How to Use Your Offset Driver

Using an offset driver can help golfers reduce the likelihood of slicing the ball and promote straighter shots. Here are some tips on how to use your offset driver effectively, along with 15 commonly asked questions and answers:

Tips on How to Use Your Offset Driver:

Grip: Begin by gripping the club with a neutral grip, keeping your hands relaxed but secure.
Alignment: Position your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line.
Ball Position: Place the golf ball slightly forward in your stance, just inside the left heel for right-handed golfers.
Stance: Stand shoulder-width apart with your weight evenly distributed.
Posture: Maintain a slight bend in your knees and a neutral spine angle throughout the swing.
Backswing: Take the club back on the correct plane and keep the clubface square to the target line.
Transition: Initiate the downswing smoothly and maintain a gradual transfer of weight from back foot to front foot.
Impact: Keep your hands ahead of the clubhead at impact to prevent slicing.
Follow-Through: Extend your arms fully through the impact zone and finish with your chest facing the target.
Practice: Spend time on the driving range working on the above fundamentals to improve your consistency.

Q&A on Using Your Offset Driver:

What is an offset driver? An offset driver features a clubhead that is set slightly behind the shaft, which helps golfers square the clubface at impact and reduce slices.
Will an offset driver cure my slice? While an offset driver can help reduce slicing tendencies, it's essential to work on proper swing mechanics and take lessons to address the root cause of slicing.
Is an offset driver suitable for all skill levels? Yes, an offset driver can benefit golfers of all skill levels, especially those struggling with slicing.
Can I shape shots with an offset driver? Yes, you can still shape shots with an offset driver by adjusting your grip and swing path.
Can I use an offset driver for long drives? Yes, an offset driver can be used for all types of drives, including long shots off the tee.
Should I adjust the loft on my offset driver? Loft adjustments should be made based on your desired ball flight and launch angle.
What is the difference between a draw-bias and offset driver? A draw-bias driver is designed to promote a draw ball flight, while an offset driver helps reduce slicing tendencies.
Can I use an offset driver in tournament play? Yes, offset drivers are legal for tournament play unless specifically prohibited by the rules.
Does an offset driver affect distance? The impact on distance is minimal, and any differences are outweighed by improved accuracy.
Should I get fitted for an offset driver? Yes, getting fitted for an offset driver can help ensure you have the right specifications for your swing.
Can an offset driver help with other mishits? An offset driver can also be beneficial for minimizing hooks and other mis-hits.
Is an offset driver forgiving? Yes, offset drivers are designed to be more forgiving on off-center hits.
Can I use an offset driver off the fairway? While it's primarily designed for tee shots, you can use an offset driver off the fairway if necessary.
Can I adjust the offset on my driver? The offset is a fixed design feature of the driver and cannot be adjusted.
Can an offset driver improve my accuracy on approach shots? While the offset driver is primarily used for tee shots, improved accuracy can carry over to approach shots due to better alignment and swing mechanics.

Once you own an offset driver, it will be time to head to the driving range to learn how to use it. The tips below should help you make the transition to an offset driver as smooth and successful as possible.

Keep things the same. The first ‘adjustment’ you should make is not an adjustment at all – you should just keep things the same and start making some swings. This is part of the beauty of the offset driver; the fact that you don’t necessarily need to make swing changes in order to improve your ball flight.
When first getting started, make an effort to swing just as you always do, and check the results. Hopefully, you will see some degree of improvement right away, without doing anything else. You’ll probably need to make some adjustments as you move along, but the best way to get started is to just do what you always do and see how it goes.
Consider ball position changes. Now that you have some swings under your belt with this new driver, consider adjusting your ball position if you aren’t quite happy with your current results. Specifically, think about moving the ball up in your stance, closer to your left foot.
This is another adjustment which will give you a little more time to square up the club face before impact. If you do move the ball to the left in your stance, be sure to avoid sliding left to reach it in the downswing. This is a common mistake – and a mistake which can contribute to the slice.
Even if you are playing the ball pretty far forward in your stance, it is still best to rotate back and through your swing while staying balanced. Lateral movement is almost always a problem in the golf swing, so eliminate as much of it as possible. Feel free to experiment with different ball positions until you find something that improves your ball flight.
Adjust your aim. One of the hidden challenges that comes along with changing your ball flight is learning how to aim your new tee shots. For example, let’s say that using an offset driver has cut your slice in half. Your typical tee shot used to curve 20 yards to the right, and now it is curving just 10 yards.
That is a great improvement, but it isn’t going to translate to lower scores until you learn how to aim for this new pattern. You’ve probably gotten used to aiming way out to the left to play for your slice, but that won’t be necessary anymore. Learning to aim properly – and then trusting that aim on the course – is going to take some time.

Nothing in golf comes easy. Even if an offset driver does manage to help you produce longer and straighter drives, you are going to have to put in some work along the way. Keep an open mind during the process, and watch for any signs of improvement. With persistence and practice, better drives may be just around the corner.