Distance is key:
As we all know, driving plays a crucial part of how we as golfers measure our game, and judging by the equipment manufacturers’ constant competitive upgrades, in today’s golf distance has become more important than ever.
I personally believe that equipment has reached its limit and we as golfers need to find ways of hitting it further off the tee without relying on technology.
Today’s top players seem to hit the golf ball phenomenal distances with apparently little effort. One of the secrets to achieving effortless distance is the angle at which a top player’s club approaches the golf ball ie an ascending angle of approach into the golf ball.
By hitting the ball on the way up, you are likely to produce a much better launch angle, with less backspin on the ball, both of which will improve your carry distance. It’s what the equipment guys refer to as a ‘penetrating’ ball flight.
Hit it on the way up
There are three simple steps to achieve an ascending angle of approach:
- Tee Height – Tee your golf ball up so that at least half the golf ball is visible above the top edge of the driver head
- Ball position – Position your golf ball just inside the heel of your front foot to ensure that you make contact after the lowest point of your downswing
- Spine tilt – Tilt your spine away from the target so that your spine runs parallel to your front leg
Tip by David Roodt
David Roodt is an A class PGA Professional and has been coaching since 2005. He teaches out of The Golf School of Excellence in Observatory, Johannesburg, and currently works with two Sunshine Tour players as well as being the Botswana national team coach.
