I know this is old comment but hope this finds you. Look up Jim Venetos. He advocates hitting down with driver as well and has been for about 30 years. His system work’s speaking from personal experience

Hitting down with the driver (albeit ever so slightly) seems to make sense. If you compare it to tour pros who hit their 3 woods off the fairway, they hit a mile and there is no way in heck they are hitting up on the ball. Even if they tried, the smaller faces would practically thin it. So it stands to reason that even when you tee it up with a driver, there will be a slightly descending blow and I'm sure that's minimized by teeing it up more off of your lead foot. Can't wait to try this out.

Exactly! I crush my fairway woods but not my driver - now I know why.

@@cb5550 I honestly think Tiger would have won a few more majors if he hit down with his driver. He was already hitting 2 iron off the tee all the time.

I'm glad to know that this lesson resonated well with you, John! Perhaps with the exception of folks with slower swing speeds - or those Long Drive participants teeing it extra high and hitting maybe 1-2 balls out of 10 onto a 60-yard wide "fairway" - the path is still ever so slightly down. In fact, believe it or not the PGA Tour average with the driver is actually minus (e.g.: downward) 1.5 degrees - nearly level - and it should feel level - but slightly down nonetheless! (Here is an article on Ping’s website addressing this topic - ping.com/en-us/blogs/proving-grounds/optimal-launch-and-spin#:~:text=According%20to%20Trackman%2C%20PGA%20Tour,85%25%20ball%2Dflight%20laws ) Thus, I do not advocate trying to hit up on the ball, and efforts to do so due to erroneous advice has caused many an amateur significant issues with their driver... Cheers! Tom

I know, I used to think you had to hit.up but it didn't make sense because their hands are forward at impact for every club

Now it's just going to take me some time to unwind this thought. Same thing with almost getting 'top spin' off the face....that makes no sense to me either.

@@SagutoGolf What is the reason then that the average LPGA is +3.0 degrees attack? Is there any correlation with clubhead speed? Would slower clubhead speeds (ladies/amateurs of all genders) be better to be hitting up?

I just replied to your other comment on this same topic, Bernd. Cheers! Tom PS: The majority of my students are in their 60's, 70's, and 80's - i.e.: a smorgasbord of chronic ailments, physical limitations, back/shoulder/knee/hip pain, and joint replacements - and they are overwhelmingly elated to experience the dramatic pain-free game improvement, increased driving distance, and resulting enjoyment that this swing affords them. I hear this multiple times a day, every day...

Awesome Richard!! Thank you for sharing and keep bombing the ball :D

Thanks Gary - I'm glad to know that this driver lesson resonated well with you!! Tom

Thomas Fraser I told you

maeu59 specially I learned from Tom and will do the rest of my life is to have the V’s of my hands pointing towards my trail shoulder each time before I swing my club. Cheers I am good to go

Sounds great, Tim! I hope this helped you renew your relationship with your driver! By the way, since you are new to the channel I thought I’d briefly make you aware of my online school as that is where the most structured opportunity for learning resides. For just $10 US/month or $99 US/year you'll have unlimited access to a comprehensive members-only system for the full swing, the short game, and much more. The school's intuitive course curriculum greatly simplifies the entire process through succinct, step-by-step videos, and I'm constantly adding new content. This will really put you on the fast track in a well-organized, self-guided fashion! There's even a members' forum where you can ask me specific swing-related questions and suggest new content ideas, and I will soon be adding live Q&A sessions as well. Here's a link if you'd like additional info: saguto.golf/p/golf-swing-simplified-tom-saguto-pga. Cheers! Tom

@@SagutoGolf I joined up a while back and am enjoying the content Tom. I cannot, however, find out how I can ask you a question....should I have one. Hope you can help me ! Thanks, Tim

Thanks Diane - I'm glad you enjoyed this lesson video!! Tom

Sounds good Mike! Maybe we just missed eachother during your trip.

Good point Jim! I think that makes a big difference in carry distance for amateurs. Based on tour swings, most hit down BUT the biggest concern is that trying to hit up - even with slower swings - still makes the clubface angle point left at impact.

I know, right?? The PGA Tour average with the driver is actually minus (e.g.: downward) 1.3 degrees - nearly level but slightly down nonetheless! Thus, I do not advocate trying to hit up on the ball, and efforts to do so due to erroneous advice has caused many an amateur significant issues with their driver!... Cheers! Tom

Hi Bill, I'm glad you're enjoying my channel's content!! Yes - I do give in-person lessons on a limited basis (typically two mornings per week). I also offer virtual private instruction to those who are unable to travel to South Carolina. Please feel free to email lessons@saguto.golf if you'd like to schedule a session. I truly appreciate your kind words and hope to see you on the lesson tee sometime soon! Tom

