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18 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2022 | Did you know that you could hit the ball farther without increasing your club head speed? If you are like the majority of golfers that hit down on the ball with their driver (downward or negative attack angle) then you are giving up distance. To hit the ball farther you need the right launch conditions. That is: high launch and low spin. That maximizes your carry and roll out. Here are three tips to help you achieve an upward attack angle with your driver and gain extra yards. Tip #1 - Spine Tilt at Address In order to launch the ball high, you have to hit up on it so place the ball position forward in your stance, inside your left heel. Then place 60% of your weight on your right side. That will give your body a bit of tilt, by that I mean your spine will be leaning slightly right as you stand over the ball which will help you with that upward strike. This is important because you don't want to have to try to hit up on the ball by leaning back through impact, hitting slices, and making poor contacts. This address position pre-sets your impact so you can make a normal swing and get the optimum flight. Tip #2 – Tee Height The ideal tee height for a driver should be high enough so that you strike the ball above the center of the club face. That will give you high launch and low spin which, as I have mentioned, are the ideal launch characteristics with a driver. Tip #3 - Using Your Weight You do not want to be moving off the ball as you swing back. So, if you have set your weight at 60 percent on your back foot at address, you don't want to be adding to that on the way back. Then as you make your transition, you move into your left side. By the time you hit the golf ball the majority of your weight should be on your left foot. You can't hit the ball off your right foot. This is one of those basic sporting mechanics (think about how you throw a ball) that you need to get right. It might surprise you how many people move their weight in the wrong direction which really hinders both distance and accuracy. Being able to drive the ball powerfully requires good, solid swing mechanics. The good news is that if you work on these tips and groove them into your game, you'll hit more fairways as a result without swinging any harder at the ball. Good golfing! By Brian Garlington, PGA, Director of Golf How To Hit Longer Drives