John Cook continues his “whole in one” series on improving your golf with these great insights about driving the ball in golf. There’s always something that golfers think they need. A new putter, new driver, etc., but there’s only one thing that all golfers want and that’s to play the game better.
John Cook is Managing Director of finiteapps.com
“If you think it`s hard meeting new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball.” Jack Lemon
John Cook
Consistent driving
There’s a saying that you drive for show and putt for dough, well, if you drive the ball into the lake or the trees you won’t be putting for much dough! We seem to have a mental thing about hitting the ball harder with our driver than we do with any other club. A wild slash at the ball and so on.
The best tip I heard, relating to consistency with the driver, is to make the best and most balanced swing you have ever made. Keeping this thought in mind will encourage you to swing with more rhythm, it will also stop any kind of a slash at the ball. Try it this weekend, it will work.
More width in the swing
Driving further
As a golf coach, the most common question I am asked is “how do I hit the ball further with my driver?” Well it’s not by having a wild slash at the ball, that’s for sure. There are a few ingredients which you can add one at a time, then see the increased distance you hit the ball with your driver. Here are some tips to help you driving the ball in golf:
You cannot possibly think of all these things in one swing, so perfect one move at a time, and hit the ball further.
Captions: left to right
90° Shoulder turn, Create leverage, Achieve more distance
A first tee tip
Put an identifying mark on your golf ball!
Even though they use a ball with a different number to their opponent you may have seen the tour professionals mark their ball with a permanent marker pen. Some put dots above or below the number, some will put their initials, others draw a smiley face etc. You may wonder why and there is a very good reason.
If, when reaching your ball, you were to find another ball of the same make and number lying nearby, one that had been hit by another player, not in your match, both balls would be deemed lost unless you were unable to identify your ball. That would mean a two stroke penalty!
The same could happen if your ball ended up in the rough, near a similar ball that had been lost earlier, making it impossible to identify.
and there’s more!
You can read more of John’s excellent golf tips in our 2018 July/August 2018 and September/October issues at www.thelocalbuzzmag.com/read-online, or in the sports articles sections on our website.
Also read our ‘Take a Shot’ feature in the Summer 2022 issue of The Local Buzz Magazine.
First published in the July/August 2020 issue of The Local Buzz
Images: John Cook