Four Tips to Add 10 Yards to Your Drive for 2026 Season

1. Sweep the leaves toward your target

Distance matters on tee shots, but survival comes first. Korean golf courses feature numerous out-of-bounds areas and penalty zones. Extending your impact reduces spin and improves accuracy, even with the same power. Conversely, chopping at the ball increases spin and causes significant hooks or slices.

Practice by imagining your driver as a broom or snow shovel. Sweep imaginary leaves on the ground toward your target with a long, flowing motion. Feel the clubhead and ball moving together through impact.

A longer impact zone creates mental and physical ease, increasing your chances of striking the ball on the face's center. Visualize the shaft touching behind your head and complete your finish fully to maximize power transfer.

2. Backswing: Power storage matters more than size

Ok Tae-hoon dominated the 2024 KPGA Tour despite a compact backswing caused by a hip condition. His secret lies in properly storing power before releasing it.

Many amateur golfers let their left arm bend and collapse during the backswing. This creates a large swing arc but zero body coil and no stored energy. A smaller backswing with a taut left arm generates genuine torque.

Proper form trumps backswing size. A tight spring snaps back with minimal twist, while a slack rubber band fails to return even after multiple rotations.

3. Use ground force lightly

Ground reaction force is essential for distance, but stomping too hard on your left foot disrupts rotation. Poor rotation eliminates swing space, causing your body to stand up at impact and forcing an arms-only swing.

A gentle press into the ground during the downswing provides sufficient ground force. Rushing to hit hard triggers this common error.

Long drives combine power and speed. Move like a leopard—light and quick—not like an elephant plodding down. Relaxation is key.

4. Generate extra power with your glutes

Large muscles drive long shots. The glutes rank among the body's biggest muscles. Watch long hitters from behind—their glutes squeeze tight immediately after impact. They extract additional power from their hips, not just by bending and straightening their knees.

Timing matters when engaging the glutes. Press your left foot into the ground as the downswing begins. Extend your knees through impact. Squeeze your glutes immediately after impact while lifting your body and rotating toward the target. This creates more powerful, fluid movement and helps stabilize your finish position.

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Lee Jong-hyuk, who demonstrated these techniques, is a KPGA member and teaching professional. Known as the "Distance Monster," he regularly drives the ball over 360 yards.