Hitting the ball in play is always the goal of any golfer. Whether you are hitting off the tee or else where on the course we all strive to hit the ball consistently. The very first shot of any round happens at the first tee (duh, right). Actually, the first shot of every round starts before first contact through a variety of practice swings, maybe some range work, and through metal visualization. So, our round of golf starts earlier than we think and this is not really anything new. Therefore, building consistency off the first tee (usually with a driver) is key to starting your round off properly. But, how do we do this you am ask? Great question, I stumbled across a great drill that might help you on your way to hitting your driver with great consistency.

For years I have worked on hitting my clubs straight. Sometimes at the expense of distance, but that is the nature of an aging golfer keeping their former glory alive. I believe I have solved the challenge of hitting my driver well and now believe it is the best club in my bag. I have achieved this goal through many different paths and the one presented by Mark Crossfield definitely falls into the foundational requirements of hitting our clubs straight and consistent. Take a look:

I have used the club on the ground many times during my practice sessions. I find that it provides instant feedback on my arm, body and head position through all phases of my swing. In earlier years, I had trouble with an over the top, pull with my left side type of swing. It caused many challenges (especially when I was trying to squeeze out more distance) and force me to aim more left than I was comfortable. So, I adopted a process similar to the one in the video and miracles happened.

After using this drill enough times, I am able to visualize my arms finishing in the proper position. After the step by step improvement of my swing, I am now able to select a target (a very small target) down the fairway and use it as my reference point for how my driver or irons finish. I know when I miss my target instantly because of where the club head and my trail arm finishes. It is a very rewarding to get instant feedback when playing. It allows for minor adjustments to my swing that I already have practice. This knowledge is a good thing to have on the links.

Building consistency and accuracy with our driver (and other clubs) is important regardless of your skill level. It does take time to master and using the drill offered by Mark Crossfield is a great place to start. The drill can be used anywhere. It is a matter of training your body and mind to match visual cues.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!