Carmel Magazine

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT B Y D A N PA S Q U A R I E L L O A N D L A I R D S M A L L B ig dog. Chief. The hammer. Godzilla! Whatever you call it, the driver is quite often the most exciting club in your bag. Why? Compared to other clubs, the driver is the only one that doesn't have a maximum distance. As a result, golfers are always swinging for the fences off the tee, leading to all sorts of trou- ble. The driver may be longest club in your bag, but it's also the hardest to control. With the right attitude and approach though, you can use your driver as a valuable tool to increase length and lower your scores. The driver has the least amount of loft in your bag with the excep- tion of the putter. It tends to magnify what you're doing wrong in your full swing, but it can also help to identify swing faults and correct them. Most amateurs slice their ball, for example, generally caused by a poor weight shift and a steep angle of approach to the ball. This can cause "pop-up" or topped shots because the steep angle forces the player to lean backwards to maintain balance. An easy fix is to lower the right shoulder (for a right-handed player) and center the ball in your stance at address. This will promote a wider, flatter backswing and a shallower angle of approach into the ball. We often have our students warm up with the driver first on the range instead of the wedge. This is fairly unconventional, but quickly lets us know if we have any issues with the clubface being too open or too closed. In either case, students have plen- ty of time to correct it before they hit the first tee. Swinging the longest and lightest club in their bag first also helps students gain a good feel for the proper tempo, rhythm and balance in their swing. Once the player is warmed up and ready to go, we can begin to think about the best strategies to ensure the most success with the driver. Here are a few more tips designed to help you get the ball in the fairway more often. Driver versus 3-Wood Always consider hitting a 3-wood off the tee. The average golfer hits a 3-wood farther than a mis-hit driver. Because of its additional loft, players have an easier time launching the ball up in the air. This club selection is especially useful for tighter fairways and when the wind is at your back. Select the Right Tees for Your Ability You should always select the most suitable tees for your game. To deter- mine the best tee that fits your skill level, take the average distance you hit your 5-iron and multiply it by 36. This yields the approximate yardage in which you should be playing. A 160-yard 5-iron, for example, would equate to 5,760 yards; the white tees at Pebble Beach Golf Links, measuring 6,116 yards would be the most appropriate. Play a set of tees that will reward you with a 5-iron approach or less if you hit a good drive. This realistic course length will make things more fun and keep you swinging within your limits. Conservative versus Aggressive Targets Take a sample of players teeing off on the first hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Nine out of 10 look to cut the dogleg corner and leave a short iron approach into the green, but far less will actually accomplish this ambi- tious goal. Many amateurs want to hit the ball as far as possible off the tee. The best players though, are always more strategic off the tee, because they know the most important thing is to keep the ball in play. Be con- servative with your drive and you'll be rewarded in the fairway. Swing All Clubs with the Same Tempo Tempo is the rate of speed at which your hands, arms, torso and club move together. Most amateurs try to over- power the ball with their arms and shoulders. What they don't realize, however, is that while the driver might be the longest club in the bag, it is also the lightest. Power and speed aren't the most important factors for amateurs—the key is to keep the club and body moving together to create the most optimal impact. So take the big dog out for a walk around the block. Your driver can teach you a lot about your swing and a little practice will go a long way— just like your tee shots! Pebble Beach Golf Academy, located at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Resorts, features Director Laird Small and Master Instructor Dan Pasquariello. Golf Digest has ranked the two among "America's 50 Best Teachers." Choose between individual or group instruction, including cutting- edge technology and club fitting ser vices. Call 831/622-8650 for more infor- mation or to reser ve a lesson. To determine the best tee that fits your skill level, take the average distance you hit your 5-iron and multiply it by 36. 42 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 Tee It Up and Drive Safely 042-043 Golf Tips_Layout 1/24/14 5:11 AM Page 1

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