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DrivingSpeed, Power, and Distance Driver Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Staying Relaxed with the Driver: Joanna Klatten's Keys

Do you tense up to hit the ball hard? Joanna Klatten, then the LPGA Tour’s No. 1 in driving distance, explains to Patrice on a par-5 tee box that power actually comes from being very relaxed, then from the hips and legs.

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Joanna Klatten
Joanna Klatten · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

9 minSame problem5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate10 minSame problemCollin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverCollin Morikawa · Intermediate15 minSame problemTommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

Joanna Klatten sees this especially among amateurs: they think you have to tense up to hit hard. It’s actually the opposite: Power in driving comes from being completely relaxed. She cites the fluidity of great hitters like Bubba Watson and Nicolas Colsaerts. At address, maintain good posture, but Relax your forearms, arms, and shoulders: no voltage.

Once you've completed the backswing, Maintaining proper foot placement is very important. Just like with Rory McIlroy, it all starts with hips and a extending the legs in the hitting zone. That's what creates speed, along with relaxation. Her two key points can be summarized as follows: relaxation, followed by regaining support through the hips and extension. She demonstrates this at the start.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Maintain good address posture.
  2. Release any tension in your forearms, arms, and shoulders.
  3. Take your backswing without tensing up.
  4. Regain your balance by initiating the movement from your hips.
  5. Extend your legs in the hitting zone.

Key Takeaways

Tensing up to hit hard is counterproductive.
Power comes from being completely relaxed.
Focus on: good posture, but keep your forearms, arms, and shoulders relaxed.
After the backswing, the transition back to the stance is crucial.
Speed comes from the hips and the extension of the legs in the hitting zone.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Tensing up, thinking you're hitting harder.
  • Keep your arms and shoulders tense at address.
  • Neglecting to shift your weight back after the backswing.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Practice swings while checking for relaxation in the arms and shoulders
  2. Drives with a focus on hip drive
  3. Drives where you can feel your legs extending at impact

Your Questions

How Can You Increase Your Driver Power, According to Joanna Klatten?

First, by relaxing completely, then by shifting your weight onto your hips and extending your legs in the striking zone.

Do you have to tense up to hit harder?

No. That's the mistake she sees most often among beginners: on the contrary, you need to release all tension in your forearms, arms, and shoulders.

Which players does she look up to?

When it comes to the follow-through, she cites Rory McIlroy: in his case, the movement starts from the hips, with the legs extending. When it comes to fluidity, she mentions Bubba Watson and Nicolas Colsaerts.

Learn More

All “Driving” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Speed, Power, and Distance” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Tommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTo find the fairway, Fleetwood maintains his tee height, holds the club in the air, widens his stance, and hits over a tee placed behind the ball. 5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenFive habits from the Tour: placing the tee in front of the ball when using a driver, no calling out shots with irons, planning chip shots in advance, keeping a distance log, and reviewing the round afterward. Collin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverAim to the left, don't force the spin, a clubface that doesn't rotate on the upswing, and a single starting line at the top: Morikawa and DJ's fade. Joanna KlattenAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Joanna Klatten). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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