By Coach Erik Schjolberg – Feb 9, 2024
Contents
Key Takeaways – Should I Choke Up or Choke Down on My Driver?
- Choking down will give you more control, but it can reduce the total distance of your shot
- Choking down on a driver can impact the ball’s flight, resulting in a typically lower trajectory.
- You may want to consider a custom fitting to ensure you are properly fitted for your club if you find yourself choking down on a driver to control it.
- Professional golfers sometimes use drivers longer than standard, and they don’t choke up; this is done to achieve maximum distance
Remember being a little kid and all the sports equipment you used was just a little too big for you? Was this just me?
What was the tip of advice that was so easy to throw around? “Choke down!”
Some golfers choke down on the driver for better control due to its length. Let’s look at its impact, whether it’s worth it, and if you should do it.
What Are The Impacts of Choking Up on Drivers?
Choking down on your golf driver will impact your swing considerably. When the swing is changed, so are the results of your shot. The biggest differences you see are the ball’s flight and the total distance.
Lower Ball Flight
“When you choke down on the driver, you’ll hit the ball lower than when holding the club at the butt end.”
Many golfers feel that the golf ball will travel further with a lower ball flight. However, hitting the ball lower down does not typically lead to more distance.
If you hit drives higher, they will go farther on average. When hitting into the wind, choking up on the driver and keeping the ball low might give you extra yards.
Reduced Spin Rates Off The Face
Choking down on the driver makes the golf driver shaft a bit shorter. Spin is a bit easier to control, meaning your slice may not slice quite as far out of bounds!
Spin rates are a major problem for some players.
If you know your golf swing creates high spin rates, choking down can be the change you need to start seeing the center of the fairway again.
Slower Club Head Speed
Choking down on the driver will slow down your speed a bit. Generally speaking, slowing down club head speed on the golf course is not a good thing.
I have always found that choking up on my driver has a time and a place. If I need to slow things down and sort of punch one in the fairway, I’m good with this method.
If you are simply choking down on your driver every single time because your slices are out of control, it’s probably time to find a new golf club.
A Few Yards Less
When you choke up on a golf driver, you make it shorter; shorter golf clubs do not fly as far.
“The 3 wood has a shorter length and lower loft, resulting in less distance.”
“I’ve found that choking down on the driver and comparing it to the 3 wood’s total distance often results in similar distances, with the choked-down driver going just a few yards further than the 3 wood.”
More Confidence For Certain Players
For some golfers standing on a tee box is the best part of the game. You have the open fairway in front of you, and you can’t wait to stripe one down the middle.
For others, the driver is a nightmare. If you are someone who struggles with finding the center of the fairway, choking down can increase overall confidence.
I’ve also found that many senior golfers benefit greatly from easing up on the shaft just a bit – especially when they are swinging the right type of driver.
This is one of the positives of adjusting the grip on a driver, whether choking down or choking up.
Why Choke Up On A Driver?
As you can see from the impacts of choking up on drivers, not everything about this is positive. “I’ve choked down on a driver many times throughout my golf career, but there are a few times that I feel it is necessary and helpful to do it.”.”
You Are Hitting A Driver Into The Wind and Trying To Keep It Low
“When playing a driver into the wind, it may go up too high and push back towards you.” Depending on the speed of the wind, expect to get 10-30 yards less on your drives.
If you can hit the ball lower, you might maintain your distance. Even a small reduction can be advantageous on a windy day.
I have used the method of choking down on the driver when playing golf in the wind, and it is effective.
New Players Choke Down On Driver For Control
The driver can be a lot to manage. If you’re new at the driving range and want more control and consistency, try choking down on the club.
For many new players, the only way to find the sweet spot is to do this for a few practice sessions until the driver feels less awkward.
When Working On Golf Course Management
Some golf holes are tight. You may have watered down the left and right sides, and hitting a driver that lands in the middle may seem like a daunting task. Remember that choking down on the driver does create less spin, and it may keep you in the fairway.
Always consider the positives and negatives of choking down on the driver before playing it, especially if you struggle with a slicing driver.
How Far Should You Be Choking Down On Driver?
“Remember the need to avoid overcorrecting or exaggerating a slight change in the swing when choking down on the club.”
When you choke down on the club, the club swing weight will change a bit; in addition, the shaft can feel stiffer. The combination of these two leaves you swinging a club head that feels heavy.
I would choke down about a half inch from the top of the driver grip and then, from there, choke down further if it seems to have no impact on the golf shot you hit.
Slower swing speed players must be especially careful how far they choke down; you could throw off your golf tempo and total distance by choking down too much on the club.
FAQ
One of the great things about choking down on a driver is that it’s a simple adjustment; if you don’t like it, you can always switch back. I’ve had a lot of success choking up on clubs like a sand wedge or a pitching wedge, but the shorter driver swing is a bit more difficult to get down.
It is completely acceptable should you choke down on your driver, but expect a lower trajectory, loss of a little distance, and a slightly slower swing speed. You may remember PGA pro Anthony Kim choking down on a driver, so there are a few exceptions to the rule.
Choking down on a golf club can reduce distance but improve control. Some golfers do it to increase confidence in their swing.
It is a common myth that you can choke down on a driver for more distance. Most players lose about 5-15 yards by choking down on a golf club. It also depends on the club’s weighting and the driver’s loft.
Consider re-shafting the club for better performance if you’re struggling with its length. Make sure not to just cut an old golf driver shaft down; have a custom shaft ordered for you. If you take too much of the club length off, the stiffer shaft is harder to swing.
Many golfers choke down on the driver for control. In addition, lower spin rates from choking down lead to a straighter shot and a lower trajectory. If you still have a problem slicing even when you choke down, you should consider upgrading your club to one with more forgiveness.
Most short golfers find their golf clubs to be a little long. If you make a full swing and struggle to play golf with the club you have, it makes sense to get a shorter driver shaft.“When choking up on the bat, you may have better control but it could impact your swing weight and distance.“
No, when you choke down on your driver you are sacrificing distance for more control. Instead, test out drivers with different lengths on the driving range, or use a golf ball designed specifically for distance to add a few yards.
Final Thoughts:
Should You Choke Down On Your Driver?
When I first got my driver, it was a little long for me. I started by choking up on the club to make it easier to swing, but when I moved my hands back to the end of the grip, the difference was incredible.
I noticed a higher ball flight and more distance, although the dispersion was not as tight, it was well worth it for the benefits.
Remember this: find a driver that fits your golf swing, don’t adjust your swing for the clubs. Ordering a custom driver slightly shorter than the standard length is so easy with the way golf technology has changed.
Here is a related video guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c14LrMzDtp8&pp=ygUtU2hvdWxkIFlvdSBDaG9rZSBVcCBvciBDaG9rZSBEb3duIG9uIERyaXZlcj8g