The most fun, most frustrating club.
THE QUICK WALKTHROUGH
The driver is the most exhilarating club — and the most punishing. Hitting it well isn't about swinging harder; it's about understanding how it differs from an iron and using its length and loft. Because it's the longest club in the bag, it exposes every flaw and magnifies every mistake. Conquering it starts with setup, strike, and sequencing.
Driver vs iron — the key differences
| Driver | Iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & ball position | Ball inside the lead heel, feet wider, upper body tilted slightly back (to promote an ascending strike) | Ball more central, narrower stance, weight forward (to promote a descending strike) |
| The strike | Hit up on the ball — maximises distance, reduces spin | Hit down and through — compresses the ball against the turf |
| Weight & rotation | ~55% on the back foot; head stays behind the ball at impact | ~55% on the lead foot; you cover the ball at impact |
PhaseSetup
Ball inside your lead heel, feet wider than shoulder-width, upper body tilted slightly back.
PhaseTakeaway & backswing
Start low and slow with a wide takeaway; keep the trail arm relaxed, don't lift the club early, and let the trail hip and shoulder rotate back naturally.
PhaseTransition & downswing
Shift your weight and lead with the lower body, head staying back and shoulders tilted — no casting or chopping down at the ball.
PhaseImpact & follow-through
Strike the ball on the upswing for launch, extend the arms toward the target, and finish in a balanced full-body rotation.
FeelLaunching a plane
Let the club ascend into the ball like a plane taking off — don't crash it down into the runway (i.e. don't hit down on it).
FeelSwinging a shopping bag
Swing a heavy shopping bag back and forth — you'd let momentum and gravity do the work, not muscle it. Same with the driver.
FeelSkipping a rock
To beat an over-the-top move, feel like you're skipping a rock across water — it promotes a natural inside-to-out path and kills the slice.
DrillThe whoosh drill
Swing back and forth with no ball and listen for the whoosh. If it comes before impact, you're releasing your speed too early — move it to the ball.
MORE TO WATCH
FINAL THOUGHTS
It'll take time before the driver is a confident on-course club, and the smart play early is keeping it in play — 150 straight beats 250 in the trees. But have fun with it: even one pured drive in ten is enough to keep you coming back, and the longer club teaches you rhythm, tempo, and sequencing the short irons never will. Alternate drivers and irons in practice to mimic real play.
150 in the fairway beats 250 in the trees.