How to Drive Like the PGA Tour Pros

By Teresa Justine Kelly

Many people have an irresistible urge to crush a ball 300 yards or more down the fairway, exactly like most golf pros. Bear in mind that pros do this for a living and have practiced most of their lives with coaches to execute a huge drive almost every time. While this is not an impossible goal for the average golfer, it's best to keep your expectations modest. However, there are a few tips to help you learn to drive a ball almost as far as PGA Tour pros.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step 1

At address, take a wider than shoulder-width stance for stability and slightly flex your knees.

Step 2

Open your right foot slightly to the right to allow an adequate hip turn that eliminates pressure on your knee and thigh.

Step 3

Slightly open your left foot toward the target to prevent you from turning your hips too far on the backswing. It also allows you to rotate your upper body easily on the downswing and follow-through.

Step 4

Turn your right knee slightly inward, promoting a natural turn on the backswing, rather than a slide. This also allows you to easily shift your weight to the left on the downswing.

Step 5

In your backswing, using your arms and the driver as a one-piece takeaway, turn your shoulders as far as possible using your spine as the stabilizer.

Step 6

Shift your weight to your right side. The end of your club should extend as far away from your right hip as possible.

Step 7

Keep the clubface square throughout the swing so that the clubface is parallel with the left wrist and forearm.

Step 8

Turn your shoulders as far back as possible. Your chin should rest on your left shoulder. Your hips will turn as well, but the shoulders should turn at a 90- to 95-degree turn, and your hips at a 40-to 50-degree turn. Try not to take the club past parallel in your backswing. From here, you have adequately coiled your body and your club in preparation for the downswing.

Step 9

On the start of your downswing, begin shifting your weight from your right leg to your left leg. Your hips should begin turning left, followed by your shoulders, then the arms and hands.

Step 10

Keep a smooth, even tempo on your downswing. Rushing the sequence of events on the downswing only produces a slice to the right.

Step 11

End in balance to promote a great finish and follow-through. The right foot should be facing upward toward the target with the right heel off the ground and the toe pointing down, and your weight should be shifted to your left side. If you can keep this position for several seconds without losing your balance, you have completed a balanced follow-through.

Tips & Warnings

For extra distance, keep your upper body shifted to the right of the ball on the downswing. The wider than normal stance, the less likely you will sway on the backswing. Keep your weight on the inside part of your right foot. Just before impact, some pros snap their left leg straight, allowing them to unleash more power and distance on their drives.

Just before impact, some pros snap their left leg straight, allowing them to unleash more power and distance on their drives.

One of the most common backswing errors is the lateral hip shift to the right. Sliding your weight to the right will reduce your power by half, disabling the coil effect of the backswing and downswing.

About The Author

Teresa Kelly graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. She was an editor for seven years for several magazines and publishing houses. Kelly is an avid golfer, a well-known children's book and golf author, and is currently the president of Highview Press/Golfing Lady that produces all occasion golf greeting cards.

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