Driving a golf ball straight

Mechanically speaking, hitting a straight drive is quite simple. There are only three things that effect the direction of a golf drive:
1. Aim
2. Club path to the ball
3. The position of the Club Head at impact with the golf ball.

Sounds easy enough. But in reality, getting these three correct each and every time is impossible. But improving your mechanics will increase your chances of hitting your shots accurately more often.

Aim is the easiest to fix. Many golfers think that they are aiming directly at the target when they are really pointing somewhere else. Maybe you have been behind a golfer and noticed that they were aimed too far left or right. Maybe you are doing the same thing. If you can, have someone watch your swing from behind. If not, use your driver to help you. There are two things to look for. One, is the position of your feet. Address the ball as though you are going to tee off, then place the driver on the ground at the tips of your feet. Next step away from the club and see where it is pointing. It should be pointing just a bit to the left of the target if you are right handed.

Address the ball again and this time place the driver against your shoulders. Look down the shaft without moving the club. You may be surprised to see that it is not pointing a bit to the left of the target. Fixing these two elements may help you with your accuracy.

If you are a slicer or a hooker, you have a problem with Club Path to the ball, the position of the Club Head at impact with the golf ball or both. So let's find out what is your problem. Place a club on the ground next to the tee and remove the golf ball. In this example we will assume you are using a 7 iron. Point the 7 iron at the target. Now swing the driver slowly in the same manner as you usually swing. Notice if the club head comes down on the same side of the 7 iron as you are on(or inside the 7 iron). The driver should then travel along the 7 iron as it passes over the tee and then slope off to the left of the 7 iron (for right handers) as it comes back over your shoulder to the finish.

If your driver comes down from the other side of the 7 iron, across the ball and then to the left then you have an outside-in swing. This will cause the ball to travel to the left of the target initially. Conversely, if your driver comes down inside the 7 iron and crosses the tee to the other side of the 7 iron for a moment, then you have an inside-out swing. Which will cause the ball to initially go to the right of the target.

The Position of the Driver Head at impact with the golf ball is another factor.

Address the ball and place the Driver Head flat on the ground behind the tee. Imagine a large"+" sign setting on top of the tee. Imagine that one end of the "+" has an arrow on it pointing at your target. The club head should be square with the other line of the "+" that is not pointing at the target. Now move your hands toward the target slowly and see how the club head begins to open. If your Driver contacts the ball in this manner then the golf ball will have a spin on it which will cause the ball to slice to the right. Next move your hands slowly to the right and see how the club head closes to the ball. If contact with the ball occurs in this way then the ball will have a spin on it which will case the golf ball to hook to the left.

Double Trouble

Now, the worst of all these events is when you combine two of these problems. For example, if you have an outside-in swing and an open club head then you will have a large slice. Conversely, if you have an inside-out swing and a closed club head then you will have a serious hook.

Realistically, this is a much bigger problem to fix than can be addressed in this article. But here are the basics of a solution that may be enough for you to figure it out on your own.

Do you have a baseball swing? Many golfers try to play golf with the wrong swing. In baseball a person steps toward the pitcher, throws his hips wide open, turns his shoulders wide open and finally rolls his wrists over after the bat has passed home plate which usually causes the ball to go to left field. All of these events are detrimental to your golf swing. If you were hitting baseballs on the golf course you would have to hit the ball straight over the pitchers mound every time. But with the movements mentioned above that would be very hard to do because most baseball swings are inherently for pulling the ball.

Weight Shift

First, in golf you must shift your weight from your right foot, on the back swing, to your left foot. Practice raising your left foot a few inches off the ground on the back swing and on the down swing raise your right foot a few inches off the ground. If you struggle with this then you keep too much weight on your right foot when you swing. The result many times is that your shoulders will swing wide open causing your wrists to roll over way after you strike the golf ball. You must shift your weight to your left side as you swing through the ball.

Sliding the Hips before rotating them.

Next, In golf your hips need to slide forward as you begin your down swing instead of opening up from the start. As you begin the down swing, your weight needs to quickly shift to your left foot by keeping your hips closed a bit and sliding them down the path to the target. This is called an inverted "C". Instead of spinning your hips open as you stand straight, slide your hips toward the target which causes an arch along your right side from your shoulders to your right foot. Notice that at the time of contact with the ball your belly button points more toward the right of your target than directly at the target.

Correct Shoulder Turn

Third, your shoulder position is very important. If you get your weight to your left foot and slide your hips, your shoulders should conversely be more parallel to the path to the target than before. If you are a slicer your shoulders are most likely pointing well to the left of the target when you contact the golf ball. This causes the driver head to cut across the ball placing a spin on the golf ball resulting in a slice.

As you begin your down swing, your right shoulder should drop down instead of staying parallel to your left. In the baseball swing the shoulders stay horizontal to the ground through the swing. But in golf the right shoulder must dip below the left. This helps keep your shoulders parallel to the path to the target longer.

Maybe you know all this and your problem is not a slice but a hook. In many cases this is caused by over performing the above motions. If you keep your hips closed too long or keep your right shoulder too far inside, the result will be an inside-out swing. This will cause a hook or a straight push to the right.

You can do all the above to perfection but if you don't get the club head square a impact then you will put a spin on the golf ball that will cause it to go right or left. Now this isn't always bad. If you learn to control this you can use it to your advantage. A fade or draw at the right time can really help a golfer. But the key phrase is "learn to control this".

Keep Your Wrists Cocked

As you begin your down swing, pull the butt of the driver straight down and keep your right elbow close to your ribs. As you pull down on the driver keep your wrists cocked and the driver head lagging behind. Then as the club head approaches the ball roll your wrists over and square the driver head at impact. If you start rolling your wrists at the top the head will be thrown out across the path to the target and will result in an outside-in swing. And your wrists usually roll over after you make contact with the golf ball. And this will cause you to cut across the ball resulting in a slice.

Try the Thumbs Up Test

Another way to look at it is to place your palms together (without the club) and point your thumbs up. Now move your hands in a back swing motion. At the top of the swing, the top of your left hand should be toward the sky and your thumbs pointing behind you. As you start down, keep your right elbow in which will help to keep your right hand directly under the other. As your hands approach the ball they should suddenly roll over. At the point of contact, your thumbs should be pointing straight up again. If they are pointing to the right or left then you will put side spin on the ball.

Golf is a game of precise timing. One time you will perform these movements correctly and the next something will change. The latter case results in a misdirected shot. So practice your timing a lot. Also, do not over swing. Leave that to the pros who have their swing honed to perfection. If you over swing your chances of messing up your timing is greatly increased. Practice a consistent rhythm. One tip is to have a phrase you say in you head as you swing. Maybe on the back swing "a-one" and on the down swing " a-two". Something that will help you control your tempo. Keep in mind that it's better 200 yards in the fairway than 300 yards in the woods.

This has just been a brief study of some issues that may help you. But there is more and affordable help available to you. Bobby Eldridge, a Professional Golf instructor of thirty five years has compiled an e-book, also available on DVD, that covers 7 specific simple steps that will change your game guaranteed! Be sure and watch this short video discribing it. Click on this link Click Here!