How to hit a 460cc Driver
Hitting with the 460cc Driver - Bigger actually is better Sometimes, bigger actually is better. On the golf course, the bigger heads of the 460 cc drivers, which more and more are replacing the standard drivers, are producing better golf games for all levels of golfer. There’s something about the look of that huge head on the end of the shaft, or maybe it’s the satisfying ‘ponk’ sound it makes when you make contact with the ball.
The larger sweet spot, longer shaft and better MOI of the 460 cc head helps the average golfer hit longer, straighter shots, and is more forgiving of the occasional mishit ball. It has an increased launch angle and less spin, giving greater distance.
There are a few tips, though, that should be kept in mind to get the most of your ‘big’ head:
1. The ball needs to be teed higher than you normally would. You might want to consider starting with the top two-thirds of the ball above the top of the head – as opposed to the half ball height for the standard driver. In order to achieve this, you will need the longer 3-inch tees. The standard height tee will never get the ball high enough with the 460 cc club.
2. For increased launch angle and less spin, the objective is to make contact between club head and ball on the upswing. In order to achieve this, the ball needs to be played a bit more forward in your stance than usual; like the middle of the lead foot, or even off the outside of the foot. When playing the ball forward, pay careful attention to maintaining the orientation of the club face. Balls forward in the stance, with a club face too open can turn into some really wicked slices. If the club face is closed, it can cause extreme hooks with the ball ending up well out of play to your left. Practice on the driving range to see what works best for you.
3. Most people rest the club on the ground at address. With the 460 cc club head, at address, align the club so that the ball is in the center of the face. This will mean your club is slightly off the ground. The backswing motion should start from this position, and this is the position the club head should come back to on the down swing, to ensure effective contact with the ball.
4. Try to avoid hitting the ball at the bottom of your swing, but rather on the upswing. This gives a better launch angle and much less spin, which increases the distance you achieve. One way to do this is to allow the club to be out in front of your shoulders. When you lead with your shoulder on tee shots, you are likely not only to hit the ball on the down swing, but actually drive it into the tee box in front of the tee rather than into the air. Hitting down on the ball often results in drives that don’t make it past the ladies’ tee.
