As a golfer, your very objective, once you step onto that tee, is to bring that little ball to the farthest distance that it can reach with just a single strike. For some players, distance is not an issue.
However, distance paired with a straight ball flight is not that easy to achieve for others. It has been a popular subject of debate in the golf community about which one is more important – distance or accuracy.
Golfer Bryson Dechambeau reopened this argument when he tried a shot during the lockdown period despite gaining around 40 lbs. If you have this desire to increase the distance that you are able to reach with your driver, read on.
Table of Contents
Our top long-hitting golf drivers picks.
The following content is a list of 6 golf drivers that are in demand in the market and golf community today.
1. TaylorMade SIM Driver
- Loft: 9, & 10.5 degrees
- Clubhead size: 460 cc
- Lie: 56 – 60 degrees
- Adjustable: Yes (loft, lie & ball flight bias)
- Hand Orientation: Right & Left
When it comes to driver technology, TaylorMade is a popular brand. The recent SIM driver that they released certainly lived up to expectations.
Overall improvement in terms of aerodynamics and inertia generation, as well as an asymmetrical sole, are only a few aspects that come with the TaylorMade SIM driver.
With these new improvements, the speed of the club head and the ball is also enhanced along with the distance covered.
With the added weight in the back portion of the SIM driver, the inertia momentum that is generated becomes incredibly larger, which in turn, gives a better feel and forgiveness upon impact.
The curved club face lessens the probability of mishits to gain more accuracy for the golfer.
The SIM driver is also adjustable in terms of a lie, lot, and weight. You can pick either a draw or fade depending on your comfort so you can control the ball’s flight, especially with tee shots.
2. Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero Driver
- Loft: 9 & 10.5 degrees
- Clubhead size: 460 cc
- Lie: 56 degrees
- Adjustable: Yes (loft, lie & weight)
- Hand Orientation: Right & Left
Callaway is a leading brand in terms of golf equipment. From golf balls, irons, wedges, and woods, you can be sure that Callaway will never disappoint in making golf equipment of high caliber. The Epic Flash Sub Zero driver is a great example of that.
Though it is a little high up on the price range, it is definitely worth the purchase, especially with the AI-engineered Flash Face technology that is integrated within it that sends your ball speeds to incredible distances.
The famous Jailbreak technology of Callaway is also incorporated in this model.
Basically, what this does is to even the distribution of energy throughout the club head to add speed and distance. The crown is made of light triaxial carbon fabric efficiently woven for weight reduction.
The rest of the weight is put in the driver’s head for additional forgiveness, which can also be attributed to an improvement in the MOI. The 12-gram perimeter weight of the Epic Flash Sub Zero can also be adjusted.
3. Mizuno ST200 Driver
- Loft: 9.5 & 10.5 degrees
- Clubhead size: 460 cc
- Lie: 56.5 degrees
- Adjustable: Yes (loft & lie)
- Hand Orientation: Right & Left (only in 9.5 degrees)
Iron sets are one of the specialties of Mizuno. But the ST200 in particular, is an absolute highlight for their driver series.
The forged iron of the ST200 has an SAT Ti Face that is designed to be 17% stronger than the regular titanium material that Mizuno usually uses.
The thickness of the club face optimizes the performance and adds more distance. It is also lightweight with carbon crown material. Even weight distribution is achieved and that reduces the MOI to allow for better forgiveness and efficient impact.
It gives an optimal feel because of the geometrical engineering of the driver’s head. Better speed equates to better distance covered by the ball.
Mizuno has that covered with its signature Wave Technology that allows compression and rebound upon the impact of the club face. Energy is transferred from the club driver to the golf ball.
It is without a doubt one of the longest products available in the market today.
4. Titleist TS3 Driver
- Loft: 8.5, 9.5 & 10.5 degrees
- Clubhead size: 460 cc
- Lie: 58.5 degrees
- Adjustable: Yes (loft, lie & weight)
- Hand Orientation: Right & Left
Speed is the main focus of this new release by Titleist. Living up to its reputable image in the golf industry as a leading provider of quality equipment, Titleist released the TS3 driver 2 years after intensive research and development.
They came up with the Titleist Speed Chassis technology that focuses on the maximization of club head speed and ball speed for maximum reached distance.
The construction of the TS3 is ultra-thin and lightweight, with a titanium crown for even weight distribution. The weight is also interchangeable from the back part of the club head.
The engineering of this club head also gives it a low center of gravity for higher launch and reduced spin rating, which are all factors in achieving greater driver distance.
Aside from the new and improved technology, the aesthetics are also improved to match.
5. Cobra Radspeed Driver
- Adjustable sole weights to modify launch and spin
- Three model variants
- Lowering spin to increase distance reduces playability
The Cobra Radspeed driver got its name from the radial weighting technology that is integrated within it.
This means more weight added to both the front and rear weights – 28g in the front and 10g in the rear) to give a unique performance of increased ball speed plus low spin and forgiveness that is applicable to players from all skill levels and abilities.
