The 5 Best Driving Drills for More Distance and Control

Hitting a great drive off the tee is the only thing that’s going to make the rest of the hole smooth. If you get that first shot in the fairway, you won’t be playing catch-up the rest of the time. If your tee shot is a weak link, here are some of the best driving drills to help you gain more distance and control. 

Alignment Stick Setup Drill

Using alignment sticks during your driver practice is essential. In fact, if you aren’t, you may be wasting your time. Alignment sticks are not just for improving your aim but also for accuracy and swing path. Here are some ways to set up your alignment sticks so your range setup is ready.  

Ways to Set Up Your Alignment Sticks:

• Target Line Stick: Lay a stick directly at your intended target to train proper aim.
  
• Feet Alignment Stick: Place a second stick parallel to the first to check that your feet, hips, and shoulders are square.
  
• Swing Path Stick: Stick one in the ground at an angle outside the ball (around 45 degrees, the same angle of your driver shaft at setup) to promote an inside-to-out path for more distance and better flight.
  
• Exit Path Stick: Place a stick slightly in front and outside your target line to encourage a full release and complete follow-through.
  

Once you have your setup, pick a target downrange. Hit 10 drives and track how many finish within a 10-15 yard window of the target line. Your goal is to get 4/10 within the window and then beat it the next time you try. 

Tempo Control Drill (The 1-2-3 Drill)

Speed without control is useless off the tee. That’s where tempo comes in. This simple 1, 2, 3 drill is a great one to try. 

How to Do It:

• Swing back to the top of your swing, counting one and then two 
• On the count of three, swing down and release through the ball 

Say “one-two-three” out loud or mentally as you swing. This drill smooths out your tempo, prevents rushing from the top, and often adds effortless yards.

Tee Height Adjustment Drill

Small changes in tee height can dramatically influence your launch angle, spin rates, and distance. Try to complete this drill with a launch monitor to collect data; if not, you can still experiment without one. 

How to Do It:

• Hit a series of drives with low, standard, and high tee heights.
  
• Track:
  
  • Which height produces your longest carry.
    
  • Which gives you the best balance of launch and control.
    
• Goal: Find the tee height that maximizes your launch without causing excessive spin or directional loss. Mark your tees with a Sharpie at the preferred height so you can replicate it every round.

Step-Through Drill

The step-through drill teaches you how to create dynamic movement through the ball. If you’re holding back, you’re losing yards and accuracy. 

How to Do It:

• Set up normally.
  
• As you complete your backswing, step your trail foot forward toward the target while you swing through.
  
• Focus on balance, rotation, and momentum toward the target.

Narrow Stance Control Drill

If missing the center of the face is a problem for you, try this narrow stance drill. You don’t always need a wide, powerful stance to hit great drives. 

How to Do It:

• Set up with your feet about shoulder-width or even slightly closer.
  
• Swing at 75–80% speed.
  
• Focus on making clean, center-struck drives without losing balance. Apply impact tape to the clubhead. Once you can consistently center the face with a narrow stance, take your normal stance. 

Final Thoughts

Driving it longer is great. But keeping it in play is even better. These five drills target both distance and control by helping you practice your aim, rhythm, strike quality, and movement through the ball.