How Should You Tilt at Address With a Driver? 2 Easy Checks
With a driver, your body should be tilted back at address, away from the target, so the club can rise up through the ball. To find it, slide your back hand down your back leg to the side of your knee, or lay a club on your shirt buttons and belt buckle and tilt until it touches the inside of your front leg.
One of the keys to letting your driver rise up at the moment of impact is having your body in a tilted position. It’s all about increasing your efficiency, so you get the most out of your strikes.
Here’s what goes wrong without that tilt, and the two easy ways I get into position.
What happens if you don’t tilt with your driver?
Say your ball position is good, but your shoulders are angled down toward the ground. That encourages a descending blow on the ball. You could hit it on the top of the club, pop it up and not send it very far.
Your setup decides your strike
- Encourages a descending blow
- Can catch the top of the club
- Pops up and doesn’t go far
- Encourages an upward strike
- Lets the club rise through the ball
- Gets the most out of your strikes
You want to set up in a position that encourages the upward strike you’re looking for. If you’re trying to find more distance, read how to hit your driver farther without swinging harder.
How do you get the right tilt at address?
Here are the two checks I use. Either one will get you there, so pick the one you find easiest.
The hand-to-knee check
From your address position, take your back hand and place it on your back leg. Slide it down until you can feel the side of your knee. Stay in that position, then bring that hand back onto the club.
From there, you should see a nice straight-line structure with your lead arm, and your trail arm should fit on the club nicely.
The buttons-and-buckle check
Take a golf club and hold it against the buttons of your shirt and your belt buckle. Now tilt your upper body back. As you do, the club will move across until it touches the inside of your front leg.
Stay in that position and set up to the ball. That puts you in a great spot to let the club rise through the ball.
We want some angle to our body at address.
Once your setup is sorted, read the fastest way to hit your driver straight for your grip and ball position.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need body tilt with a driver?
It lets the club rise up at the moment of impact. Without it, you can encourage a descending blow on the ball.
Why do I keep popping up my driver?
One possible cause is your setup. If your shoulders are angled down toward the ground, that encourages a descending blow, and you can catch the ball on the top of the club.
What is the easiest way to check my driver setup?
From address, slide your back hand down your back leg until you feel the side of your knee, then bring that hand back onto the club.
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Kerrod Gray
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