There’s something incredibly satisfying about hitting a great drive. The feeling of solid contact and watching the ball soar through the air is one of the most enjoyable parts of golf.
If you want to find the fairway more often this season, and maybe even pick up a few yards, these five tips can help improve your performance off the tee.
As with all great golf shots, success begins with a proper setup and your driver is no different. When addressing the ball, your posture with the driver should mirror your other clubs—hinge from the hips, arms hang naturally, and hands hang below the shoulders.
However, there is one important distinction with the driver: shoulder tilt.
Because your ball position will be slightly forward—I tell my students to line it up with the instep of the lead foot—you’ll need a slight shoulder tilt. To achieve this, think about getting your lead shoulder a little higher than your trail shoulder. This tilt promotes an upward angle of attack, which will help you launch the ball high with less spin and more distance.
Your backswing is where power is stored. To boost your speed and distance, you’ll need to move the club around your body to create a coiled position at the top of your swing—ideally getting your clubhead behind you.
This coil is what allows you to load and explode in your swing. Not only does it help you generate energy, but it also encourages an efficient path in the downswing that helps you deliver maximum speed at impact.
Striking the ball in the sweet spot is key to improving your performance off the tee. Off-center hits—often caused by twisted clubface—result in a poor feel, and reduced power.
My gate drill can help you generate more center-face contact. To try it out, place two tees on either side of your ball, forming a small gate. Practice swinging your club through without hitting the tees. This encourages you to enter impact with a square clubface. It also gives you immediate feedback that is helpful for understanding your misses.
A slice is a frustrating miss that drains your swing of power and consistency. If you’re struggling with a slice, working with an instructor can help, but there are a few things you can do on your own to eliminate this frustrating miss.
Start by checking your grip. A neutral or slightly stronger grip—where your hands are turned slightly under the grip, or away from the target—can improve your chances of squaring the clubface through impact.
You can also work on your release to ensure you’re maintaining a square clubface through impact. One of my favorite drills for improving your release is a split-hand drill.
Without a ball, grip the club with your hands in their normal position. Next, slide your trail hand down the shaft, so your hands are separated. Make a few swings, focusing on your lead elbow. It should fold naturally, so the trail arm can release over and allow the clubface to square and close.
Once your fundamentals and contact are solid, it’s time to train for speed. This takes a bit of time and focus, but the payoff is long, powerful drives.
I am a big fan of The Stack training system, which you can purchase at the link below, because their app assesses your current speed and provides guided workouts tailored to your swing’s needs. It’s efficient, effective, and doesn’t require much time—just a consistent effort.
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