I have been playing golf on and off for over 40 years. For the first time in my life I know how to drive the ball correctly. Just had a range session where I was piping 4 out of 5 drives down the middle.

Posted on August 11, 2026 at 01:15:53 PM by mattb

Somehow I had never heard, or maybe never internalized, to keep your hands back. I was just ripping through and slicing the shit out of the ball for years. Only would tee off with my 3 wood and aim left to compensate. I am both excited that I feel like i can hit my driver and a bit devastated it took me this long to learn.

I know no one gives a shit about this, but I am just so pumped I had to post about it.

How did I never know this lesson? I even have heard golf announcers say it for years and I never had a clue what they were talking about. I guess an old dog can learn new tricks (or basic fundamentals).

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Thread:

I have been playing golf on and off for over 40 years. For the first time in my life I know how to drive the ball correctly. Just had a range session where I was piping 4 out of 5 drives down the middle. - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 01:15:53 PM
- Great. Now tell me how to keep my hands back.* - By Alpo August 11, 2026 at 02:33:51 PM
  - I know your post is a little TIC, but to answer earnestly. For me it was to slow everything down and nearly stop my downswing at impact. My follow through was pretty abbreviated as well. As I do it more, hopefully my swing will normalize a bit. - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 02:50:42 PM
    - Honestly I think you identified why my ability to drive the ball has gone to shit. At least one of the reasons. - By Alpo August 11, 2026 at 03:16:08 PM
- Congrats on the breakthrough - now don’t forget how to swing your irons * - By WOK August 11, 2026 at 01:34:20 PM
  - This concern has crossed my mind.* - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 01:39:22 PM
- good post. the more time i have to play the better and i find my game gets better as the round starts.** - By kal August 11, 2026 at 01:32:19 PM
- So what does "keep your hands back" mean? * - By mjhollen August 11, 2026 at 01:23:53 PM
  - Here's a drill from Monte Scheinblum - By syrfan August 11, 2026 at 03:14:03 PM
  - Basically you want your hands to return back to where you started through impact. On the range, it felt like I was almost trying to stop my swing to keep them back. Previously, I was letting mine fly through and the club head was dragging behind causing perpetual slices.* - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 01:27:22 PM
    - It’s called cracking the whip. Hands have to slow down relative to clubhead. Bryson calls it tugging the handle. It’s the only way to square the clubface…otherwise you waste your entire mechanical advantage. Think of cracking a whip or snapping a towel. If you keep your. - By xcheck August 11, 2026 at 01:54:43 PM
      - That’s all clubs though right? Earnest question I am learning too—guess driver you feel it most since longest club and lag?* - By harbaughdyssey August 11, 2026 at 02:29:32 PM
        
        The longer the club the more noticeable it is. A driver can have a dynamic load of almost 150lbs for people with high swing speeds** - By xcheck August 11, 2026 at 02:34:16 PM
        
        Thanks will have to try think pull next time right now it’s more of a drop and focus on legs/hips and make sure longer clubs come around more than down* - By harbaughdyssey August 11, 2026 at 02:44:35 PM
      - Thats a good way to describe it.* - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 02:09:19 PM
- Any YouTube video that helped you? * - By you-of-m August 11, 2026 at 01:18:26 PM
  - Golfslump on instagram had a video on it that was a revelation for me. From July 11.* - By mattb August 11, 2026 at 01:21:50 PM
    - Thanks much! * - By you-of-m August 11, 2026 at 01:45:29 PM

The Victors

I have been playing golf on and off for over 40 years. For the first time in my life I know how to drive the ball correctly. Just had a range session where I was piping 4 out of 5 drives down the middle.