Hit Your Driver Straight: A Checklist

Recreational golfers shoot good scores by getting the ball in the fairway off the tee. By going through the following checklist before you swing, you will increase your chances of hitting good shots with the hardest club to hit well.

Straighter shots begin before you even start your swing. Most golfers set up aimed to the right of their target. The subconscious mind knows this and tries to make mid-course corrections during the swing. The result is a shot that could go right, could go left, and goes straight only now and then.

Practice your aim by laying two clubs down at the range, one just outside the ball, and another just outside your heels, pointed at the target. Every time you hit a range ball, hit it from inside this aim box. It will teach you what good aim looks like so you can line yourself up in the course when you can't use aids.

Ball position counts, too. With your driver, you want hit the ball slightly on the upswing. Lay a third club in your aim box at right angles to the other two, with that shaft pointing right at the ball. Take your stance with the shaft grazing the inside of your left heel. Hit drives, starting with that ball position, and adjust your stance so the shaft gradually moves toward the center, until you find the place where you get the best results.

While every golfer's swing is different, the following five traits can be easily built into anyone's swing. They help keep the club under control so you can return it to the ball square and on line.

1. Take the club back straight. It's hard to take the club back outside, but easy to take it back inside. That's because what we think is straight, for our point of view while swinging, is really inside. Have a friend stand behind you and give you feedback to get this right.

2. Start your downswing by turning your body. Let the hands and wrists go along for the ride until the momentum of the downswing unfolds the wrists into the ball. Casting, or starting the downswing with the hands, is a common cause of mis-hit golf shots.

3. Keep your head steady through impact. If it's moving, so is the center of your swing, and clean contact is hard to achieve.

4. Your right wrist should still be bent backwards a little when you hit the ball. It might take a bit of practice to learn how to do, but it avoids the problem of hitting the ball with the right wrist bent forward, which is frequent source of mishits.

5. Finally, there's tempo. There is no rush to hit the ball. Take your time swinging the club back and take your time starting it down. The only time clubhead speed counts is when the club meets the ball. If you keep your tempo under control, you'll build up all the speed you need at the right moment.

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