Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short? (5 Solutions)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

A lack of distance can lead to frustration in the game of golf.

Golfers often will start to overswing in an effort to hit the ball further and end up with poor contact or inaccurate tee shots.

The awesome news is that speed in the golf swing can be increased through speed training, technical improvements, proper equipment and intention in the swing.

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short?

The main issues that lead to a driver that falls short of your expectation include:

  • Lack of swing speed
  • Lack of center hits
  • Improper equipment
  • Poor swing mechanics
  • Improper intention in the swing

Below, I will dive into further details on each of these potential issues.  Go ahead and check them out and see what is the best description of your swing.  

I would recommend taking a video of your swing from the side view and the down the line view and find a way to get a proper reading of your current ball speed.  I would recommend a product like the Swing Speed Radar, check out the price here!

At the end of every potential issue I will provide a solution or recommendations to improve this area.

If this is you on the golf course, make sure you check out the tips below!

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short: Lack of swing speed

Even if you have the perfect equipment, perfect swing, proper equipment and you hit the ball on the center of the face, if you don’t have enough swing speed, you won’t get as much distance as you might think.  If you are swinging the driver around 80 miles per hour, you are going to have difficulty hitting your driver even 200 yards.  So what is the solution?

Solution!

I would highly recommend training with a program like SuperSpeed Golf!

Did you know that you can increase your swing speed by 5-8% as early as the first session through this overspeed training program?

The SuperSpeed Training System is based on three different swing speed sticks all weighing at different weights.  There is a green club that is 10% lighter than the average driver, the blue club which is 5% lighter and the red club which is actually 5% heavier!

Following their prescribed protocols the golfer completes the training every other day.  The total time to complete most of their protocols is between 10-15 minutes.  Most people can find the time to make this happen.  The golfer will also need a swing radar to measure their progress. 

The science behind the SuperSpeed Training System is based on overspeed training.  Overspeed training has been around for several decades now and has been used by olympic athletics in the sport of Track and Field.  

The science behind this overspeed training is based on the premise that your brain will only allow your body to move as fast as it feels it can stop safely!  So, you get to work and swing the clubs as fast as possible, retraining your brain to allow you to swing your driver faster.

For more permanent results, the golfer should continue these training protocols for several months.  The initial 5-8% is great and can become more permanent with the right length of training.  The golfer can expect to continue to break down barriers every several months at a 1-2% increase.

My own experience has been an increase of 7-10 miles per hour on average from between 98-101 all the way up to 106-109.  My goal is to hit the PGA Tour average of 113 mph in the coming months.  I will continue to train every other day and watch in amazement as I am hitting drivers longer now than ever before!

Phil Mickelson (a senior golfer now) has been known to increase his swing speed in the past year or so and is close to 120 miles per hour in his swing speed.  There are potential results for golfers of all ability levels and age!  

Check the current price on SuperSpeed Golf System, here!

Original Swing SpeedAfter 4-6 WeeksNew Carry DistanceTotal Distance
95102245265
100108259279
105113271291
110118283303

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short: Lack of center hits

As you increase your swing speed, you can expect further distances with your driver, but might not completely maximize your distance if you aren’t hitting the ball on the center of the clubface.  While technology has improved greatly on off center hits, you will still get your maximum distance from center strikes.  Many of the beginner golfers who are new to the game, but have plenty of swing speed from playing a sport like baseball, often struggle to hit the center of the clubface.  Ultimately, the golfer needs club face control and to understand where the club face is throughout the swing.

Solution!

There are several different options, the first includes using impact tape or a spray to first see where you are hitting the ball.  If you are on the toe or the heel, simple adjustments in setup might help you adjust.

Our second solution is something that will help you hit the center of the face and control the start line of your shots.

Stock Shot Drill

  • At the driving range, set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
  • If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 3-4 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
  • Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target.  Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
  • The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
When you get to a hole like this par 5, having enough speed and a stock shot is very helpful!

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short: Improper equipment

This often comes down to the shaft in your driver.  Oftentimes, senior golfers, who have lost speed over the years are still playing a regular or a stiff shaft, when in reality they should be playing a light, flexible senior shaft that will help add swing speed through the hitting zone.  The opposite of this is the golfer that has a high end swing speed, but is using a regular flex shaft.  This leads to inconsistencies and potentially too high of a spin rate.

Solution!

Head to your local golf store or find a local PGA Tour instructor who does club fitting. At a minimum check out your swing speed and your spin rate and see if the shaft is the best match for your game and your swing!

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short: Poor swing mechanics

There are some major swing faults that often lead to a lack of distance that include: 

These are all potential issues that could be zapping any swing speed for your game.  

Solution!

I would highly recommend finding an online instructor to follow and to understand some of the basic keys to the golf swing.  I have reviewed many of the best online instructors and an overview can you be found on this post: 

Who is the best instructor on youtube

The main thing is to find a system and commit to it.  Any of the instructors detailed can help you take your game to a new level.  While one might be better than the other specific to your swing issues, they can all help!

Why Do I Hit My Driver So Short: Improper intention in the swing

Far too often we see the amateur golfer that is trying to unload everything at the ball.  This often leads to swing speed that is maxed out right at the beginning of the downswing.  The golfer is slowing down by the time they reach the ball and struggle to get the total distance they would expect

Solution!

The golfer has to get the speed at the ball and beyond.  The key swing thought here is to get the speed out front towards the target.  This simple swing intention can get you properly rotating through the swing, transition your speed to out front and help you find some extra distance.

When you can combine the right swing intentions with speed training, the mechanics and lack of center hits can often take care of themselves.

Golf is an amazing game, it is even more fun when you have enough distance!

Key Recommendation!

If I had to pick two ot he options above, they would be #1 and #5.  The speed training and the intention of the golf swing are vital to your overall success.  With #1, speed training, golfers in this system have improved mechanically.  

One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that added swing speed and distance doesn’t have to come at the expense of accuracy.  You might find that as your improve your swing speed and your mechanics improve that your accuracy will improve as well!

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

Recent Posts