Impact & ReleaseIntermediateFixes: Low driver launch

Hit Up With the Driver: Tee Height, Head Behind the Ball, Push Off the Lead Leg

Drill by Mark Crossfield

You'll need: Driver, tees, range balls

Video walkthrough by Mark Crossfield · drill starts at 0:15Watch on YouTube ↗

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

The driver sits on a tee forward in the stance, so it should be struck slightly on the way up, after the low point of the swing. When the head and upper body lunge toward the target in the downswing, the low point moves forward with them and the club arrives travelling down, which launches the ball low with extra spin. Keeping the head behind the ball, and using the ground by dropping from the top and then pushing up off a straightening lead leg, keeps the low point behind the ball so the club is already rising when it meets it. Tee height then fine-tunes the launch.

How to Perform the Drill

Reps: Start with half-speed drives from the narrow stance, lead foot behind the ball, then return to your normal stance keeping the head back; try each of the three tee heights on the range.. Rehearse slowly before adding full swing speed.

  1. Tee height: Hit drives off three different tee heights and watch how each one changes your launch and shot shape. Don't rely on one height; treat each as a tool you can choose.

  2. Head behind the ball: Low drives often come from the head and upper body driving toward the target too early. Take a narrow stance with your lead foot behind the ball so your head has to stay behind it through impact.

  3. Hit from the narrow stance: Make smooth swings from that stance, feeling the head stay back as the club swings up into the ball for a higher launch.

  4. Drop, don't bury: Don't bury yourself in your lead foot. From the top, feel your pelvis and hands drop down.

  5. Push up and out: Through impact, push up and out of your lead side, straightening the lead leg through the hitting zone so the low point moves back and the club strikes the ball on the way up.

What Good Feels Like

Head stays behind the ball; drop down from the top, then push up and out of the lead leg through impact.

  • The head is still behind the ball at impact.
  • Higher launch with the same or less effort.
  • The lead leg is straightening through the hitting zone.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Sticking with one tee height instead of testing how each changes launch and shape.
  • Driving the head and upper body toward the target before impact.
  • Burying your weight into the lead foot instead of pushing up and out of it.

Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed

Low driver launchHitting down on the driverHead ahead of the ballUpper body lunging toward the targetLack of distanceNo ground force

Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill

How to Increase Clubhead Speed in Golf

Clubhead speed comes from a wide backswing that gives the club room to build speed, a downswing that starts from the ground and the hips, wrist angle held long enough to release speed at the ball, and overspeed training that teaches your body to move faster. Swinging harder with your arms rarely adds speed and often costs you a solid strike.

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