Give It Time

Long and straight drives take patience.

- Alison Lee

This is my third year on the LPGA Tour, and I had five top-10 finishes in 2016. There are several parts of my game I can credit for that, but my driving is something I’m really working on. My average distance off the tee is about 260 yards, and I hit the fairway eight out of every 10 drives. If that sounds like a good combination of distance and accuracy, then take my advice and work on your timing like I do. To be in sync, my swing can’t be too long or too fast, or I’ll struggle to square the face at impact. In fact, swing speed is the furthest thing from my mind. I’m thinking about staying smooth. Next time you practice, swing as fast as you can with your driver a few times, then dial it back to a speed that allows you to consistently hit the ball solidly. If that feels like half-speed, so be it. Don’t underestimate the value of hitting the ball squarely on the clubface if you want to be longer and straighter. Turn the page for more tips on improving your tee shots.

SETUP

PRESET YOUR TIMING BEFORE YOU HIT THE SHOT