| This tip is not for everyone. Those who are new | | | | prevent that from happening, try to have the club |
| to golf should file this tip away for a couple of | | | | face slightly open as it comes into contact with |
| years until they have gained some experience and | | | | the ball. |
| confidence. But for those who have been playing | | | | This shot will not work if you fail to hit the ball |
| for awhile and have honed their fundamentals, | | | | first, turf second. Resist the urge to sweep your |
| using the driver off the fairway can be a very | | | | driver under the ball and do not fall into the trap |
| powerful tool. | | | | of thinking you have to pick the ball cleanly off |
| The decision to use your driver off the deck | | | | the fairway. Take a divot with this shot. |
| should not be taken lightly. There are only a few | | | | The best time to use this shot is when you are |
| situations in which you should even consider using | | | | on a flat fairway. If the ball is severely above or |
| this club on the fairway. But when you need a low | | | | below your feet, seriously consider using another |
| trajectory, distance, and higher ball speed, this is | | | | club. |
| the shot to use. | | | | As you might imagine, this is not the kind of shot |
| Here is how you execute this tricky shot. | | | | that you simply decide to play without having |
| For right-handed golfers, a driver off the deck will | | | | prepared for it. You can practice this shot at |
| almost always produce a fade. In order to work | | | | most driving ranges. Just make sure you practice |
| with this, you have to align your body to the left | | | | from natural grass. If you try to practice this shot |
| of your target. This means aiming your clubface, | | | | off a regular tee mat, you will not be able to get |
| hips, knees, shoulders and feet to the left. | | | | the right impact on the ball. |
| In order to make the proper contact with the ball, | | | | Remember, this shot demands that you hit the |
| you need to play the golf ball off your forward | | | | ball first, turf second, and this normally leads to |
| (or lead) heel. Because your ball is not teed up, | | | | taking a divot. And, as you know, you cannot |
| you cannot hit the ball on the upswing. This means | | | | take a divot out of a plastic mat. |
| that positioning the ball correctly in your stance is | | | | This last tip is one I wish someone had shared |
| critical. | | | | with me. If you have an old driver in the garage, |
| During your downswing, it is important to turn | | | | use that when you first begin practicing this shot. |
| your shoulders under your head to allow the club | | | | I cannot tell you how many times I chunked my |
| to swing to the left after it makes contact with | | | | driver into the dirt when I first began learning this |
| the ball. | | | | somewhat tricky swing. In the end, the head of |
| You also need to ensure that you swing your | | | | the driver was out of angle and I had to discard |
| arms left of your body once you hit the ball. If | | | | it. |
| you fail to do this you will probably end up with a | | | | The morale of this story: use an old driver just in |
| huge, ugly slice. | | | | case you, too, chunk the head into the turf. You |
| This shot can also lead to a wicked duck hook. To | | | | do not want to ruin a fine, workable driver. |