Driving it over the hill

In recent months I've been teeing the ball down, gripping down and basically trying to keep my drives in play. The trouble is I've lost quite a lot of distance, maybe 20 metres or more, enough anyway to make second shots to par 4s a very low percentage possibility.

Now keeping the ball in play is a sensible goal, but while two long shots then a pitch or chip plus two putts equate to a bogey at best (since I make few putts over a metre or so) this usually takes any wins or 3-pointers out of the equation. This is not really an option if one's goal is to play to a handicap of around 10. Maintaining a handicap of lower than 10 is not realistic for me.

So, I've recently been researching how to find those lost metres off the tee. And the solution is relatively simple, not including trying to hit harder.

Teeing the ball low means that the path of the driver will be downward or level at impact, at best. This means that the control gained comes at a cost, that cost being added spin. This added spin, backspin in fact, helps the ball go straighter, but it also means the ball will not run as far once it lands. The lower ball flight that comes from this lower teeing is also a distance robber.

The solution is to tee the ball higher and swing up a little at impact. This not only launches the ball higher, but also takes spin off the ball. The result is more carry and more run - for my swing that means a gain of around 20 metres (or two clubs less into par 4 greens).

This new method of teeing the ball comes at a cost, albeit one that can be addressed and compensated for. The cost is of course a loss of some control combined with the need to align and aim differently. I'm working on this at the moment. We shall see if I can consolidate the change or whether I am actually over the hill.