt to help with launch angle and reducing spin with your driver, plus more stability so you can maintain a centred strike while creating extra speed via a more dynamic backswing turn.
The Takeaway
Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Gary Munro demonstrates a wide, stable backswing with the driver
Another big power leak comes from trying to move the clubhead back too fast in the takeaway, using the hands and arms but without turning the body. This causes the club to be taken back too narrow and inside getting you out of sync and promoting timing issues. The strike location then changes and you lose distance.
We want the takeaway to have a wider arc to it. We’re trying to turn the chest in the takeaway and get the clubhead as far away from it as possible at around the 9 o’clock position. It can be a smooth takeaway as long as it is maintained very wide and away from the body. This creates more power, a better angle of attack and makes it much easier to get that centred strike.
Shoulder Turn
Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Gary Munro showing how to use a club to practice your shoulder turn in the backswing
The final piece is to get the shoulder turn spot on. Look to turn the left shoulder as far behind the ball as you can. It should feel like it’s over the right foot but don’t sway your weight over to that right foot – the lower body still stays stable.
Placing an alignment stick down as a reference point will help. If you can combine this with the other two elements, you’ll generate a lot more power, your angle of attack will be better and your strike will improve, bringing you more ball speed and maximum distance.
Driver Address Drill
Many golfers set up with driver in hand just like they would their irons, standing with their spine angle straight up and over the ball. It's also not uncommon for amateurs to appear very rigid and tense in that set-up position, as if they are petrified at what's about to happen.
The teeing area on most courses has a gentle upslope from the path to the grass on top. Use this space to help you get the feeling you need when addressing the ball with your driver.
Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Katie Dawkins shows us how to get rid of tension by letting your trail hand and arm hang naturally before placing it back on the club
Set yourself up on this incline so you are heading uphill and address a whisp of grass, ensuring it's opposite the inside of your front heel in the position you should have the ball.
Now allow gravity to flow over you and do its thing as you settle yourself onto and become at one with the hill. The weight should gently settle onto your back foot and your shoulders end up almost perpendicular to that slope.
Ease tension out further by letting go of the club with your bottom hand and letting that arm hang before swinging it back onto the club. Tension is not welcome here so to keep shaking it out of your system is a wise move.
Collect The Ball
When you stride onto the tee and address your ball you want to recreate that feeling and once again settle behind the ball. You can rehearse this at home and notice, if you’re doing this in front of a mirror at home, the zip or buttons on your top lean gently behind the ball rather than being totally vertical.
Letting go with your trail hand and letting that arm hang down will not only help keep tension away but also help you achieve the correct distance from the ball at address. Your hand should swing and brush the part of the handle you should be holding, giving an indication of perfect positioning.
Rory McIlroy collecting the ball through impact with his driver
From this new and improved address position you can really collect that ball on the way through to a photo finish. Because launch angle and power are linked, you should notice a much-improved flight with the ball soaring through the air for longer.
Above all else it should feel effortless and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a dose of effortless power.
