How Far Should I Hit My Driver? Key Factors & Tips to Maximize Distance

Britt Olizarowicz

Aug 5, 2025 . 7 mins read

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Driver distance is a key indicator of how low you can score on the golf course. The closer you get to the hole, the easier it is to get the ball in the hole.

If you are wondering whether you are getting enough distance with your driver, we have you covered.

You can get an approximate number for how far you should hit your driver based on your swing speed. However, there are other factors that will also come into play, like clubface angle, quality of the strike, and even your wrist position.

Here is how far you should be hitting a driver and a few tips to help you gain some extra yardage.

Maximizing Driver Distance (Key Takeaways)

If you are just here for a few quick tips on gaining more distance with your driver (and how far it should be going), here’s what you need to know:

• The more clubhead speed you have, the further your drive will go; however quality and centeredness of strike also make a big difference in total yardage.
• Using the ground to increase your driving distance is a great way to add 10 or more yards.
• Proper wrist position allows you to control the clubface and strike the ball in the center; the closer your wrist is to flat at the top of the backswing, the easier it is to hit a long and straight drive.
• The correct body turn is crucial for covering long distances on a drive. By setting your wrists in the right position at the top of the swing and then turning the body through, you can add significant distance without making any major swing changes.

How Far Should I Hit My Driver?

These are the average distances you should be hitting your driver based on your swing speed. If you’re consistently beating the average, chances are you’re using modern technology and making center face contact a powerful combo.

But for most golfers, the opposite is true.

They’re falling short of their potential not because of strength or speed, but because of swing inefficiencies, poor mechanics, off-center strikes, and an inability to optimize launch conditions.

Take Bryson DeChambeau as an example. With a swing speed between 115 and 120 mph, he’s able to launch drives over 350 yards.

But it’s not just speed; it’s how he applies force efficiently and delivers the club with precision.

You may never match his speed, but you can learn to maximize your distance by improving your mechanics and learning how to apply force more effectively.

How to Get More Distance from Your Driver

If you’ve looked at our chart showing how far you should hit your driver and you are not getting the distances you would like, here are a few things you can try.

Get the Wrist Position Right

The wrist position with the driver is just as important as it is with the irons.

At HackMotion, we’ve analyzed over one million swings from pros and amateurs to find the key differences in performance.

One of the biggest distance separators?

A flat lead wrist at the top of the backswing.

Golfers who generate the most distance avoid lead wrist extension, which leaves the clubface open and forces last-second compensation on the downswing.

Hit Up On the Ball a Bit

Hitting down on a drive is not correct. To hit a great shot, you want to hit up on the ball. Hitting up on the ball requires a little bit of a change of mindset.

Many golfers struggle with how to hit up on a drive without hanging back with too much weight on the trail leg.

Setup Tweaks for More Distance

If your swing feels restricted or you’ve lost distance over the years, your setup may be the root cause.

Limited rotation forces your wrists to compensate, often opening the clubface and sending drives weakly off-line.

Here are two simple but powerful setup adjustments that can instantly improve your backswing turn and help you generate more speed:

• Turn your feet out: Flare both feet slightly, especially the trail foot. This opens up your hips, making it easier to rotate your upper body without forcing it.
• Pull your trail foot back: Drop your trail foot slightly behind your lead foot at address. This naturally presets your body into a more coiled position, encouraging a deeper shoulder turn and shallower swing path.

Together, these tweaks help eliminate the need for wrist compensation at the top of the swing. You’ll move more freely, rotate more efficiently, and deliver the club on a path that promotes both speed and face control.

Build Potential Power (Then Learn to Use It)

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make when chasing more distance is focusing only on how big their swing looks.

But the key isn’t just making a longer swing, it’s creating potential power and actually transferring it into the ball.

Potential power is the stored energy in your swing that comes from getting the hands and club to travel farther around your body. The driver swing is both wide and deep and a longer hand path gives you more time and space to generate speed.

But potential power means nothing if you can’t deliver it.

This is where most golfers fall short. They either:

• Overextend their wrists at the top and lose clubface control, or
• Turn everything through together and fail to create that last burst of speed at the bottom.

To fix it:

• Create a wider, deeper backswing by giving your arms and hands more room to travel around your body.
• Allow the lower body to decelerate in transition so the energy can transfer into the clubhead just like elite players do.
• Use HackMotion to monitor your wrist angles at the top. You want a flat or slightly flexed lead wrist, not excessive extension. That’s how you store power without losing control.

Push Away From the Ground at Impact

One of the most effective ways to add clubhead speed is learning to push up off the ground at the right moment.

It can take a little bit to get used to the idea of using the ground to help in your golf swing. One feel to try is to get taller in the backswing, then feel yourself lower into the transition and push up hard with your lead leg into the follow-through.

Just remember: more speed doesn’t automatically mean better golf.

In the video below, even a well-struck shot with higher speed lost distance due to poor contact. So make sure your clubface is square and your strike is clean before chasing extra miles per hour.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be afraid to want more distance from your drives. It’s natural to like to hit the ball far, but smart golfers know that hitting it far means lower scores.

The closer your tee shot ends up to the green, the better your chance of making a birdie. It’s that simple.

Use the HackMotion to get your wrist position perfect, and then use this position to give you the confidence you need to get the driver to fly further. You’ll see after just a few sessions with the HackMotion how restricting it is to try to hit a long drive with an extended lead wrist.