Driver tension

I'm 57 and when I hit a nice drive I can get it out there about 280 with not too much roll. However...my misses are short pulls or big slices over the trees out of play. I think part of my problem is starting down from the top a bit and tension in my arms going into my chest on the downswing.

How do you guys swing with less tension and still generate clubhead speed? If I loosen my grip, I feel too flippy and I already flip a bit. Also, when I rotate through - not that I'm rotating super fast - I subconsciously think my arms have to tighten a bit to 'hold on for the ride' - if that makes sense.

Tighten up grip, loosen up arms...tension shouldn't radiate

I can relate to that miss. When I experience it I know my sequence is off and I'm OTT. Regarding the tension...I just relax my grip. But, in doing that I need to be sure I've got a grip with my hands really in the right position (certainly not too weak - twisted left). And, I must remember to swing past my body. It's easy to not release the club well doing that. At least, that's what I've noticed. I'm 53 now and, per our age, it sounds like you and I are unusually long for amateurs at our age.

One tip I learned from the longdriving sect years ago on relaxing the grip. Put your hands out and grip your driver with the head pointing straight up in the air. Relax your grip so that the club almost slides down through your hands. Let the club wiggle around to feel it. There's your relaxed grip... A grip that relaxed with a proper release? Adios ball...

What is your sequence key to keep from OTT? And can you explain a little more on swinging past your body?

I can try - I'm no pro. But, for the longest time my first move from the top was pushing the hands out forward. I know (and can feel) that proper sequence starts with the lower body - letting the hands stay behind. It's a lag thing, allowing me to swing from the inside more. Lately one of the things I like to do is hit a draw without changing my setup at all. For me, that's a great development to be able to do that. As far as swinging past the body...that's just the way it was told to me when our assistant pro started talking to me about releasing the club. One of the swing thoughts that really helped me to start hitting the driver well was "keeping my back to the target at impact". Feel isn't real, and that may not be what I'm doing. But, I'm not letting my body get ahead of my arms if that makes sense. Just one hacker's thoughts on this...

I was a total hacker who has just dedicated himself to swinging the club better...later in life.

Actually the best way to create clubhead speed is with a loose grip.... loose is fast tight is slow. But accuracy wont be there so gotta tighten up. If accuracy weren't an issue it would be loose grip all day for distance...

I imagine the ball is my ex-wife's mother. It helps me find a balance between wanting to shatter the ball into a zillion pieces and wanting to savor every delightful moment. (I'm, of course, speaking metaphorically.)

What you're saying sounds a lot like performance nerves. Nervousness is fueled by adrenaline and doubt. You can at least blow off the adrenaline by making a number of violent practice swings (good luck with the doubt).

Energy flows through the conduits of the arms and hands like water flowing out of a hose. If you kink the hose you'll block the energy.