How to Hit the Ball Straighter and Farther

By Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Clubs

The question most students ask me is, “How do I hit my driver straighter and farther?”

Well, my response is always very similiar. There are a few key ingredients to hitting a long, straight drive. See below for instructions in straightening and lengthing your drive!

1. Ball position - You should play your driver on the inside of your left foot (right foot for left-handed golfers). This will help you hit the ball on the up-swing.

2. Getting set at the top of the swing - Your back should be turned to the target, and your hips should be rotated 45°.

3. Follow Through - Be sure to clear all of your weight to the left side of your body to have a high finish.

4. Tempo - Most golfers naturally swing faster when a driver is in their hands. Tempo is one of the most important aspects of hitting your drive long and straight. Even if you do all of the other aspects correctly, if your tempo is off, you will not execute the shot effectively.

Hopefully these tips help you the next time you are practicing your drives at the Range. If you need additional help straightening out your drive, feel free to contact one of your local golf professionals!

Chipping Options - What to do when you don't make it to the green!

By: Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Club

Fact: Every golfer can improve one area of their game.
Fact: Chipping can make or break a round of golf.
Fact: Every golfer will miss a green during a round and your score depends on how you recover. There are certain situations where different types of shots will be effective.

What is your plan when you miss the green? Check out the plans below to learn more about your options when this happens, and what you can do to recover!

Bump & Run
This shot is used when you have plenty of green to work with. Use a lower lofted club, such as a 9-iron or a 7-iron. The key to this shot is to account for the roll. With a 9-iron, carry the ball about 1/3 of the way to the hole, the ball will roll the rest of the way. Depending on the distance to the hole, you can adjust how far to carry the ball. Using a 7-iron you want to carry it less than a 9-iron.

Flop (High-Lofted Shot)
This shot is used when you have to carry the ball over a bunker, or you are on the short-side of the green. Use a sand wedge or a lob wedge to execute this shot. First open your stance (left of your target) then open the face of the club and aim it just left of your target. Depending on the distance of your shot, vary the length of your swing. For shorter shots, take a shorter swing, and vice versa. One key element to executing this shot is to accelerate the club through the ball.

Takeaway: You should practice these shots at various distances and different lies. Try to simulate situations that you could be in during a round of golf - trust us, the next time you miss the green, you'll be glad you did!

Info on the Author:
Jenny began golfing when she was three years old. She competed in the Junior World Golf Championship in 1999 and 2000, and was a member of the 2000 Team Idaho for Junior America’s Cup. She attended Boise State University where she played on the women’s golf team from 2001-2005. In December 2005, Jenny received a Bachelors of Science degree from Boise State University in Exercise Science/ Fitness Evaluation. She is currently the Assistant Golf Professional at Chapel Hills Golf Course in Atlanta.