Driving a golf ball well can be a great challenge. The driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit and requires a lot of skill to master. The first key to driving the golf ball well is to swing well within yourself. Many players when they are trying to drive a golf ball far try to use their muscle power thinking that using more muscle will mean more distance.

This is a common misconception, remember that there are many players out there that have very thin builds and they hit the ball very far. How is this possible? These golfers have learned that distance is a function of an accurate golf swing combined with club head speed. Swinging easy or within your limits will give you a better chance of making a more accurate golf swing.

The key to greater club head speed is to create more lag or leverage. Lag is defined as the angle that is created between the club and your left hand. You want this angle to be small and you need to hold this angle for as long as possible before impact. This will allow maximum energy to be released through the hitting zone and will translate to greater distance.

One simple way to create more lag is to think of the club as a whip and use a whipping motion through the hitting zone. Also starting the downswing with a weight shift toward the target before bringing down the club can also help to produce greater leverage. It is important to stay fully under control when executing your golf swing. One way to check if you are under control is whether or not you are balanced at the end of the swing.

If you see that you are losing balance then you may need to slow things down a little and not try as hard. Relax and let the club do most of the work. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the driver you are using should fit your swing type. If you have a slower swing speed then you should use a driver with a regular flex. However if your swing speed is higher then you will want a driver with a stiff flex.

Also make sure your driver is not too long, usually 42 to 45 inches is the ideal length for most people. Another good tip to help you hit the golf ball far is to think of your left shoulder driving straight up towards the sky when the downswing starts. This will help to get the club on the right plane for the downswing and will also help to create more lag.

It is important to be effective with your wedges and short irons first before you try to master the driver. Remember that the driver swing is simply an extension of the smaller swings so if you are having problems hitting a wedge then you will almost certainly struggle with the driver. Many of the best players learned how to hit short clubs first before trying to master the longer ones so follow their lead.

To consistently hit the driver far and straight will require consistent practice on your part.

There are now many home golf simulators for under $200 that you can purchase. Just make sure you have some free space to swing your clubs freely. These simulators can allow you to practice regularly right at home and can be effective. Of course try to go to the range and the course as much as you can too. There are no shortcuts to becoming a better golfer so put in the time and effort necessary to learn how to drive a golf ball far and straight.