Lou Guzzi Golf Academy

Award Winning Instruction

It's time to nail that driver swing

By Lou Guzzi
A Philadelphia Section
PGA "Teacher of the Year"

Recently I had the privilege to do an instructional piece on ABC Channel 6 Action News. I started the segment by making my full driver swing while hitting the ball off a water bottle. Twice each year my assistants and I take some of our students to the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. I provide a swing demonstration at the private tees, where I also hit that ball of a water bottle. So what’s the point? Why would I hit a golf ball off a water bottle?

Many golfers tee the ball too low when using their driver. Unfortunately, this low tee position tends to make the golfer play the ball too far back in his or her stance, producing a steep, outside-in swing path that usually pops the ball up with slice spin.

Many golfers tee the ball too low when using their driver. Unfortunately, this low tee position tends to make the golfer play the ball too far back in his or her stance, producing a steep, outside-in swing path that usually pops the ball up with slice spin.

So when I give a full swing demonstration working with the driver, I love to surprise them by hitting a few shots off of a water bottle to demonstrate how we sweep the driver. Needless to say, once they see the shot – which is obviously teed up too high – fly just like any other properly hit driver, I have their attention.

You see, our set-up with the big club is different than it is with the irons to allow us to hit the ball slightly on the upswing. I explain that a higher tee position and proper forward ball position will encourage that upward sweep from an inside path. (see Set-Up picture) Try this yourself, and don’t be afraid to tee the ball up higher than normal and challenge yourself to sweep that ball off the tee. You must be patient until the adjustments are made.

Below I will explain some of the key set-up angles I try to achieve while NAILING my Driver. Give this a try and maybe it will work for you as well. If you’re not sure about what to do, contact your local PGA Professional and they will be able to help.

Correct Set-Up Position:

Ball is forward in the stance, off the front heel or even the front toe. A more aggressive tilt to the shoulders will encourage that upward hit. Hands and shaft slightly behind the ball, grip end pointing just inside the forward thigh.

Visualize this – If your club was a hammer how would you hit the nail into the ball. Now, once you have this set-up position mastered, all you have to do is keep your head steady and NAIL that ball on the upswing.

Are you now going to NAIL your driver swing? It is my hope that some of the information I have shared with you helps the improvement of your game. I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article and I wish you all the best for the rest of the year.

Attention: Bonus Tip-Its Up and Its Good

Take a good look at the three pictures below. For years I have been teaching my students to visualize hitting their golf ball through football field goals. Just recently I was doing a day long chipping clinic at Hartefeld National Golf Course for Callaway Golf and Cadillac. The guest speaker at the lunch was Mr. Tom Watson. That's right, the Mr. Tom Watson with five British Opens, two Masters and a US Open.

Mr. Watson gave a full swing clinic and spoke of how he visualized hitting his golf ball through football goal posts when he played. Later that day I had the privilege to speak with him one on one for a few minutes. I told him how great it was to hear him talking about the field goals, something I have been talking about for years. Well, if it is good enough for Mr. Tom Watson it is certainly good enough for all of us. Remember, the field goal kicker doesn't have to be perfect, just get it through the posts. Notice the three pictures and you will see as I get closer to the hole the field goal visual gets titer and titer. Try this visual and I think it will take some pressure off of your shots.