^Driving

If you want to have a solid game, it all starts with hitting off the tee. Following are tips and techniques that will aid you in hitting the ball farther and more accurately.

Hitting the ball farther off the tee is the goal of most golfers. Keeping the ball in play is a must, and that's where accuracy comes in.

Your Set Up

An important factor for hitting the ball farther and with more accuracy, is to set up your shot properly. Ensure that you have a correct stance during your set up. That means, your feet should be about shoulder width apart and your knees should be flexed.

The key here is the speed of your club head. We're not talking about how hard you swing. No, the key here is figuring out how to properly coil and uncoil your body.

Remember: keep your knees flexed. Standing too tall will cost you. You won't maximize your swing, and your distance and power will suffer.

The Ball Should Be Played ahead. This is an important point. In a proper stance, the golf ball will be situated closer to your front foot. It will not be centered like normal. By keeping the ball forward in your stance, it will ensure that you get your club under the ball, thereby giving more air to your shot.

Your Back Swing

Another tip: your back swing doesn't begin in your hands. It begins in your hips. The key ingredient to reaching your maximum distance off the tee is turning your hips correctly. As your hips rotate, your hands, arms and upper body will follow.

Your hip rotation is just as important when you reach the apex of your back swing. If you let your down swing start with your hips, your hands will come after. Once you have the correct rotation of your hips mastered, you will observe a significant improvement in your distance.

Your Grip

When it comes to tips for accuracy, one of the most important is making sure your hands follow the club head at impact. As it strikes the ball, the club head must be square. Otherwise the ball will not fly straight.

If you frequently see your ball hooking or slicing, take a good look at your grip. The club face won't be square when it strikes the ball if your grip is too weak or too strong. For the best result, your grip should just be neutral; This will keep your club face from opening (or closing) as you hit the ball.

Your Stance

One more tip: make sure to keep your stance square during your set up and swing. Although a square stance with both feet lined up with the target is optimal, there may be times when you need to open up or close your stance. This same rule applies to your shoulders and hips. If you maintain a square stance with the target, you will notice an improvement in your accuracy.

Your Driver

Lastly, try a new driver. The new 460 cc clubs are heavier than older drivers, and have a larger head. Trying a larger driver is great, but make sure you practice! It takes a bit of skill to learn to use these new clubs, and it won't happen immediately.