How to Use a Golf Driver Properly | Hit Up, Not Down

Most amateur golfers swing the driver like an iron, hitting down on the ball and sending it skidding along the ground. The key to using a golf driver properly is the exact opposite: you want to sweep the ball up and away with an ascending blow. That upward angle of attack produces the high launch and low spin that create real distance. The setup is the foundation, so that’s where this starts.

Here’s the core move for right-handed golfers: stand slightly wider than shoulder-width with the ball just inside your lead heel. Add a slight spine tilt away from the target so your lead shoulder sits higher than your trail shoulder. That posture alone changes your swing path and encourages the upward strike you need.

Setting Up For The Driver Swing

Get these four things right and the swing feels almost automatic.

• Stance width: Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width. This wider base keeps you stable as you swing through at speed.
• Ball position: Play the ball just inside your lead heel, well forward of center. A ball too far back cuts into your upward attack angle.
• Tee height: Tee the ball so about half of it sits above the top of the driver crown at address. A tee that’s too low encourages that downward, iron-like strike.
• Spine tilt: Tilt your upper body slightly away from the target with the lead shoulder higher. This positions your swing to hit up on the ball, not down.

Your shoulders, hips, and feet should sit roughly parallel to the target line. Because the forward ball position naturally pulls your shoulders left of target, keep your trail shoulder slightly back to hold your alignment.

Swing Mechanics: The Sequence That Produces Power

Off-center strikes change the spin axis and curvature, sending your ball offline even when the swing feels powerful.

Start with a smooth, relaxed takeaway. A violent first move throws off your rhythm before the real work begins. Then rotate your torso and hips fully away from the target, loading your weight into your trail side.

As you transition into the downswing, shift your pressure toward your lead side and rotate through impact rather than lunging at the ball. Feel like you are sweeping the ball up and away—that sensation of releasing the clubhead through the strike. One useful teaching cue from top instructors: hold your finish in balance for three seconds after you swing. If you fall out of your finish, your rotation or tempo was off.

For practice, use a face marker to check your contact.

Common Driver Mistakes That Kill Distance

The most frequent culprit is treating the driver like an iron—narrow stance, ball centered, level shoulders. That’s a recipe for hitting down and popping the ball up with excess spin.

How To Practice The Upward Strike

Place the ball inside your lead heel with a slightly flared toe for turnability. Widen your feet beyond shoulder-width, add that upper-body tilt away from the target, and tee it so half the ball sits above the crown. Then make a smooth backswing, shift pressure forward as you rotate, and finish in balance.

To train centered contact, place a tee in the ground a few inches beyond the ball. Your goal is to brush past it with your clubhead on the follow-through, which encourages a sweeping release. With reps, the upward strike becomes your default—and the higher launch and lower spin will show up in your distance.

If you’re a left-handed golfer, reverse the lead and trail references—your ball sits inside your right heel instead. Setup cues vary slightly among instructors, but the core remains: forward ball position, wide base, and an upward strike. When you’re ready to test a new club, check our roundup of the best female golf drivers to find one that matches this swing.