How to Hit a Driver Straight And Far: DOs and DONTs!

The modern golf game really focuses on driving the ball and hitting it as far as possible. So, the driver has become an even more crucial club in the bag. So we attempt to answer the perennial question of how to hit a driver straight and far, one of the most challenging tasks on the golf course.

The driver, with its imposing size and unmatched distance potential, is one of the most enticing clubs in any golfer’s bag. But it’s also one of the most challenging to master. And we break down the key points to help you improve your ability to hit a driver consistently and with power.

How To Hit A Driver?

You can find a lot of videos on YouTube teaching you how to hit a driver. But here we’ll focus on the basics that will give you a solid foundation to hit your driver further and straighter.

1. Choose the Right Driver for You

Before you even swing, ensure you’re using a driver that’s suited to your game. Consider factors like loft, shaft flex, and clubhead size. Typically, beginners benefit from drivers with more loft and a flexible shaft.

2. Setup and Alignment

Feet and Ball Position: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, ensuring a strong, stable base. The ball should be aligned with the inside (heel) of your lead foot.
Grip: Hold the club using a neutral grip, ensuring both thumbs point down the shaft.
Posture: Keep a straight back, tilt at your hips, and slightly bend your knees.

3. Ball Position and Tee Height

Position the ball so that half of the ball is above the top of the driver when teed up. This promotes an upward strike, which is ideal for maximizing distance with a driver.

4. Grip Pressure

On a Scale of 1 to 10: Imagine grip pressure on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is holding the club so lightly it might fall from your hands, and 10 is squeezing as tightly as possible. Most instructors advise a grip pressure of around 4 to 6 for the driver. This allows for control without undue tension.
Hold, Don’t Squeeze: A common analogy is to hold the club as you would a bird: tightly enough so it doesn’t fly away but not so tight as to harm it. Another analogy is holding a tube of toothpaste with the cap off without squeezing any out.
Consistent Pressure: It’s crucial to maintain consistent grip pressure throughout the swing. A common mistake is to start with a light grip but tense up right before impact. This can impede clubhead speed and reduce accuracy.
Avoid “Death Grip”: Gripping the driver too tightly can inhibit wrist hinge, limit the fluidity of the swing, and reduce clubhead speed. Tension in the forearms can also disrupt the natural path of the swing.
Equal Pressure in Both Hands: Ensure that both hands exert equal pressure. Favoring one hand over the other can lead to swing imbalances.

5. Rotate, Don’t Slide

Focus on rotating your hips and shoulders during the backswing rather than sliding them. A proper coil is essential for power. At the top of your backswing, your lead shoulder should be under your chin.

6. Downswing Sequence

Start the downswing with your hips, followed by your torso, arms, and then hands. This sequence ensures maximum energy transfer from your body to the club.

7. Hit Up on the Ball

To maximize distance, aim to strike the ball on the upswing. This minimizes backspin and creates optimal launch conditions.

8. Follow Through

After impact, your chest should face the target and your weight should shift fully to your lead foot. Your back foot should be on its toes, and your hands should finish high.

9. Mental Focus and Rhythm

Finally, remember that swinging harder doesn’t always mean hitting farther. It’s crucial to maintain rhythm and balance. Instead of trying to overpower the ball, focus on making clean contact and maintaining a consistent swing tempo.

10. Free Flowing Golf Club

Let it go, swing freely.

Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes

Slicing the Ball: This often happens when the clubface is open at impact. Ensure your grip isn’t too weak and that you’re not coming “over the top” during your downswing.
Hitting Behind the Ball: This may be due to trying to hit the ball too hard or losing your spine angle. Focus on a smooth tempo and maintaining posture.
Teeing the Ball Too Low: If you’re not getting enough air on your drives, try teeing the ball slightly higher to promote an upward angle of attack.

How To Hit A Driver Farther?

The power in a golf swing, often referred to as “distance” when talking about the outcome, comes from a combination of factors working together. Here’s a breakdown of where the power originates and how it’s generated:

Ground Up

The golf swing starts from the ground up. One thing golfers may not realize is that power starts with the legs and feet pushing against the ground. That’s why having strong legs, stable footing, and the right shoes is crucial.

Hip Rotation

As the downswing starts, the hips begin to rotate and uncoil. This rotational energy transfers up the spine and into the torso. The speed and efficiency of this rotation play a big part in power generation.

Torso and Core

Your core muscles, which include the abdominal and lower back muscles, play a vital role in transferring and amplifying the energy from the lower body to the upper body. A strong and flexible core can contribute significantly to swing power.

Shoulder Turn

A full shoulder turn in the backswing stores up potential energy. When this is unleashed in the downswing, it significantly contributes to swing speed.

Arm Extension

Keeping the lead arm extended (but not locked) during the backswing and downswing can create a wider arc, leading to more power. The trailing arm plays a role in providing leverage.

Wrist Hinge

The wrists act as a hinge in the golf swing. Loading the club in the backswing by hinging the wrists and then releasing that hinge (often called “releasing the lag”) in the downswing can create a whip-like effect, producing power.

Increase Clubhead Speed

Work on improving your physical fitness, focusing on flexibility, and core strength. Incorporate speed training using tools like the SuperSpeed Golf Training System or similar aids.

