How to - Longer Drive

Hitting a longer drive in golf involves a combination of technique, body mechanics, and practice. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this:

1. Select the Right Equipment:

   • Use a driver that suits your swing style. The shaft flex, loft, and clubhead size can all impact your driving distance. Get fitted by a professional if possible.

2. Set Up Properly:

   • Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart for stability.
   • Grip the club comfortably — not too tight.
   • Position the ball inside the front heel. This encourages an upward strike, which is key for distance.
   • Tilt your spine slightly away from the target. Your head should be behind the ball.

3. Aim and Alignment:

   • Align your body (feet, hips, shoulders) parallel to your target line.
   • Aim the clubface directly at the target.

4. Backswing:

   • Start with a smooth takeaway. Don't rush.
   • Keep your left arm (for right-handed golfers) straight and turn your shoulders fully. Your back should be facing the target at the top of your backswing.
   • As you reach the top, fully hinge your wrists.

5. Transition and Downswing:

   • Initiate the downswing with a slight shift of your lower body towards the target.
   • Unwind your hips and shoulders, transferring your weight smoothly from the back foot to the front foot.
   • Keep your wrists hinged until you naturally release the club in the downswing.

6. Impact:

   • At impact, your body should be rotating towards the target.
   • Try to achieve a 'sweeping' motion with the club, hitting the ball on the upswing.
   • Keep your head down and eyes on the ball until after impact.

7. Follow-Through:

   • Continue rotating your body towards the target.
   • Finish with a full follow-through, with your chest facing the target and the club over your lead shoulder.
   • Your weight should be mostly on your front foot, and you should be balanced.

8. Practice Drills:

   • Use swing speed drills to increase your clubhead speed.
   • Practice drills

to improve your flexibility and strength, particularly in your core and lower body.

9. Regular Analysis:

   • Regularly check your technique, either with video analysis or with a coach. Small adjustments can make a big difference in your driving distance.

10. Consistent Practice:

    • Consistency is key. Practice regularly to develop and maintain good habits in your swing.

11. Mental Approach:

    • Stay relaxed and focused. Avoid overthinking or tensing up, as this can negatively impact your swing speed and fluidity.

12. Experiment with Stance Width:

    • While the standard advice is a slightly wider-than-shoulder stance, some golfers find more power with a slightly narrower or wider stance. Experiment to see what feels most powerful and controlled for you.

13. Adjust Tee Height:

    • Experiment with different tee heights to find what works best for your swing. A higher tee can encourage hitting up on the ball, which can increase distance.

14. Monitor Your Fitness:

    • Golf-specific fitness routines focusing on flexibility, core strength, and overall conditioning can help you increase your driving distance.

Remember, increasing your driving distance is not just about swinging harder. It's about efficiency, technique, and using your body's mechanics to your advantage. Each player's swing is unique, so it's important to find what works best for you while adhering to these fundamental principles.