More distance with the driver. It is the wish of almost every golfer. And it is also one of the most misunderstood aspects of the game, because most golfers think that hitting harder is the answer. It is not. In this article, we explain the four factors that determine how far you hit with your driver, and provide concrete adjustments that you can apply immediately.

Why "hitting harder" doesn't work

The reflex to hit harder is understandable, but counterproductive. A forced, tense swing almost always yields less speed than a relaxed, well-timed motion. The reason is biomechanical: maximum speed in a golf swing is generated at the moment of impact. That speed comes from rotation, timing, and free arm and wrist movement—not brute force.

Tour players speak of the 3:1 rule: the backswing takes roughly three times as long as the downswing. A calm, wide backswing loads energy; an explosive but controlled downswing releases that energy. Anyone who shortens their backswing due to haste or tension deprives themselves of the moment to build up energy.

Factor 1: Loft, the most underestimated variable

The loft of your driver is the steepness of the clubface, expressed in degrees. The more loft, the higher the ball goes into the air. The misconception that plagues many amateurs: lower loft = more distance. This is only true if you have sufficient swing speed.

For golfers with a lower swing speed below 85 mph, which applies to a large portion of recreational golfers and most women, a higher loft is actually better. The optimal launch height for maximum distance is only reached when the ball goes high enough into the air. At 75 mph swing speed, a 9-degree driver will hit a shorter ball than a 12 or even 14-degree driver.

Loft adjustment can be done on most modern drivers with an included wrench. Experiment with a higher loft than you currently use and measure the difference on a driving range with distance markers.

Factor 2: Attack angle—up or down?

The attack angle is the angle at which your clubhead hits the ball: downward (negative) or upward (positive). With irons, you want a negative attack angle—you hit the ball slightly before the lowest point of your swing. With a driver, it is the other way around: you want to hit the ball on the way up, so that the loft is optimally utilized.

A positive attack angle of 3 to 5 degrees is the ideal for most amateurs. This explains why ball position is so crucial with the driver: ideally, the ball is placed left of the left foot (for right-handers), so that the swing has already passed its lowest point when it hits the ball.

Players who hit the driver like they hit an iron—with a downward motion—put too much spin on the ball, causing it to climb into the air and lose distance. They notice this as a high, ballooning ball flight that quickly dies out.

Factor 3: Ball position and tee height

Two simple adjustments that make an immediate difference. The ball position must be far enough forward for right-handed golfers, just inside the left heel. If the ball is too far toward the center of the stance, you will hit it on the downward motion.

Tee height is equally crucial. The ball must be high enough so that at the address position, the top of the driver is level with the bottom half of the ball, or even slightly lower than the center of the clubface. Many golfers place the ball too low, causing them to hit it on the negative part of the clubface, which results in spin and loss of height.

A practical tip from PGA professionals: "Tee it high and let it fly." It feels unnatural at first to place the ball so high, but most golfers immediately hit further once they adopt that habit.

Factor 4: Shaft flex—is your equipment playing along?

A shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed provides less energy transfer. The shaft bends and snaps back during the swing; if that flexing does not run synchronously with the moment of impact, energy is lost.

The basic classification of shaft flex:

• Ladies (L): below 75 mph swing speed
• Senior / Amateur (A): 75–85 mph
• Regular (R): 85–95 mph
• Stiff (S): 95–104 mph
• Extra Stiff (X): 105 mph and more

Many amateurs play with a stiff shaft because it sounds "more professional," while their swing speed actually requires a regular or senior flex. The wrong shaft can easily cost you 15 to 25 meters of distance, regardless of how good your technique is.

If you are not sure which shaft suits you, a club fitting is the most direct way to find out. A properly tuned driver—right loft, right shaft flex, correctly adjusted—can yield more distance than any swing tip. Want to know more about how different club types relate to each other? Read our article on hybrid vs fairway wood: when to choose which club.

Do you also want to understand exactly what each club in your bag does and how the driver relates to the rest of your set? Then read our comprehensive article on types of golf clubs explained.

View the selection of drivers at Reswing Golfstore for an overview of available models and specifications.

A concrete drill for more clubhead speed

This is one of the most frequently used drills by PGA professionals to increase swing speed without disrupting technique:

First, swing five times as hard as you can with a heavy Powerfan or a regular iron with an old glove wrapped around it. Feel the resistance. Then, swing with a light club or an alignment stick as hard as possible and listen for the "swoosh" at the bottom of the swing. Follow this with two swings with your own driver without a ball, and finally, hit three balls. The muscle activation from the contrast stimulus temporarily increases your clubhead speed. With regular repetition, this builds speed structurally.

Summary: four questions for more length

Before you pick up a driver next time and want to gain more distance, ask yourself four questions: Do I have enough loft on my driver for my swing speed? Do I hit the ball on the way up or on the way down? Is the ball in the correct position in my stance? And does the shaft flex match my swing speed?

If you can improve one of these four factors, you will hit further immediately. If you optimize all four, you will make a leap that no single swing tip can achieve.

Want to know which driver fits your swing? Check out the drivers at Reswing Golfstore and find the right club for more distance.

Author: Team Reswing Golfstore Reswing Golfstore helps golfers find the right equipment for more distance, control, and enjoyment on the course.