Driving

Steal My Feel

September 13, 2011
instruction-2011-10-inar01_molinari_feel.jpg

If you asked a lot of the players out here for the secret to hitting the ball farther, you'd probably get a lot of different answers. Maybe they'd say "making a bigger turn," or "increasing lag on the downswing," or "focusing on solid contact." But for me, it's all about feeling confident.

When I'm confident, I can hit the ball as hard as I want. That feeling comes from being set at the top of my swing, feeling like my hands are in control of the club. My tendency is to get loose with my wrists at the top, and when I do, my backswing gets too long (right). That can lead to all sorts of timing issues as I swing back down to impact.

I want to feel my wrists staying firm at the top* (left)*. That helps me feel connected as I swing down into the ball -- with confidence.

FRANCESCO MOLINARI, from Turin, Italy, is a two-time winner on the European tour.