How to Use a Hammer Golf Driver

The Hammer Golf Driver wasn't just another club, it was a legend wrapped in an infomercial, promising bomb-like drives with its whippy, unorthodox design. If you've got one in your garage or just picked one up for kicks, you’ve probably discovered it doesn’t swing like a modern driver. This guide will walk you through the unique feel and technique required to unlock the potential of the famous Hammer, focusing on rhythm and timing over sheer force.

What Exactly Is the Hammer Driver (And Why Is It So Different)?

Before we can talk about how to swing it, we need to understand what made the Hammer, promoted by the charismatic Jack Hamm, so unique. Unlike the stiff, highly engineered driver shafts of today, the Hammer was built with an extremely flexible, almost fishing-rod-like shaft. The famous "Power of the X-Factor!" commercials talked about storing and unleashing incredible energy.

The entire concept was based on creating incredible lag and then releasing that energy in a violent, snapping motion through impact. Think of it less like a solid bat and more like a medieval flail or a whip. A traditional, powerful swing driven by brute force will cause the Hammer to misbehave spectacularly. To hit it well, you have to let go of conventional wisdom and learn to work with the club's design, not against it.

Setting Up to Swing the Hammer

Your journey to a booming Hammer drive starts before you even move the club. A standard driver setup needs a few small but important adjustments to accommodate the whippy shaft and encourage the right kind of swing sequence. A tense, rigid address position is a non-starter here.

Grip: Keep It Light

If there's one place you can ruin the Hammer swing before it begins, it's with your grip. A tight, high-pressure "death grip" is your enemy. Holding on too tight restricts your wrists and forearms, preventing the shaft from loading and unloading naturally. You need to keep your hands, wrists, and shoulders as relaxed as possible.

Think about holding a small bird - firm enough so it can’t fly away, but light enough that you don’t harm it. A grip pressure of about 3 or 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 is ideal. This lightness promotes a fluid motion and allows the club to release through the ball without you manipulating it.

Stance & Ball Position: Widen Your Base

Because the swing with a Hammer can feel a bit longer and loopier due to the shaft flex, a slightly wider stance is beneficial. Aim for your feet to be just outside of shoulder-width. This provides a more stable foundation for the dynamic, rotational move you’re about to make.

Ball position remains fairly standard: place the ball just off the inside of your lead foot's heel (your left foot for a right-handed player). This encourages you to sweep up on the ball at impact, which is exactly what you want. You might also find that standing a touch farther from the ball than you would with a regular driver helps to create space for your arms to extend and the club to release freely.

The Hammer Swing: Letting the Club Do the Work

This is where everything changes. Forget trying to muscle the ball. The Hammer swing is all about rhythm, sequence, and patience. Your goal is to create a long, smooth arc and feel the whip of the shaft, not force the clubhead to a certain position.

1. The Takeaway: Low and Slow

Your first move away from the ball should be exceptionally smooth. Rushing the takeaway is the most common error. When you snatch the club away from the ball quickly, the whippy shaft reacts unpredictably, often getting the club out of position immediately.

Start the swing with a one-piece takeaway, using your shoulders and torso to move the club, hands, and arms together. Imagine you are dragging the clubhead along the ground for the first couple of feet. The goal here is to begin loading the shaft gradually. You want to feel the weight of the clubhead as it starts its arc around your body.

2. The Backswing: Wait for the Load

As you continue to turn your shoulders and hips away from the target, let the club complete its backswing. This is where you’ll feel the biggest difference. The clubhead will feel like it’s lagging way behind your hands because of the shaft's extreme flex. Do not fight this feeling.

This deep lag is the source of the Hammer's power. Your job is to complete your body turn and be patient. Many golfers feel the lag and instinctively try to speed up their hands to make the club "catch up." This destroys the sequence. Instead, think about getting to the top and simply waiting for a split second. Let the shaft fully load. You should feel a slight downward pressure as the shaft fully flexes and settles before you start the downswing.

3. The Transition & Downswing: Fire From the Ground Up

This is the "snap" moment. The power doesn’t come from pulling the handle down with your arms. The advertisements were right - it comes from a powerful rotational move that starts with your lower body. Once you feel that the shaft has loaded at the top, initiate the downswing by shifting your weight to your lead foot and unwinding your hips.

This move creates a slingshot effect. Your body starts to turn toward the target, which pulls the handle down, but the deeply-lagged clubhead remains behind. As your arms drop into the hitting area, the tension stored in the shaft will unload violently. Your arms and hands are just along for the ride. They should feel passive as they deliver the club to the ball. Your only thought should be: "turn the body and let the club go."

4. Impact and Follow-Through: Swing to a Full Finish

Don't try to manipulate or "hit" the ball at impact. Trust the release. Let your arms extend all the way through the shot toward the target, and keep your body rotating until your chest is facing the target. Because the club is moving so fast, hold your balance in the finish position.

A good, balanced finish with 90% of your weight on your lead foot tells you that your sequence was correct. If you fall backward or off-balance, it’s a sign that you likely tried to generate power with your upper body instead of using your rotation.

Two Drills to Master the Hammer's Rhythm

To really get a feel for this unique swing, go beyond just hitting balls. These two drills are designed to ingrain the tempo and sequence the Hammer requires.

• The Step-Through Drill: This is a fantastic drill for learning proper sequencing. Set up with your feet together. As you start your backswing, take a step toward the target with your lead foot, planting it firmly as the club reaches the top. Then, unwind your lower body forcefully. This drill makes it almost impossible to start the downswing with your arms and forces you to feel the power generated from your lower body's rotation.
• The 50% Speed Swing: Take several practice swings - or even hit balls - at what feels like half of your normal speed. Forget distance. The only goal is to feel the shaft load on the backswing and release on the downswing. You should feel a distinct "whoosh" sound at the bottom of the swing, even at low speed. This drill trains your body to rely on tempo instead of tension.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the Hammer Golf Driver is less about learning a new technique and more about unlearning bad habits. It forces you to focus on smooth tempo, proper sequencing, and letting go of the need to control every part of the swing. Resist the urge to overpower it, stay relaxed, and you'll find there's still a lot of fun - and distance - to be had with this classic piece of golf history.

Developing that great tempo and sequence isn't just for a niche club like the Hammer, it's the foundation of a great golf swing with any club. If you ever feel stuck trying to fix your swing or need on-the-spot advice, I can provide that instant, expert guidance. You can ask me any question about your technique, course strategy, or even snap a picture of a difficult lie on the course to get a specific plan for the shot. I’m here to help you take the guesswork out of the game so you can enjoy hitting better shots and start playing with more confidence. Check out Caddie AI to learn more.