Stop hitting your driver like an iron

The driver is not just a longer iron, and swinging it like one is one of the most common faults I see. Here is a simple buildup that teaches you to launch the ball the way a driver is designed to.

How a driver differs from an iron

With an iron you want to hit down on the ball. With a driver you want to hit upwards. The setup is different too: with an iron your hands sit slightly in front of the ball, but with a driver you want the shaft, the club head, and your hands in one straight line. The big fault I see is golfers setting their hands too far forward and hitting the driver like an iron, without using the wrists properly. Good wrist movement is where the speed comes from.

Start with a narrow stance

Get your feet close together so they make a little V, and stand near the tee. From here, make sure your body and arms move simultaneously, with the wrists moving along as well. The feeling is that the club is catching up to your hands and actually leading through impact, instead of your hands leading when you hit the ball. With that narrow stance, swing and try to hit the tee a couple of times.

Add a ball, then widen out

When you can strike the tee cleanly, place a ball on it and hit a couple of balls from the same narrow stance. Once that works, widen your stance — but only move your right foot. Your left heel stays on the same line as the ball, because with a driver you want the ball forward in your stance rather than in the middle like an iron. Widen out like this a couple of times and you will settle into a good posture where you can really hit the ball. Take your backswing and make sure the hands, arms, and body move simultaneously. It is a great way to start practicing with the driver, and you will see results very soon. Good luck practicing.