It may be easier than you think to get some extra distance off the tee. For some golfers, the increase in clubhead speed is only about 2 mph to gain 10 yards.
Of course, there are other factors in play, like spin and centeredness of contact. However, the point is, if you want to add 10 yards to your drive, you can!
10 Secrets to Add 10 Yards To Your Drive
- Turn the lead toe out
- Use a swing speed training program
- Adopt a K-style setup
- Choose the right golf ball
- Stay behind the ball at impact
- Strengthen your core
- Complete the shoulder turn
- Optimize your equipment
- Don’t hold back through impact
- Have the right mindset
Turn The Lead Toe Out
Setup as you normally would with your feet square to the golf ball. Then take your lead foot and turn it a quarter turn towards the target.
When you do this, you should be able to promote a better hip rotation through impact and increase your swing speed. The increased hip rotation makes it easier to generate the extra speed from the top.
If you are an older player or struggle with mobility, don’t be afraid to turn the trail foot out just a bit as well.
Use a Swing Speed Training Program
Swing speed training programs work. The problem most amateurs have is they don’t stick with them long enough. You can’t swing a weighted club 10 times and expect it’s going to make all the difference.
Find a program like SuperSpeed or Rypstick that guides you through a few weeks of training. If you have never done anything like this before, you may add more than 10 yards to your drive. It will help you strengthen your core and gain flexibility all at the same time.
Adopt The K Style Setup
Setup for hitting a driver is different than it is for an iron.
When you set up to hit the ball, get your shoulders positioned so that the trail shoulder is lower than the lead. This will help make sure you hit up on the golf ball as you come through impact.
Hitting up on a drive rather than down helps the ball stay in the air longer and travel further down the fairway.
Choose The Right Golf Ball
Golfers love golf balls with great feel and plenty of greenside spin.
Guess what?
These are not the golf balls that travel the furthest. Most true distance golf balls are two piece balls that may even feel a little hard coming off the face of the club. The key here is to find a golf ball that complements your golf game from the tee and around the greens.
Recent tests have shown that regardless of your swing speed a slightly harder compression golf ball could end up going a little further.
If you have been playing the same Pro V1 for the last 10 years, maybe it’s time to try out a few other golf balls.
Stay Behind The Ball At Impact
When you get to impact with your driver, make sure your head and body stay behind the ball. Staying behind the ball will maximize power and driving distance.
One of the best ways to think of this is as if there is a wall at the golf ball.
When you swing through your drives, your lower body needs to turn and rotate so that weight ends up on your lead side.
However, the head can still stay behind the golf ball. This is a very powerful move, and if you don’t do it, it’s likely to cost you more than 10 yards.
Take a look at any professional at impact with their driver and you’ll see exactly how it works.
Strengthen The Core
Hitting a long drive is a very athletic event. If you want to get the most out of your drives, you must increase your core stability and strength. There are several ways to do this, but here are a few simple exercises you can try.
- Planks: Hold a plank position to engage and strengthen the entire core, improving stability and power in your golf swing; keep your back flat to see the most benefit.
- Russian Twists: Sit on the floor, lean back slightly, and twist your torso from side to side with a weight or medicine ball to enhance rotational strength.
- Dead Bugs: Lie on your back, extend your arms and legs, and alternately lower opposite limbs to the ground, which targets deep core muscles and improves coordination.
- Bird Dogs: From a hands-and-knees position, extend one arm and the opposite leg, then switch sides to build core stability, balance, and control.
Complete The Shoulder Turn
Overall, flexibility in the golf swing is really important. However, you don’t often hear why flexibility matters so much.
When it comes to the driver, shoulder flexibility will make all the difference in distance. If you can complete your shoulder turn in the backswing, the potential energy you create will be considerably greater.
Another important benefit here is your ability to square the clubface. With a short backswing, you don’t have much time on the downswing to clear the face. A full backswing and full shoulder turn leaves you back at the ball with a square face ready to strike.
Optimize Your Equipment
No, this does not mean you need a $600 driver. In fact, the key here is to work with the equipment you already have and make sure it is set up for your needs.
Take a look at the adjustability on your driver head. Most golfers have it set too low (not enough loft) and too open. If you increase the loft a little and close the face just a bit, the driver becomes more forgiving.
Try this and see if it helps you keep the ball in the fairway and hit it 10 yards longer.
Don’t Hold Back Through Impact
With the driver in your hands, you should be swinging through with all the power you have. Slowing down through impact will make you lose yards.
It’s good to be aggressive.
The only thing to keep in mind is your timing and tempo. If you are out of balance or can’t be consistent from one swing to the next, you’ll have to slow down. Outside of that, you should be going after the ball, trying to increase your speed.
Don’t leave this concept on the driving range. When you get to the course, you will need that speed to accelerate through the ball and reach the distance you have been working on.
Have The Right Mindset
Finally, the last secret to add 10 yards to your drive is to have the right mindset. You’ll need a consistent swing thought that helps you with confidence and visualization. Most golfers have too many swing thoughts or the wrong ones in their minds. Here are a few really good ones to try.
Practice one of these on the range and then take it to the course:
- Wide arc on the takeaway
- Full shoulder rotation
- Head behind the ball at impact
- Weight moves to the lead foot right from the top
- Rotate hips fast
- Finish high and on the lead side
Recap
All 10 of these secrets will add yardage to your game. Depending on the strengths and weaknesses of your golf game, some will work better than others.
Start with some simple adjustments like the lead toe out and the K-style setup, and from there, strengthen your core, get the right mindset, and optimize your equipment.
Even if you add a yard or two at a time, you’ll be glad you put in the work to get an extra ten yards of distance.