Hi Ken, Sorry for your present lockdown situation. Here's a link to a lesson video specific to the driver: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ld6cZ5pentaViYk.html In Stack and Tilt it’s the same swing with every club in your bag.... (except the putter, perhaps 😆) There are just some minor setup differences and naturally occurring shaft plane changes as we graduate up in club length from short irons to woods. Think of proper impact position - hands leading the clubface, bowed front wrist, "flying wedge" intact. It'd be difficult to retain those angles if we were actually hitting up on the ball. So, perhaps with the exception of folks with slower swing speeds - or those Long Drive participants using extra high tees and hitting maybe 1-2 balls out of 10 onto a 60-yard wide "fairway" - the path should still be ever so slightly down. As mentioned the PGA Tour average with the driver is actually minus (e.g.: downward) 1.3 degrees - nearly level but slightly down nonetheless. Thus, I do not advocate hitting up on the ball, and trying to do so due to erroneous advice has caused many an amateur significant issues with their driver. By the way, have you considered enrolling in the SagutoGolf online school? For just $10 US/month or $99 US/year you'll have unlimited access to a comprehensive members-only system for the full swing, the short game, and much more. The school's intuitive course curriculum greatly simplifies the entire process through succinct, step-by-step videos, and I'm regularly adding new content. This will really put you on the fast track towards learning everything in a well-organized, self-guided fashion. There's even a members' forum where you can ask me specific swing-related questions and suggest new content ideas, plus you'll also have access to all exclusive "Crispier Than KFC Club" KZfaq channel members' content at no additional charge. Here's a link if you'd like additional info: saguto.golf/p/golf-swing-simplified-tom-saguto-pga Stay well, Tom

I used to think about rolling my arms, but I simply take the club back naturally with my body now and try to think about keeping my hands square to everything then just turning through. I feel like the emphasis on arms really hurts people's golf swings.

Use a pink castle tee as a measurement maybe? I don't think you can sky one of those and they usually are about a half ball higher than the driver face.

The impact position of the player stays the same throughout the bag - hands forward, shaft leaning forward of the ball. For this to happen, the attack angle will be down. The key to optimizing distance lies in the launch angle. For example, my driver loft is 8.5 degrees, but at impact I launch it at 14.4 degrees. This also causes my spin rate to be very low (2200 rpm). This launch angle is higher due to the extension of my body at impact. I am hitting slightly down but because I am extending, it prevents the club from driving straight into the ground. Here is a good video on this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lal1fpRhqc_DYac.html

Here's a lesson on this topic: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pKpdrZOg29OaYqM.html After that, please have a look at my FREE mini-course - “The Top 3 Things You Need to Be a Great Ball Striker” - where you can learn some key aspects of the swing system I teach in a more structured manner: go.saguto.golf/ Tom

Sweet, thanks for watching!!

Great! I hope that answers your other question about hitting it high and left. Gotta keep those hips moving forward to impact, otherwise the path reroutes across the ball, the low point moves back, and we end up with a variety of crappy results including thin or fat contact and a starting direction to the pull side. Cheers! Tom

Tee it up so that half of the ball is above the clubhead. As you swing up, the clubface begins to point more left. You have to compensate for this by opening the clubface a degree or two.

Vern - You have some leeway with ball position. I like the simplicity of keeping it consistent relative to the inside of the lead heel and simply adjusting the stance width depending on the length of the club. This works well for me and many of my students. Alternatively, the Stack & Tilt book prescribes a stock ball position that is in the middle of the stance for short irons, two balls inside the lead heel for middle irons, and incrementally more forward for the longer clubs - the farthest forward being even with the inside of the lead heel for the driver. I hope that helps. Also, I see that you watched my recent fairway woods video, so perhaps that was of some benefit as well. By the way, if you'd really like to own this swing through your entire bag please consider enrolling in the SagutoGolf online school as it is one of the best golf instruction values out there. For just $10 US/month or $99 US/year you'll have unlimited access to a comprehensive members-only learning system for the full swing and much more. The school's intuitive course curriculum greatly simplifies the entire process through succinct, step-by-step videos, and I'm constantly adding new content. Here's a link if you'd like additional info: saguto.golf/p/golf-swing-simplified-tom-saguto-pga. Cheers! Tom

Think of proper impact position - hands leading the clubface, bowed front wrist, "flying wedge" intact. It'd be difficult to retain those angles if we were actually hitting up on it. So, perhaps with the exception of folks with slower swing speeds - or those Long Drive participants using extra high tees and hitting maybe 1-2 balls out of 10 onto a 60-yard wide "fairway" - the path is still ever so slightly down. In fact, believe it or not the PGA Tour average with the driver is actually minus (e.g.: downward) 1.3 degrees - nearly level but slightly down nonetheless! Thus, I do not advocate trying to hit up on the ball, and efforts to do so due to erroneous advice has caused many an amateur significant issues with their driver... Cheers! Tom

LEVEL is the key !

Great video kid. I've been trying to hit up for years. I can see how it loses power. Much thanks.

Search "driver" in my channel and you should see plenty of content, Kevin. Beyond that, it is important to understand that the videos, lessons, and drills on this free channel - while fully aligned with the swing method I teach - address a variety of topics, issues, feels, and/or common flaws/fixes from one episode to the next. They are certainly not intended to be taken as a sequential learning platform like the structured curriculum of my online school, which I strongly recommend to anyone who truly wishes to get on the proper path towards owning this swing through their bag, and where so many folks across the globe are now playing the best golf of their lives as a result. All for just $10 US/ month or $99/year. Beyond that, have fun out there playing with whatever style you choose to swing! Tom

I'm happy you're hitting the ball well and having fun. I'm helping many people do the same. Sounds like we agree.

Geez dude chill! If what he's doing is helping the majority. Don't hate on him by referring to someone who is likely an exception to the rule. Like they all say, it doesn't matter how u swing or where the ball is. If u practice thousands of balls on any given swing u will figure out a way to overcome what u are doing wrong. What these pros are trying to show us is how to make it simple and not have to hit thousands of shot a month to keep everything perfectly calibrated. If u dumb down the golf swing, u won't have to worry about mishitting a tee shot etc etc. It becomes so easy it's second nature. So u goto the first tee with upmost of confidence! Which is ideally what we all are wanting... Right?