Hit Longer Drives In Golf (Without Losing Accuracy)

There’s a fine line between hitting your driver farther and hitting it all over the map. If you want to gain distance without losing accuracy, there are proven ways to do it. Take your time with each step and drill. This isn’t about gaining 20 yards overnight. Even one yard at a time can make a noticeable difference in your game.

Flare out your lead foot

When your lead foot is square, it blocks your hip rotation. Sometimes the upper body jumps in to compensate and you pull it or strike the driver with an open clubface. When you flare out the lead foot 20 to 30 degrees, it makes it easier to rotate through while staying in balance.

I like to set up square first and then turn the lead foot slightly so I know my stance parallel to the target line.

Get a better coil

The drill below from Top Speed Golf is one I’ve had my son work on. He’s 11 and wants to gain more power. This split-handed grip drill helps players feel a better coil.

If you want to swing harder but aren’t sure how to go about it, I would suggest working on this drill to engage the big muscles and stay on plane at the same time.

Try this split‑grip drill:

• Hold the club with the lead hand in the normal position and the trail hand almost halfway down the shaft.
• Get a big turn back, let the lead heel come off the ground if you need to.
• From the top, swing down on plane and drive the trail hip and shoulder through impact. It feels (and looks) a little like a hockey slapshot.

Hit the center of the face

This one seems obvious but many golfers struggle to hit the center of the clubface. The easiest way to increase ball speed and reduce dispersion is to strike the center of the face.

Off-center hits not only lose distance but they can send you chasing drives into the woods.

Try to get some instance feedback:

• Get some impact tape
• Hit five balls and mark the pattern.
• Adjust the tee height or your distance from the ball until strikes consistently hit the center.

Learn to close the face without flipping

If you add speed but your face stays open, you’ll slice it every time. The key is to learn how to rotate the toe of the driver through impact so it’s square when you strike the ball. An impact bag is the perfect training aid for this action.

Impact bag drill:

• Set an impact bag in front of a tee (no ball).
• Make swings into the bag, rotating the toe into it.
• Hit balls after each set, focusing on releasing the toe through impact, not flipping with the hands.

Force an upward strike

To hit long drives, you want to hit up on the ball. If your angle of attack is too steep and you try to add speed, you’ll miss fairways.

A simple headcover drill is one of my favorite ways to practice this. Remove the driver headcover and place it about a foot in front of your golf ball.

As you hit drives, swing up and over the cover, don’t hit it. Tee the ball high when you’re looking for more distance and make sure the ball position is towards the front of your stance.

Take it back slow

One of the easiest ways to lose accuracy is rushing the club back. A fast takeaway pulls your arms out of sync with your torso. A slower start helps your swing stay connected, allowing you to deliver the club on time with more power.

Try this tempo cue:

• Count “1-2-3” on the way back, and “1” on the way through.
• Feel the club’s weight in your hands during the entire backswing.
• Let your arms drop naturally before the chest rotates through.

Final thoughts

Adding distance doesn’t have to mean sacrificing control. Every tip here adds speed but only if you stay balanced, centered and synced.