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1 huge mistake beginner golfers make with their drivers – and how to fix it

Preparing to hit a driver is very different than preparing to hit a bar.GOLF.com

Welcome Play SmartA regular GOLF.com game improvement column to help you become a smarter, better golfer.

If you’re just starting out in golf, you may be surprised to learn that you need to use different swings for different clubs. Of course, you’ve probably deduced that some special shots require unique techniques, but even some special shots most basic The shots in the game require very different techniques.

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Case in point: driver swing and iron swing. While it’s true that there’s a ton of overlap between the two, if you want to become a skilled ball striker, it’s important to slightly change your technique when hitting driver instead of hitting iron. If you don’t, it could spell the end of your ability to hit your drive effectively.

GOLF Teacher to Watch James Hong explains more in the video below.

Difference between driver and iron

To hit the ball in line with a driver and iron, you need to make some adjustments to the way you swing the club. While there is some technical overlap between the two strokes, there are also some fundamental differences that can make a big impact.

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“Many people may have heard the saying, ‘It’s the same swing for all clubs,’” says Hong. “And that’s not the case at all.”

One of the most important differences occurs in the installation. With an iron, the ball will usually be in the center (or near the center) of your stance. However, in the case of the driver, the ball position will be much further forward.

However, for beginners to move the ball forward in their stance, this can lead to an unintentional setup error.

“A lot of people are so used to seeing the ball up the middle that when they’re ready for their drive, they suddenly start moving their whole body forward,” Hong says. “This will lead you down the path of disaster.”

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Everyone knows that with a driver, you’re looking for a hit that will catch the ball on the rise. But when you move the ball forward in the stance and later turn your shoulders to match, really feel yourself hit on the ball. This may be great for an iron, but it spells disaster for a driver.

To guard against this, Hong suggests throwing the ball into your front foot, but placing the club head squarely in the middle of your stance. From here, you can slide the club head forward towards the ball off the tee, rather than turning your shoulders.

“You noticed that this naturally slouched my shoulders,” Hong said. “This will help you with your driver installation.”

With your shoulders leaned back, you’ll be in the perfect position to swing toward your driver and bomb from the starting point.

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