17 Driving Tips for More Distance and Accuracy

The Secret to Long and Straight Drives Isn’t What You Think

Most golfers think hitting long drives means swinging harder, but the truth is, distance and accuracy both come from control. A wild, fast swing might look powerful, but it rarely finds the fairway. The longest hitters in golf aren’t necessarily the fastest — they’re the most efficient.

To hit longer and straighter drives, you need to understand how setup, rhythm, and body movement work together. These 17 tips will help you build the foundation for a powerful, controlled driver swing that holds up under pressure.

1. Tee Height — Set It to Match Your Attack Angle

Your tee height controls how you strike the ball. Too low, and you’ll hit down on it, creating spin and losing carry. Too high, and you risk catching it high on the face or skying it. The sweet spot is when half the ball sits above the crown of your driver.

This tee height encourages an upward strike that optimizes launch and spin for maximum distance. It also gives you room to deliver the clubhead from the inside, promoting a powerful draw shape that adds both distance and control.

2. Widen Your Stance to Stabilize Power

A wider stance gives your swing a more solid foundation. It allows you to coil fully in the backswing without losing balance and provides a stable base for your downswing rotation.

Your feet should be just outside shoulder width for the driver. If they’re too narrow, your swing gets quick and wobbly. Too wide, and your rotation becomes restricted. A stable stance keeps your lower body engaged, helping you load power and release it efficiently through impact.

3. Tilt Your Spine Slightly Away from Target

One of the biggest keys to hitting up on the ball is your spine tilt. At setup, your trail shoulder should sit slightly lower than your lead shoulder. This creates an upward angle of attack — exactly what you want for high-launch, low-spin drives.

Don’t overdo it or lean excessively. Just tilt enough that you feel your head behind the ball. This setup position helps you stay behind the shot through impact and promotes that powerful, upward strike that adds yards while keeping spin under control.

4. Grip Pressure — Loose for Speed, Firm for Control

Tension is the enemy of clubhead speed. When you grip the driver too tightly, your forearms and shoulders stiffen, slowing down your release. The key is balanced grip pressure — light enough to stay relaxed, firm enough to stay in control.

A good test is to waggle the club before you swing. If it feels heavy and smooth, your grip is just right. If it feels locked and rigid, loosen up. Remember: the lighter your hands, the faster the clubhead can move through impact.

5. Ball Position — Forward, Not Too Forward

The driver is the only club you hit on the upswing, so the ball needs to be positioned just inside your lead heel. This allows the club to bottom out before the ball and then rise into it.

If it’s too far back, you’ll hit down and spin the ball too much. If it’s too far forward, you’ll block or slice it. Proper ball position also helps you keep your chest behind the ball through impact, generating better launch and longer carry.

6. Make a Full Shoulder Turn Without Swaying

Power begins with coil — not movement. A full shoulder turn allows you to store energy in your core, but it must happen around your spine, not by sliding off the ball. When you sway, your weight shifts laterally instead of coiling, and that energy never transfers back into the shot.

Keep your trail knee flexed and your trail hip turning behind you as your shoulders rotate. If your left shoulder moves under your chin at the top, you’ve completed a solid turn. This creates the stretch and torque needed for effortless speed when you unwind.

7. Start the Downswing from the Ground Up

Most golfers start their downswing with their hands or shoulders, but that destroys sequence and costs power. The correct move starts from the ground up — your lower body shifts pressure into your lead side first, and the arms naturally follow.

Feel like your front hip bumps slightly toward the target to start the motion, then let your torso and arms unwind. This small change keeps your swing connected and delivers the club from the inside. You’ll instantly notice more compression and a stronger strike.

8. Shift Pressure, Don’t Slide

There’s a big difference between shifting weight and sliding it. A pressure shift keeps you balanced while loading power into the ground. A slide pushes your hips too far laterally, making it nearly impossible to rotate through impact.

A simple feel: during your downswing, imagine you’re pressing your lead foot into the turf instead of sliding your hips. That pressure creates a stable post for your upper body to rotate around. The result is centered contact, clean launch, and straighter drives.

9. Keep the Trail Elbow Connected for Lag

Lag isn’t about holding angles — it’s about connection. When your trail elbow stays tucked near your rib cage during transition, the club shallows naturally and gains stored energy. When that elbow flies out, you lose both sequence and clubface control.

