Trying to improve your driving distance can sometimes feel like facing an uphill battle, but it doesn't have to be a slog.
There are many ways that you can achieve this commonly held ambition, such as ensuring a centred strike with driver or regularly completing the 10 best power boosting exercises for golfers, but one of our experts also has some great advice.
Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Alex Elliott has a simple formula to help any amateur golfer to hit longer tee shots with the big stick - and you don't need to be tour-level fit to do it!
Below, he explains that process and offers an insight into some practical steps we can all follow to gain those precious extra yards off the tee...
Gain Distance With Driver Using My Super Simple Formula
Hitting longer drives is a realistic target for any amateur golfer. Whether you are a senior, a high-handicap golfer or a junior - anyone can find extra distance off the tee with the right guidance.
Making simple adjustments at set-up with driver and a stronger, wider turn in the backswing is something that we can all achieve, but many club golfers fall into the trap of being a little lazy with their approach to hitting tee shots.
As we know, driving distance is king in terms of reducing your handicap, so it is important to factor in these simple tips every time you pull the headcover off your driver.
For more distance off the tee, I’d recommend a stance slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with feet flared so they would point to ten and two on a clock face.
The perfect ball position should be just inside your lead heel and there should be a little shoulder tilt with the lead just slightly higher than the trail. You should also raise the tee height so that half to three-quarters of the golf ball is above the face.
A 50/50 weight distribution creates a solid base from which to hit powerful drives.
A great position to get into at the halfway point of the backswing is for your lead shoulder to be around the midpoint of your stance.
This promotes an earlier, more effective chest turn. Another way to think about this key position is that your lead shoulder should be around the middle of your stance by the time your lead arm is parallel to the ground.
This creates a fuller backswing, as wider arcs are more powerful than narrow ones. The hips have rotated nicely, avoiding the common fault of an ‘arms-led’ swing that lacks power.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be hitting longer drives in no time at all.
How Important Is A Centred Strike?
Golf Monthly's Instruction Lead Baz Plummer says:
Crucial - missing the middle of the face is a complete distance killer. Matt Fryer expertly outlines this in the video at the top of the page, but it's so important that amateur golfers work on strike location.
There are a number of ways you can do this, but one of my favourites is the dry shampoo drill. Grab a can and spray the clubface all over. Tee it up and let one rip, then take a look at your clubface to see where the mark left against the dry shampoo is located.
This will give you some instant feedback and help you to understand what a great strike feels like.
