This post is based on the February 1998 issue of Australian Golf Digest and written by Mark Steinbauer who at the time of writing was Head Instructor at The Golf Training Centre in The Woodlands, Texas.

The article (attached below) states that a typical driver club has 8 to 11 degrees of loft, making it the most difficult club with which to get the ball airborne. Even with the assistance of a tee, most players do not hit the ball high enough. The end result is less carry and shorter drives.

The primary culprit, the article states, is a faulty swing path. Poor drivers swing the club from high to low, de-lofting the clubface. In fact, one must add loft to hit the ball further which means swinging the clubhead from low to high.

A good thought is to imagine the path of your club through impact as a ramp, much like the one stunt drivers use when they’re trying to fly over obstacles (check out the little red car showing the trajection in the image below). The ramp begins at the lowest part of your swing, several inches behind the ball (as illustrated below). The club, like the little red car, travels up the ramp, meeting the ball on the upswing. The ball will soar through the air like Even Knievel at his best!

Happy golfing 🙂