Optimal Launch Conditions

Strive for a high-launch and low-spin condition. This can be achieved with an upward angle of attack and a driver loft/shaft setup suited to your swing.

Solid Contact

Hitting the sweet spot of the driver consistently will maximize ball speed. Drills and impact tape can help you identify and improve strike consistency.

Swing Technique

A wide arc and proper weight transfer can contribute to more power. Work on an efficient kinetic sequence: hips initiate the downswing, followed by the torso, arms, and then the club.

Equipment Check

Ensure your driver’s loft, shaft flex, and clubhead design match your swing characteristics. Consider a professional fitting session. And use a golf ball that complements your swing speed and desired launch/spin

Regular Practice

Incorporate drills that enhance swing speed and contact. This could include over-speed and under-speed training.

Work on Balance

An effective, powerful swing requires good balance from setup to follow-through. Balance training exercises can help.

How Far Should You Hit the Driver?

Professional Male Golfers: Often drive the ball 280-320 yards, with some reaching over 350 yards.
Professional Female Golfers: Typically drive between 230-270 yards, with elite players occasionally exceeding this range.
Amateur Male Golfers:
- Low handicap: Often average between 260-300 yards, depending on age and skill.
- High handicap: Often average between 230-270 yards, depending on age and skill.
Amateur Female Golfers:
- Low handicap: Often average between 190-240 yards, depending on age and skill.
- High handicap: Often average between 130-180 yards. depending on age and skill.

What Should My Driver Swing Speed Be?

The optimal loft and launch angle for your driver depend on several factors, particularly your swing speed. The goal is to achieve a combination that maximizes both carry and roll, optimizing your total driving distance. Here’s a general breakdown:

Swing Speed and Driver Loft

The relationship between swing speed and the ideal driver loft is relatively inverse. Golfers with slower swing speeds typically benefit from drivers with higher lofts, while those with faster swing speeds often do best with lower lofts.

Swing Speed under 85 mph: A loft of 14-20 degrees can be effective.
Swing Speed 86-95 mph: A loft between 12-15 degrees might be optimal.
Swing Speed 96-105 mph: Consider a loft between 9-12 degrees.
Swing Speed over 105 mph: A loft between 7-10 degrees might work best.

Launch Angle

Launch angle refers to the angle at which the ball leaves the clubface after impact. Like loft, the ideal launch angle is closely related to swing speed:

Swing Speed under 85 mph: A launch angle of 14-19 degrees is typically effective.
Swing Speed 86-95 mph: Aim for a launch angle of 12-16 degrees.
Swing Speed 96-105 mph: A launch angle between 11-15 degrees might be optimal.
Swing Speed over 105 mph: Consider a launch angle of 8-12 degrees.

Additional Considerations

Spin Rate: Spin is another essential factor. Generally, lower swing speeds require higher spin rates, and faster swing speeds need lower spin rates. For many players, a spin rate between 2000-3000 rpm with a driver is a good range, but this varies based on individual swing characteristics.
Ball Type: Different golf balls have varying characteristics. Some are designed to launch higher, while others produce less spin. It’s essential to choose a ball that complements your driver setup and swing.
Equipment Technology: Modern drivers often come with adjustable loft and weighting systems. This adjustability can help fine-tune your launch conditions.
Attack Angle: Players who have an upward (positive) attack angle with the driver (hitting “up” on the ball) often benefit from lower lofts, while those with a downward (negative) attack angle might require higher lofted drivers.

What is Rory McIlroy’s Swing Speed?

Over the years, McIlroy’s swing speed and ball speed with the driver have been among the best on the PGA Tour. And in my opinion, he is currently the best driver of the golf ball and one of the best of all time.

Rory McIlroy’s driver swing speed has often been in the range of 120-123 mph. However, it’s worth noting that these figures can vary from round to round and from year to year. At times, Rory has even been clocked with swing speeds higher than 124 mph.

His ball speed, a reflection of both swing speed and the quality of strike, has frequently been measured in the 175-185 mph range. On certain occasions, and under optimal conditions, Rory has even exceeded the 190 mph mark.

How To Hit A Driver Straight?

Why Is The Driver So Hard To Hit?

Low Loft: Compared to other clubs, drivers have the lowest loft (usually between 8-12 degrees for most players). Low loft requires a more precise angle of attack and strike to ensure the ball gets airborne and follows a desirable trajectory.
Long Shaft: The driver has the longest shaft in the bag. While this helps increase clubhead speed for greater distance, it also magnifies mistakes. A slight error in swing path or clubface alignment at impact can result in a significantly offline shot.
Larger Clubhead: Though a large clubhead can inspire confidence, it can also make some golfers overconfident or even a bit lazy in setting up and aligning the shot.
Swing Speed: The driver is swung faster than any other club. While high swing speed is beneficial for distance, it can also increase the chance of errors in the swing.
Margin for Error: When using a driver, golfers are typically aiming to hit a relatively narrow fairway. This contrasts with an iron shot aimed at a larger green or a wedge shot where precision might be more manageable.
Ball Position: The driver is the only club in the bag where the ball is typically teed up forward in the stance (near the lead foot) and hit on the upswing. This unique ball position can sometimes be challenging to get consistently right.
Mental Pressure: There’s often added pressure on the tee box, especially on tight or challenging holes. The idea of “needing” a good drive can lead to tension and overthinking, which can negatively impact the swing.