The concept of the radius of gyration (the distance from the center of the club’s gravity to the individual locations of the added weight) is applied in this driver and its three model variants and also increased to add more yards to your strike.
The added weights in the 460cc driver are favored more towards the front (16g fixed, 12g adjustable) rather than the rear (8g fixed, 2g adjustable).
The adjustable weights are interchangeable to modify the preferred launch and spin style of the player.
6. Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero
And finally, the last strong contender on our list. Another Callaway driver that will add more yards to your hit is the Mavrik Sub Zero.
The reason why we put this last is that we hardly noticed any improvements in performance when compared to previous versions. Yes, it does give a reduced spin and launch, a good feel, and steady ball flight as well when you hit the sweet spot.
If you really want a noticeable increase in distance, you can adjust the hosel to a few degrees higher than what you are used to. The head size is slightly smaller than the regular Mavrik driver by 10cc.
Increasing the distance of your golf driver
More distance means less score – which is the entire point of the game. These tips we are about to share with you stem from the experiences of a golfer who is simply doing his best to gain as much experience as possible to be able to impart relevant and reliable information to you.
We think that you can get a variety of answers from various players if you ask them how to hit farther, so to make it all simple for you, we’re just going to boil it all down to two words: patience and practice.
For starters, you have to find your baseline. This is the distance that you are currently reaching with your driver.
Get a range by striking a few times and noting your average and farthest distance. The average distance will serve as your baseline.
Once you know your basis, you can get started on getting that number higher and adding more yards. Below are some tips you can try for a few strikes before you delve into consistent practice.
Instant distance-improving tips:
- Widen your stance; that way, you will have a stronger foothold to give you more freedom to twist and turn for your swing.
- Open your right heel to about 10 degrees. This will allow you to turn your hip better once you strike.
- Tee the ball higher for a high initial launch angle. That way, it’s easier to achieve the next tip.
- Swing up at the ball. If you have a higher tee, your swing direction will also have an upward direction. You can launch the ball higher and reduce the spin.
- Keep a steady balance. It is a common incident for golfers to lose their balance in an attempt to hit the ball at a larger distance. But once you go out of balance, it becomes counterproductive. Always maintain a balanced stance to achieve maximum distance when you hit that ball.
On the first attempt, these instant tips will add some yards. For that long-term gameplay, you need to be disciplined and actually exert effort to build this kind of skill.
The following are a couple of surefire pieces of advice for you.
Practice. This one is the harsh truth that we all need to accept when we are working on being better at something. It does not only apply to golf but to other fields and aspects of life as well. Your practice routine will determine your improvement.
The course is your oyster. Hit your driver as many times as you can. Swing as hard as you can. Get a small bucket of golf balls and keep on swinging until it runs out dry.
This will help you attain a steady swing stance and train your body to get used to the strenuous movement that comes with hitting at a farther distance.
Power tip: When you have achieved the maximum distance of the range that you have set for your training, take a break.
Do not overwork yourself because that will only lead to exhaustion, and you do not want this to happen, especially when you are trying to work on improving your distance. When you have attained the maximum of your range, you can stop at the longest ball.
Rest. Just like we said before, do not overexert yourself. Know when you’ve reached your physical limits. It’s not necessary to train every single day and strain your muscles.
Take time to relax and unwind after heavy training.
Stretch. Weight and body build are not the basis for strikers of great distances. Flexibility is the main determinant of a golfer’s distance capacity. Good stretching exercises condition your muscles for twists and turns when you swing.
Your hips play a vital role in your swing ability. Make it a point to stretch your hips for 4 sets of 10-second flex leans along with proper breathing.
The ease of your hip movement allows for more rapid movement of your upper torso.
Smart swing tip: Don’t swing hard. Swing fast instead. When you try to swing with more strength instead of speed, your muscles tend to tighten, and it won’t do anything to increase your distance.
But with a fast swing, your muscles are more relaxed, and therefore, there is more energy in your swing that you can inflict upon, and your body is more flexible, resulting in a smooth and quick strike that sends the ball to great distances.
The secret to the long hits of drivers
Aside from the obvious fact that your way of handling a golf club heavily affects the distance of your hits, the construction of club drivers is also a vital aspect. Technique and good equipment go hand in hand in gameplay performance.
Shafts
There are different shapes and sizes of golf shafts, and the right one for you is the one that works well with your capability and comfort. A good golf shaft will enable you to swing your driver in a quick, smooth motion while retaining an accurate shot.
Other characteristics like swing speed, flex, torque, kick-point, and weight all play vital roles in improving one’s driver performance. You will benefit a lot by doing a fitting with a PGA professional.
If this is something well within your means, then we suggest going through with it since it will help a lot in determining the specific club driver that will maximize your distance.
Heads
460 cc is the largest club head size set by golf regulatory bodies. The size or volume of the club head is correlated to the forgiveness that it can provide.
