Driver Swing Checkpoints: Master Your Swing Sequence

Britt Olizarowicz

Mar 26, 2025 . 8 mins read

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The golf swing is complicated, but if you break it down into pieces, it becomes easier to digest.

Do you know where the driver should be halfway back, at the top, at impact, or when you have finished your follow-through?

If you want some insight into these golf driver swing checkpoints, we have you covered.

Key Takeaways 

Before you can fix issues in your driver swing, it pays to know the basics. Breaking the swing down into pieces, starting at setup and working your way to the follow-through, is an effective way to do it. 

• Pay close attention to the shoulder tilt at setup. The trail shoulder should be lower than the lead shoulder to promote an upward angle of attack. 
• Takeaway is low and slow, with arms extended out and away from the body. 
• At the top of the backswing, check to ensure there is minimal extension in the lead wrist (a flat lead wrist position is best). 
• Weight transfer moves from centered to trail side to lead side in the swing. 

If you want to watch a video discussing the importance of all the positions in the driver swing, this complete overview from Rob Cheney should help. 

Driver Swing Checkpoints Explained

The slow-motion video below breaks down the full sequence of a solid driver swing. Feel free to click and pause at any point you want a closer look.

Now let’s break it down step-by-step so you know exactly how to replicate it.

The Setup and Address

The first step of understanding the driver’s swing is getting the setup correct. The driver swing setup is different than the iron swing.

Here are the key checkpoints you’ll want to make sure you have in place before even thinking about taking the club back: 

• Shoulders tilted: The trail shoulder should be lower than the lead shoulder at setup. 
• The body should be aligned parallel to the target line: Hips, shoulders, and feet should be parallel to the target. The trail foot can be dropped slightly back for golfers who tend to slice. 
• Ball position forward: Play the ball off the inside heel of the front foot. 

The Takeaway

The takeaway is the first move away from the ball. However, to determine how effective your takeaway was, it’s important to look at the club when it is parallel to the ground for the first time.

Some golfers call this a waist-high position; others call it first parallel. Here are the checkpoints for this position: 

• Wide-arc with extension in the arms: Arms must stay extended and outstretched from the body, don’t let the wrists or elbows fold. A great swing, though, is “low and slow”. 
• Clubface square, face not pointing down or up: Check that the clubface is square and the toe is not pointed excessively down to the ground or open to the sky. 
• Shoulder turned: Shoulder turn must be initiated and move under the chin. 
• No initial wrist hinge: There is no need to hinge the wrists, as it will add extension and open the face. Hinging in the driver swing should be delayed. 

Top of the Backswing

Taking a video of your golf swing can help you check the clubhead’s position at the top of the backswing.

You’ll want to make sure the club has not moved past the parallel position, but there are a few other important things to look for. 

• Flat lead wrist: The position of the lead wrist controls the clubface, use the HackMotion to check the angle of your wrist and ensure it is closer to flat. 
• Full shoulder turn: Make sure the shoulder has now fully turned and is under the chin. A good swing, though, is “back to the target”. 
• Left arm still extended and straight: The left arm should not be folded. At this point in the backswing, the wrist will have hinged, but the entire arm is still outstretched. 

Weight on the back foot: Check that 95%  of your weight is now on the trail leg. 

Transition and Downswing

Every part of the golf driver swing sequence is important, but the transition from backswing to downswing can make or break you at impact.

If you have handled the setup, takeaway, and the top of the backswing, you are in a perfect position to transition to the downswing. 

• Arms drop naturally on a shallow path: If the wrist position is flat at the top, dropping the arms down on a shallow path should be seamless. 
• Maintain wrist hinge—no casting: Resist the urge to throw the clubhead at the ball. Maintain the wrist hinge to create lag and increase power. 
• Hips rotate to the target with weight on the front foot: Your weight can now move to the lead foot. 

Impact Position

Impact is the moment of truth. In the video below, you’ll notice that the golfer’s head is behind the ball, their arms outstretched away from the body, and the clubface is square to the target.

Getting to this position is much easier when your lead wrist is flat. 

• Head stays behind the ball: To help generate power, speed, and torque, keep the head behind the ball. This will close the shoulder slightly and assist with squaring the clubface. 
• Hips open to the target: Hips open to the target as you rotate to impact, weight is shifted entirely to the front foot. 
• Square to slightly flexed lead wrist position: A square to slightly flexed lead wrist position puts the clubface in a square position, making it easier to make clean contact. 

Follow-Through and Finish

Finally, you’ll finish your golf driver swing sequence with a proper follow through. Many golfers think the follow through happens after impact, so it is not as important. This is not the case.

Without a proper follow through you will lose control of the direction of your shot and also miss out on some distance, so make sure that you:

• Release your wrists, with the club pointing toward the target which will allow a full energy transfer and proper rotation through the ball.
• Extend your arms through impact for maximum control and power.
• Shift your weight to the front foot, with the back foot balanced on the toe.

The finish is like a reflection of everything that happened before, so if you are off balance or finishing short, it might be a sign that something was off in your earlier sequence.

Here are the main things you need to know:

• Club behind the head: To ensure that you have fully rotated and released through the ball, the club should be behind the head or shoulders.
• Chest facing the target: If it was a good follow-through with a proper sequence in the finish, you should be left with your chest pointing down the fairway.

Resources to Work on Driver Swing Sequence 

Has this driver swing sequence helped you realize where your issues are in your driver swing?

Sometimes, breaking down the swing into pieces helps identify where you have room for improvement.

Here are some of the most common issues golfers struggle with, as well as some drills and videos to fix them. 

Lead Wrist Action in the Driver Swing 

The lead wrist dictates the angle of your clubface. For most golfers who struggle to hit a driver, the issue comes down to the clubface being open at impact.

Using HackMotion, you can quickly identify where the issue is in your driver swing, causing the face to remain open. 

Hooks and Slices

Your driver is several inches longer than your irons. It’s harder to swing and even harder to square up at impact. If you struggle with the hook or slice of your driver, not your irons, you aren’t alone.

Making a few slight adjustments to your setup and impact position can make a big difference. Learn how to stop slicing your driver or stop hooking your driver to start finding the center of the fairway more consistently.

Casting in the Golf Swing 

Golfers want to gain power in the driver swing, and sometimes, the wrong move from the top of the swing can cost you power.

If you find yourself casting and forgetting to keep that wrist hinge in place a little longer, this video will help you understand the concept. 

Staying Connected

Your upper and lower body have to work together to hit long drives. To stay more connected in your golf driver swing, Rob Cheney offers a number of drills to help you hit more consistent drives. 

Conclusion

Don’t give up on your driver. You’ll need it to shoot your best scores. Instead, learn the driver swing sequence and make sure you are hitting each of the checkpoints.

Wear your HackMotion to speed up this process and start controlling the clubface.