Unlocking Distance: 8 Keys to Hitting Longer Drives for Ladies

The biggest issue for women golfers is distance off the tee. While we might not match men’s distances, we can absolutely maximize our potential.

Adding ten yards to your drive will make the rest of the game much easier.

After years of working on this myself, I’ve identified eight keys that will help you gain those crucial extra yards, no matter your handicap.

How to Hit Longer Drives for Ladies (Key Takeaways)

If you need a quick answer on how to hit longer drives for ladies, here are the top things to focus on:

• Increased physical strength directly boosts driving distance.
• Don’t hesitate to swing aggressively at the ball.
• A square clubface at impact significantly improves distance.
• The right equipment makes a huge difference.

8 Essential Tips for Ladies to Hit Longer Drives

1. Know What a Good Drive Is

Do you know what a good drive looks like for your swing speed?

A lot of women think they’re coming up short when they’re actually right on track.

Instead of jumping straight to unrealistic distance goals, try to add 5–10 yards at a time. Understand what’s good for your game right now and build from there.

2. Go After the Ball

Many women hold back on their swings, either out of fear of losing control or from being told to “just make contact.”

The truth? You probably have extra speed in you.

Swing confidently and aggressively, especially off the tee. You don’t need to add wild movement or lose your balance; just aim to swing through the ball with intent. Acceleration at impact adds ball speed, turf interaction, and carry.

Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods were told to hit it hard when they were young, and that advice helped them succeed.

3. Square the Clubhead at Impact

Distance isn’t just about speed. If the clubface is slightly open or closed, you’re losing efficiency.

Using a tool like HackMotion helps track your lead wrist angle during the swing.

The goal is to get into a flat or slightly flexed position at impact. This keeps the face square, launches the ball straighter, and helps it go further.

Even a small change in wrist angle can make a big difference in how far your ball travels.

4. Improve Rotation by Flaring Your Feet

If you feel tight or restricted in your turn, try this: flare both feet outward at address. Most golfers stand too square and limit their hip rotation.

Turning your feet outward (20–30 degrees) allows your hips to turn more freely. That extra turn gives you more time and space to generate power.

This tip is one that we used to save for senior golfers, but even looking at modern Tour pros (Scheffler and McIlroy), you can see they have their feet slightly flared.

5. Equipment Testing Matters

You don’t need a $600 driver to gain distance, but the wrong equipment can cost you yards.

Every couple of years, test your driver. Try different shafts, lofts, and head designs. Many women play with drivers that have too much loft or shafts that are too light.

A 15-degree driver might be right for some, but not for all. Don’t choose clubs based only on gender-based marketing. Get fit or test yourself to find what works best.

6. Strengthen Golf-Specific Muscles

You don’t need to become a gym rat to hit it further, but a little strength training goes a long way.

Core stability, leg power, and wrist strength all play a big role in your swing. If you’ve ever taken a few weeks off the gym and noticed your swing feeling sluggish, that’s why.

Even 2–3 short workouts per week can help. Focus on resistance bands, bodyweight movements, and balance drills. A stronger body moves faster, and faster means longer.

7. Use Ground Forces

Think of the ground as your launchpad. Great players use the ground to push off during the downswing, which increases speed and stability.

Golf shoes are getting lower to help players feel connected to the turf. That’s not just marketing; it helps you create force.

On the downswing, feel like you’re pushing into the ground with your feet, just like pushing off a wall in a pool. That force translates up through your legs and into the club.

8. Reduce Tension for More Speed

Tension kills speed. If you’re gripping too tightly or holding tension in your shoulders and arms, you’re probably losing 10–15 mph of swing speed.

Once you feel that relaxed, fast motion, translate it to your driver swing. Less tension = more speed with less effort.

Two Drills to Work on Driver Distance

Once you have all these fundamentals in place, try some drills to help you increase both power and consistency.

Here are two HackMotion drills that can lead you to more distance on your drives.

Wide Arc Follow-Through Drill

This drill helps create better wrist control, which improves face stability and contact.

Combined Top Drill

This drill is located in the HackMotion app, so you can work on it in real time with data and stats to make it easier to understand.

Remember a flat wrist at the top = better face control and less spin loft.

FAQs

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about hitting longer drives for women.

How can a woman hit a driver longer?

Women can hit longer drives by improving their wrist angles and squaring the clubface, working on getting extra speed through exercise, and maintaining balance throughout the drive.

How do LPGA ladies hit so far?

LPGA lady golfers have golf swings that are very efficient. They also work on core strength to rotate their body faster and hit shots further.

What is the average drive for a female golfer?

The average drive for female golfers is around 160 yards. Faster swing speed players hit more than 200 yards regularly. Professionals hit their drives more than 250 yards.

Is 150 yards a good drive for a woman?

A 150-yard drive is good for a woman golfer with an average to slightly below-average swing speed. To gain extra distance, make sure you hit the golf ball with a square clubface and rotate your body through impact.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, these top 8 keys to hitting longer drives are some of the best golf driving tips you have received.

The same information of keeping your head down and left arm straight is outdated and overrated. These tips work and have helped thousands of women, myself included, to hit longer drives.

Use your HackMotion to track and measure your practice and to open up a new avenue for you to gain yardage and accuracy.