The larger the size, the larger the sweet spot, and that means more area for MOI (moment of inertia). There is an increase in the point of contact between the ball and the club face, which allows more impact and energy transfer.
Swing speed and ball speed
Speed is important in the attempt to hit long drives. This also allows for abundant energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball for added speed and improved distance.
Popular long hitters like Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson Dechambeau all have average driver clubhead speeds well over 120 mph. Johnson, in particular, made it to the list of top 10 longest drives hit during a competition.
Spin rates
Too much spin decreases the distance of the ball. However, this also holds true for a little spin because it also reduces ball flight in the air, which also results in a lesser distance. An optimal spin rate is important for maximum distance.
Launch angles
This does not only pertain to the loft marked on your driver. You can make different launch angles from time to time based on your swing speed and initial angle of attack.
Low angles mean a low distance for your ball. Adjust your swing and angle of attack to achieve better distances.
Adjustability
If your driver is adjustable, then you can easily make alterations to accommodate your shots according to your skills rather than keeping it at straight shots only. There are drivers that allow you to change it to a draw or fade bias and even weight relocation towards the front or back portion of the driver.
Weight
Weight placement largely determines distance as well. This is a unique characteristic of a driver that depends on the way you swing. Factors like swing speed, swing path, and swing angle go hand in hand with weight.
Now that adjustable weights are slowly becoming a thing, golfers are now able to modify their drivers and reposition the weights to where they are most comfortable to match their swing.
If the weight is positioned towards the rear, the center of gravity will also be focused there, and you will have a higher ball flight. More weight towards the front will make for low ball flight.
Flexpoint
Also referred to as the kick-point, this is a bent area around the shaft that measures around 2 inches. This is inversely proportional to your ball flight which means that a high kick-point means low ball flight and vice versa.
How to hit long drives
Even when you already have a driver that is specially designed for long hits, that does not just happen instantly. You have to put in the work and not just swing aimlessly on the tee.
There are certain parameters to work on to perfect that swing that gets your ball to incredible distances.
Setup
Your initial form says a lot about what your next moves will look like. It does not matter how hard you swing, if your form and timing are poor, it won’t make much of a difference. Follow these steps to optimize your setup.
- Keep your feet, hips, and shoulders aligned parallel to your target line.
- The width of your feet opening should be slightly more than the width of your shoulders.
- Use the heel of your front foot as the basis for the ball position.
- You should put more weight on your back foot rather than your front foot. A 55-45 ratio should be good.
- Tilt your right shoulder downward.
The upward angle of attack
Launch monitors like TrackMan have contributed significantly in the further development of the game of golf.
Because of their analysis of the many aspects involved in gameplay, it was discovered that an upward angle of attack is important in reaching maximum distances.
Speed and rhythm
It has been mentioned multiple times in this post that speed directly correlates to distance. All long hitters of the PGA tour have high swing speeds, and that is why they are all able to hit the ball to great distances.
Good rhythm upon swing is also important, combined with swing speed and distance. Rhythm ensures the accuracy of the shot. Distance is great, but if the shot is inaccurate, it still won’t matter because the ball will still be far from the target.
Having a consistent rhythm will make your shots more accurate in more ways than one and give you more freedom to swing. Know the difference between inflicting a lot of impact on the ball alone and impact on the swing itself.
FAQs
What is the secret to hitting long drives?
A lot of people, even those who are not golf players, are under the impression that there is a secret to hitting long drives. The truth is, there isn’t.
There is no secret formula. It really just takes practice, discipline, and consistency. A good choice of the driver is essential.
The right combination of the shaft, lie angle, loft, swing speed, and accuracy will really have positive results. You can count on that.
Aside from equipment and personal improvement, the assistance of an effective trainer or instructor will also help you improve not just your distance but your overall gameplay performance.
Will adding more distance make me lose accuracy?
There are instances when players focus too much on distance and end up hitting inaccurately in the process. Trying to increase club head speed will cause some disruptions in your usual rhythm and swing style.
Try to keep your arms and hips steady while you work on your speed so you won’t lose accuracy in your shots. If the current condition of your driver makes you struggle with slices and hooks, you can make your hits straighter to add more distance.
Will a longer shaft increase the distance?
In some ways, yes. Longer shafts increase the swing arc, widens the swing angle, and therefore allow you to swing faster and smoother compared to a short driver.
And like we always say, high swing speed equates to greater distance. The longest shaft length that can be used in a golf driver is 48 inches.
The average is 45. Long shafts paired with the appropriate driver head, lie, and loft will add around 10 more yards to your average distance.
However, it is also important to note that this kind of adjustment will affect your accuracy so make sure to proceed with caution and keep your shots consistently accurate.
Conclusion
The marketing for golf club drivers is similar in their claim to add more distance to your shots. However, even if you buy the most popular or the most expensive one, it still won’t make a difference if the combination is not right.
A good driver is only one part of the formula. You also need to practice how you actually handle it. Your swing style, speed, angle, and technique need to match the optimal equipment that you use to achieve better scores and improve your game.
