The drive shot is a key component of your golf game and without the power and accuracy, you need to navigate difficult fairways you’re likely to be floundering behind the competition.
A good tee shot is essential if you don’t want to be constantly chasing position around the course. Having the ability to not only hit long drives but to do so with accuracy, is one of the main differences between amateur and professional players.
While we aren’t saying that you will instantly start hitting drives like Bryson DeChambeau by taking on board our five tips, we are confident that you will soon notice a difference in the quality of your drive shots. If your drive shots are holding your game back from reaching that next level then make sure to read on.
Widen Your Stance
When lining up any drive shot, you should account for the obvious fact that your driver is the longest club in your bag. As its length is longer than any other club then so, too, is its swing arc – this is where your driver generates the additional speed in the swing.
Because of the additional power the driver exudes, you are going to need a solid base. Think about it, how you swing your putter and driver differ hugely. When lining up a drive shot, the outside of your shoulders should line up with the inside of your feet, giving you a good base from which you can swing the driver to benefit from all the power and speed it offers whilst maintaining your balance.
Tilt Your Spine
If you struggle with the height and distance of your drive shot it is probably because you aren’t hitting up the golf ball. While we are taught to hit down on the ball with an iron, when the ball is on the ground, it is different when the ball is placed on top of a tee.
Tilt your spine, while keeping your legs in the same stable position, so you can strike up the ball. For example, right-handed players should lower their right shoulder while lifting their left shoulder (and vice versa for left-handed players). This will help to create a better angle for the shot, helping you to hit a long drive without the need for extra power.
Increase Driver Loft
For some golfers, driver loft can be a contentious issue. The general way of thinking is that players with faster club speeds require less loft, while those with slower speeds should use drivers with more loft. This helps to optimise the carry and roll of the ball.
Some players indeed like to play with drivers with only a small loft as it makes them appear to be more powerful to others on the course…that is until their poor shot finds them out. Putting the ego to one side and increasing the loft of your driver can improve your game overnight. Dustin Johnson, for example, hits tee shots well over 300 yards using a driver with an 11-degree loft.
Most drivers sold today come with adjustable faces with a range of around four degrees, so why not experiment the next time you hit the driving range?
Train with Lighter and Heavier Clubs
Training with both lighter and heavier clubs can refine your swing in different ways. A lighter club will help you to train to swing the club at a higher speed. This will help to activate small muscles in your body that will help you to swing the club at a faster speed – when practising, focus on creating the ‘swoosh’ sound in the downswing.
Practising with a heavier club will help to build and develop strength in the muscles utilised during the golf swing. The theory of training with lighter and heavier clubs than the one you would use in competition means that you can bring together both your speed and strength training to create an optimised swing.
Hit the Gym
Continuing with the building strength theme, our final recommendation is to hit the gym. More raw power equates to an increased driving range, so it makes sense to want to work your muscles so that you can generate more power in your swing.
When you swing a golf ball, the range of muscles that are engaged include:
- Triceps and biceps
- Upper back muscles
- Glutes
- Core muscles
- Pectoralis major
Any weight exercises that work these muscles, such as perpendicular throws with a medicine ball (replicating the movement of a golf swing), will be fantastic for developing a longer drive. Other exercises to add to your workout include deadlifts, squats, and lunges.
If you try any or all these suggestions then we have every faith that you will soon reap the benefits of a longer drive, putting you in pole position to challenge for golf trophies at whatever level it is you are playing.
