Driving the Ball in Golf - The Local Buzz

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

English Amateur Champion
European Tour winner
Level 5 and European Tour Coach
Past under 18 England Boys Coach
National Coach to Thailand.

“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:

Stand with your feet apart at the width of your shoulders.
Stand tall, this will help you to create width in your swing.
Make a complete 90 degree shoulder turn during your backswing. This is when your left shoulder points at the ball.
At the top of your backswing, the knuckle on the thumb of your right hand should be well away from your right shoulder. This will create a wide arc.
Start the downswing with an uncoiling motion from the left hip. This will lead to the club being pulled down and creating leverage, a must for long drives.
Don’t be frightened to release the club head through impact with the ball, also a must for creating more distance with your driver.
Turn right through, onto your left foot, your belt buckle should now be facing the target.
Hold onto a balanced follow through.
Maintain your height throughout the swing.

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