It impacts nearly every golfer at one point or another. Whether they are watching on television or playing with a partner who possesses the ability to bomb a drive down the fairway, or they catch all of a drive themselves, players fall in love with the ability to overpower the ball and bash a long drive. To consistently hit the long ball, players need the correct stance, swing speed and finish.
Stance
To give yourself the best chance of hitting a drive of 275 yards or more, you need to have a nearly flawless setup at the tee. Play the ball one ball width closer to your front foot than your back foot. This will enable you to catch the ball as you begin your upswing. Place your feet a few inches more than shoulder-width apart, and tee up the ball at least 3/8 inch high, meaning you will use an oversized tee.
Swing Speed
Players who win long-driving contests use a vicious and powerful swing to drive the ball down the fairway. While this makes sense from both a logical and physical perspective--club head speed at impact determines distance--it is hard for most medium- and high-impact players to master. The way to best use this to your advantage is to limit your speed until you get to the top of the backswing. There is no reason to rush your backswing, because the power does not come until you make impact. Get your hands back to head height when you finish your backswing, then roll your hips forward and allow your hands to follow. This is where you look for maximum speed in your swing. Bring your hands down and through the ball while concentrating on the rear and center portion of the ball.
Finishing Your Swing
As you drive your hips through the ball, you will get most of the impetus for your swing from your left side. However, to maximize your power, you must get your right hand involved in your swing. Just as you are about to strike the ball, snap your right wrist to get maximum power and accuracy on your shot. The left side provides the bulk of your power, but it is that wrist snap at impact that will give you the final 20 to 25 yards on your shot and will give you the ability to hit drivers longer than before.
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