How to Hit your Driver Over 100 Yards
Speed is not just about hitting the ball far; it is an essential tool for hitting better shots. A faster clubhead speed helps launch the ball into the air even on mis-hits, and it maximizes the height and distance of your good strikes. If you want to enjoy this game, you need a baseline level of power.
As a coach, I hear the same hesitation all the time: "I don’t like swinging hard because I feel like it messes everything up. When I slow down, I make better contact."
That is completely normal, and it is most likely true. But ultimately, it doesn't matter.
If you aren’t hitting the ball with enough speed, you simply cannot play good golf. You have to buckle up and accept a temporary decrease in the quality of your ball striking to build power. Yes, when you first start swinging harder, you will mis-hit the ball. It will feel uncomfortable. But the more you practice swinging fast, the quicker your body will adapt to the new speed, and your solid contact will return—this time with significantly more distance.
There is no way around this phase. You have to be willing to get a little messy.
The Secret to Speed: The Wrists
To generate real speed, you cannot just drag the club forward with stiff arms. You have to learn how to use your hands and wrists to create a "flick" or whip-like release at the bottom of the swing.
1. Holding and Releasing the Angle Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KsSx55ok55U This is an excellent, quick visualization of how to hold the angle in your wrists during the downswing and release it at the absolute last second to create a burst of speed right at the golf ball.
2. The Wrist "Flick" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M868QsTlGt4 While the delivery of the instruction in this video is a bit dry, the core message is exactly what you need to understand. Focus entirely on how he demonstrates using or "flicking" the wrists to dramatically accelerate the clubhead.
3. The Full Motion Drill Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BaWBHHkVD4 This video ties the whole motion together. It provides a great drill to help you actually feel what it is like to maintain that wrist angle longer into the downswing before aggressively releasing your wrists through impact.
Your Action Plan: Watch these videos to understand the role of your wrists, then take that concept to the driving range. Give yourself permission to swing fast, accept the bad shots, and keep pushing until the speed feels natural.
