The first swing at the first hole of your golf game is much like a first impression. At times, it can set the tone for the rest of the game. Don’t let your first swing leave you feeling as if you should give up and head back to the clubhouse. Learn effective, step-by-step tricks and trades of how to swing a golf driver.

Of all of the clubs in your bag, the golf driver is the most important one. The driver, also known as 1 Wood, has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance. http://www.pinemeadowgolf.com/clubs101_1.html The driver is part of the Woods family and is used to hit long shots. For instance, if your hole is 450 yards from tee to green, you would use a Wood to hit it off the tee.

There are four elements that need to be addressed when properly learning how to swing a driver. Those four elements are the Stance and Grip, Backswing, Downswing, and Follow Through. Each of these factors take you from the moment you get ready to swing your club to after the ball has landed on the green.

Like any other sport, practice makes perfect in golf. Famous golfer Gardner Dickinson once said, “They say golf is like life, but don’t believe them. Golf is more complicated than that.”http://www.quotegarden.com/golf.html, It’s the constant complication and frustration that keeps golfers coming back for more. However, it’s that same level of intensity that requires a lot of practice to make your shots perfect. To get started on practicing the perfect swing with a driver, you’ll need to hit the driving range. You’ll want to practice your form well in advance of your tee-off time.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the proper golf swing is that it requires nothing more than power. Golfers tend to rush to the tee, swing with everything they have and disregard balance, control, and form. This form of execution leads to an all or nothing response. Either you’ll successively hit the ball as you intended (which is rare) or you’ll turn around to find you’re the newest joke on that driving range. http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/usingdriversgo_shfy.htm

Balance, control, and form combined with power are the keys to a good swing. Let’s start with your stance and grip. Stand with your feet a comfortable distance apart so you can shift you weight comfortably but can still maintain balance. Keep the tee line d up to your front foot and keep your feet parallel. Lean on your back foot slightly so that half of your body weight is resting on it. Do not lock your knees out – this is very important as you’ll find it dramatically influences your swing. Place your strong hand lower on the club than your weaker hand. Find a comfortable grip then line the center of the club face up with the ball.http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/usingdriversgo_shfy.htm

The backswing motion during a drive is when you move your driver back behind your shoulder to gain the speed and momentum needed when you bring it down for the downswing. Much like grip and stance, these two elements require a tremendous amount of control and balance.

Backswinghttp://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Swing-a-Golf-Driver&id=2238335

1. Rotate your shoulders from your back and bring the club back. Keep your arms, hands, and the club back together in one, fluid motion.
2. Keep your right knee constant and don’t move it.
3. Angle your wrists back about halfway up your swing.
4. Minimize hip movement by rotating from your spine.
5. Keep your head still throughout. Always keep your eyes on the ball.
6. Keep your left arm straight but relaxed. Right elbow remains bent and in towards your ribs.

Downswing http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Swing-a-Golf-Driver&id=2238335

1. Rotate your shoulders forward, bring your arms, hands, and the club together in one solid motion.
2. Quickly but steadily straighten your right arm. This motion will give you a swing arc that allows for power and control.
3. Rotate your forearms gradually throughout the entire swing.
4. Turn your hips toward the target. Make sure your hips are turned entirely before you come through with your arms and the club.
5. Swing through the ball, not at it. The entire process from back to down should be fluid and controlled.

The follow through is probably one of the most important parts of the swing, but is often the most neglected. It requires more concentration than instruction. You need to make a conscious effort to extend your arms through the impact. Continue to extend your arms away from your body to complete the swing. The follow through should be feel the most relaxed and fluid. Your right foot will pivot on your toe as you complete your swing. When it does, you can turn your head to follow the ball and watch where it goes. Until this point, you don’t want to pick your head up. http://krankgolf.com/krank-fullText.php?file=news/6.news

Keep practicing each step until you feel the motion becomes more fluid, swift, and smooth. In golf, you can never over practice your swing. In addition to practicing on the course, watch some professional golfers as they hit the ball. Golfers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson spend hours a day working on their swing. If you go to the Nike website, you’ll find some slow-motion videos of Woods practicing his swing. The great thing about golf is that even though it’s not necessarily a “team sport”, you can learn a lot from fellow golfers. A swing is a lot like a fingerprint, everyone’s print has subtle difference that you can’t necessarily see unless you’re looking for it. http://krankgolf.com/krank-fullText.php?file=news/6.news

If you follow these steps, you’ll see a great difference in your swing. Soon, your fellow golfers will be asking you, “How did you get so good?”