Driving · Lesson
Driver Setup for Beginners
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A good driver setup is easy to learn. Tee it high, with about half the ball above the top of the club. You want to catch it on the way up. For ball position, start with your feet together, facing the ball. Then take a wide step back with your trail foot. That leaves the ball near your lead heel. Take your grip one hand at a time. That sets your spine tilt without opening your shoulders. Then swing with the same easy effort you'd use with a 7-iron.
Step by step
- Tee it so half the ball sits above the club.
- Feet together, then step wide with your trail foot.
- Grip one hand at a time.
- Keep your shoulders square.
- Swing with 7-iron effort.
Why it works
A high tee and a ball near your lead heel let the club reach the ball after its low point, so you hit it on the upswing. That adds launch and reduces spin, which helps the ball carry farther. Gripping one hand at a time tilts your spine away from the target without turning your shoulders open, and easy effort keeps the club on a repeatable path.
Common mistakes
- You tee the ball too low, so the club hits it on the way down.Push the tee up until about half the ball sits above the top of the clubface.
- You place the ball too far back, which steepens your swing.Start with your feet together facing the ball, then take a wide step back with your trail foot so the ball ends up near your lead heel.
- You grip with both hands at once and your shoulders open toward the target.Place your lead hand first, then your trail hand, and check that your shoulders still point parallel to your target line.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball launches on a medium-high flight and does not rise steeply or skim low.
- You hit the ball near the middle of the face, and the tee is not snapped or left untouched in a strange way.
- The swing feels like a 7-iron swing and you stay balanced at the finish.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a flat lawn or range mat with a tee, and make slow half swings before you build up to full ones.
Harder: Hit a series of drives at a chosen target and repeat the full setup from scratch before every ball.
Common questions
How high should I tee the ball with a driver?
Tee it so about half the ball sits above the top of the clubface. This helps you hit it on the upswing.
Where should the ball be in my stance with a driver?
Place it near your lead heel. To find it, stand with your feet together facing the ball, then step wide with your trail foot.
