Struggling With Your Driver? Let’s Fix That.

Nothing ruins a round faster than fighting your driver. One hole, you’re blasting it long and straight. The next? You’re watching your ball slice into the trees or dribble off the tee like you barely made contact.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

The driver is the most fun club to hit, but it’s also the toughest to control. The good news? A great drive starts before you even begin to take the club back.

By dialing in your grip, stance, ball position, and setup, you’ll be on your way to longer, straighter, and more consistent tee shots without a swing overhaul. Sound good? Let’s break it down.

Why Your Driver Setup & Stance Are Crucial for Consistency

A powerful, consistent driver swing starts with a solid setup and stance. Before you even start moving the club back, your alignment, ball position, weight distribution, and posture dictate how well you’ll make contact.

When your setup is correct, you’ll:

• Make solid contact more often, reducing mishits
• Launch the ball higher and farther, maximizing carry and roll
• Stay balanced and controlled, leading to straighter drives

But if something is off—your stance is too narrow, your weight is too far forward, or your ball position is incorrect—your swing will compensate, and that’s where slices, hooks, and pop-ups happen.

The Athletic Stance: The Foundation of a Great Drive

A strong, athletic stance is essential for generating power while staying in control. Think of how other athletes—like baseball players or basketball defenders—set up before making a move. A proper golf stance follows the same principles:

• Feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart for balance
• Knees slightly flexed to stay dynamic and prevent stiffness
• Upper body tilted slightly forward to create a natural, relaxed posture
• Weight evenly distributed, with a slight tilt toward your trail side

Your stance should feel comfortable and powerful—not rigid. If you feel like you have to force your movement, adjust until you feel balanced and ready to rotate freely.

How to Set Up for a Great Drive

Key Takeaways for a Strong Setup & Stance

• A wide, balanced stance gives you stability without restricting movement.
• A slight shoulder tilt promotes a higher launch and more distance.
• A relaxed, athletic posture allows for a smooth weight shift and effortless power.

By perfecting your setup and stance, you’ll eliminate inconsistency before you even start your swing—setting yourself up for longer, straighter tee shots.

How to Grip a Golf Driver for More Distance & Accuracy

Your grip controls the clubface—get it right, and you’ll square the face more consistently at impact. Get it wrong, and your drives will be all over the place.

Start by placing the handle in your fingers, not your palm. This allows for better wrist hinge and more clubhead speed. Your grip pressure should be firm but relaxed—too tight, and you’ll restrict your swing speed.

Quick Grip Check:

• The "V" shapes made by your thumb and index finger when you grip the club should point toward your trailing shoulder.
• Slice a lot? Strengthen your grip by rotating both hands slightly to the right.
• Hook too much? Weaken your grip slightly by turning your hands left.

A proper grip sets the foundation for straighter, more powerful drives.

Correct Golf Ball Position for Driver Beginners

Ball position has a huge impact on launch angle, spin, and consistency. Place the ball too far back, and you’ll hit down on it, causing low, weak shots. Too far forward, and you’ll struggle with toe hits or pop-ups.

The Right Spot?

• The ball should be positioned just inside your lead foot.
• This promotes an upward angle of attack, reducing spin and maximizing carry.

Tee Height Matters Too

• Half the ball should be above the driver’s clubface at address.
• Too low? You might hit pop-ups or drive the ball too low with excess spin.
• Too high? You risk skying the ball or losing control.

Course Management: How to Pick the Right Target Off the Tee

A well-hit driver is great, but a strategically placed one is even better. Instead of aiming mindlessly for the fairway center, choose a landing zone that gives you the best approach angle for your next shot.

Download the free 18Birdies app today to access GPS distances and course maps, helping you make smarter decisions and hit more fairways.

FAQ: Common Driver Setup Mistakes & Fixes

Why am I hitting my driver low and weak?

Common Cause: Ball is too far back in your stance.
Quick Fix: Move the ball just inside your lead foot to promote an upward strike and higher launch.

Why do I keep hitting my driver too high with no roll?

Common Cause: You might be adding too much loft at impact.
Quick Fix: Reduce excessive backward lean at setup and make sure you’re making center-face contact.

Why does my driver shot keep slicing right?

Common Cause: An open clubface or an out-to-in swing path.
Quick Fix: Strengthen your grip slightly and focus on swinging inside-to-out instead of across the ball.

Why am I topping my driver and barely getting the ball airborne?

Common Cause: Standing too tall or failing to hit up on the ball.
Quick Fix: Maintain a slight knee flex, tee the ball higher, and focus on swinging up through impact.

Why do I keep hitting pop-ups with my driver?

Common Cause: Teeing the ball too high or a steep angle of attack.
Quick Fix: Lower your tee height so that only half the ball is above the clubface at address, and focus on a smoother, shallower swing path.

Final Thoughts: Set Yourself Up for Driving Success

Set up correctly, trust your swing, and commit to your target. That’s the formula for longer, straighter drives.

Now, go hit some bombs!