5 things you can do to stop popping up your driver off the tee

When you’re standing on the tee box, ready to unleash your driver, you likely have high hopes for a powerful shot. But when you end up hitting a pop-up, it can be incredibly frustrating. Not only does this shot lack the desired distance, but it also leaves you with a more difficult approach to your next shot. Fortunately, there are several adjustments you can make to avoid this mishit and improve your driver performance.

Here are five things you can do to stop popping up your driver.

1. Get in proper posture

The key to a consistent driver swing begins with proper posture. It’s important to maintain a similar posture with your driver as you do with all your other clubs. Don’t use the length of the driver as an excuse to stand taller. Instead, focus on bending forward from your hips so that your hands hang directly below your shoulders. This balanced posture will allow you to make a more controlled swing and stay in balance. Standing too tall can lead to a steep backswing, making it difficult to rotate and generate proper depth in your swing.

2. Focus on ball position and tilt

Once you’re in the right posture, check your ball position. It should be forward in your stance, so your shoulders can tilt away from the target and allow you to hit the ball on the upswing. The tee helps here by providing an efficient angle of approach for your driver. By catching the ball with a direct strike (instead of a glancing blow), you’ll send the energy forward, not upward, which will help prevent that frustrating pop-up.

3. Think of a baseball swing

A good backswing involves allowing your shoulders to rotate fully and your club to move around behind you. This helps create a flatter swing path, which will lead to better contact. Avoid a straight-back or overly steep backswing, as this can cause the club to come down too steep, resulting in a high, short shot. Focus on creating depth and a flatter swing for more solid contact and greater distance.

4. Get the right tee height

A common myth is that teeing the ball too high causes pop-ups. In reality, this is rarely the issue. If you tee the ball too low, you’ll have to swing more steeply, which could lead to hitting the ground, resulting in either a pop-up or a drop-kick. To avoid this, tee the ball high enough that you don’t have to make contact with the ground to strike the sweet spot of the driver. Ideally, you should have about three-quarters of the ball visible above the top of the driver’s face when the club is resting on the ground.

Gear

Additionally, make sure you’re not breaking your tee during your swing. If your tee breaks, it could be due to improper setup or a lack of swing speed. Ensure your driver is properly fitted to your swing, as using a club that’s too heavy or has the wrong shaft for you can make it harder to generate the necessary clubhead speed. For custom fitting, I recommend True Spec Golf for myself, my family, and my students to ensure we’re maximizing the performance of our drivers.

5. Speed train for the “swoosh”

Once your setup is solid, speed becomes your friend. The driver allows for greater speed because, unlike with other clubs, precision is a bit less important. However, it’s essential to avoid a slow, controlled swing. Your practice swings should produce a swooshing sound, which indicates the speed and power you need to maximize distance with your driver.

The faster and higher-pitched the swoosh, the better your chances of generating the necessary speed to avoid hitting the ground with your club. If you’re committed to increasing your swing speed, I recommend TheStack System for speed training. It’s a tool I use myself, although I could always use more training!

TheStack

$349

TheStack Hardware   5 milled Stack weights enable 30 weight combinations between 0g and 300g Dual-purpose weight case / phone stand Highly engineered training club – Adult (41.5″) or Junior (38.5″) version (see Fitting Juniors) Speed radar not included.  View all compatible devices here.  We recommend The SC200 Plus for players who hit their driver <270 yards, and the The PRGR Black Pocket for players 270 yards+.   TheStack App Training   2-year License included, accessible on iOS only. Dynamic speed training formulated by Dr. Sasho MacKenzie Guided workout timer for reps, sets, and rest intervals Custom speed metrics to track your gains Hands-free data entry using voice entry technology Includes access to Stack Putting (Beta) – Learn more Includes Single User License – Enables training and tracking for up to five local (i.e. family) users under one login. Multi-user Coaches License license sold separately.   Access TheStack App from the App Store when your order arrives. Requires iOS 15.0 or later.  See our FAQ pages for questions about subscriptions.

Buy Now

View Product

By adjusting your posture, ball position, swing path, tee height and speed, you’ll be better equipped to avoid pop-ups and maximize the power and distance of your driver shots. Keep these tips in mind during your practice and you’ll see improvement in no time!