To train it, make half swings keeping a headcover or glove under your trail arm. If it falls, you disconnected. When you stay connected, you’ll feel a whip-like release at the bottom and hear that satisfying “crack” of pure contact.

10. Hit Up on the Ball for Launch and Carry

The driver swing is the only one in golf where you want to hit up on the ball. This upward strike increases launch angle and reduces spin, which maximizes carry distance. The key is to keep your chest behind the ball as your club travels up through impact.

A great drill is to place an empty water bottle a few inches in front of your ball. If you hit down too steep, you’ll clip it. Focus on brushing the tee upward and finishing high. Once you feel the correct upward strike, the ball will start launching higher with less effort.

11. Train Face Control with Tee Gate or Foot Spray

The key to accuracy is face control, not swing path. Even a small face angle error can send the ball 20 yards off line. To train it, use a tee gate (two tees slightly wider than your clubhead) or spray your driver face with Dr. Scholl’s foot powder to see impact marks.

You’ll quickly learn whether your misses come from heel, toe, or face angle issues. Small setup adjustments and consistent feedback from these drills help you develop the repeatable center strikes that make drives fly straighter.

12. Finish Balanced — Don’t Fall Out of the Shot

Your finish position reveals everything about your swing. If you’re falling backward or spinning off balance, it means your weight transfer and tempo were off. Every great driver finishes tall, facing the target, and balanced on their lead side.

Hold your finish for three seconds after every swing in practice. It trains your body to complete the motion instead of forcing it. Balanced finishes produce centered contact — and centered contact produces both distance and accuracy.

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13. Pick Small Targets, Not Whole Fairways

When you aim at the whole fairway, your swing loses precision. Your brain needs a specific target to organize movement. Instead of saying “just hit it straight,” pick a small target — a tree in the distance, a light post, or a patch of fairway.

A smaller target tightens your focus and naturally improves accuracy. Even if you miss slightly, you’ll still be in play more often. This mental trick alone can turn scattered drives into controlled tee shots.

14. Play a Controlled Shot Shape You Trust

Every golfer has a natural curve — fade, draw, or straight — and it’s time to embrace it. Trying to fight your shot shape on the course creates tension and timing issues. You’ll make better contact and hit more fairways when you commit to one shape.

If you fade, aim down the left side and trust it to come back. If you draw, start it down the right. Build your driving strategy around your natural tendencies. The goal isn’t to swing perfectly; it’s to swing confidently.

15. Use Three-Quarter Swings on Tight Holes

When accuracy matters more than distance, shorten your swing. A three-quarter driver swing still produces plenty of power but with more control over face angle and path. You’ll hit it slightly lower with less spin — perfect for fairway finders.

Take practice swings feeling like your lead arm only goes shoulder-high in the backswing. That controlled motion improves contact and keeps you in play when the hole demands precision. Sometimes shorter equals smarter.

16. Don’t Swing Hard — Swing Smooth at 90%

You can’t force power with effort; you create it with rhythm. Swinging at 100% speed usually leads to 60% contact. The pros rarely go all out with driver — most cruise at around 90% effort. That’s how they stay balanced and find fairways without sacrificing much distance.

Think of your driver swing like cracking a whip. The power happens at the very end — not through muscle, but through timing. Smooth acceleration and solid sequence always beat brute strength.

17. Commit Fully to Every Drive You Hit

The last step to consistent driving is commitment. Doubt ruins more tee shots than bad swings ever will. Once you’ve chosen your target, club, and shape — trust it completely. Half-swings and last-second hesitations throw everything off.

Take one deep breath, visualize your shot, and swing freely. Whether you stripe it or miss, total commitment keeps your swing smooth and repeatable. Confidence doesn’t come from results — it comes from conviction before you swing.

Driving Power Comes from Control

The secret to hitting long and straight drives isn’t swinging harder — it’s mastering balance, rhythm, and trust. Every one of these 17 tips builds toward the same goal: solid contact with a free-flowing motion. When your setup, sequence, and strategy align, distance shows up automatically.

Start by focusing on one or two tips during your next practice session. Refine your feel, groove your rhythm, and let the driver do the work. The fairway — and more distance — will follow naturally.

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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor