Need an instant gift for Dad?

InsideGOLF Premium
Driving

How to use a headcover to help you hit longer and higher drives

golf instructor jonathan yarwood swings

If you want to hit higher and longer drives off the tee, try these two simple drills from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood.

Everyone wants to drive the golf ball like the pros do. There’s nothing like teeing the ball high, rearing back, and smacking the ball long and far down the fairway. But for a lot of recreational players, that sequence is just a fantasy.

For many players, a steep swing is the culprit for the inability to hit long and towering drives. With a steep angle of attack, the clubhead hits the outside of the ball and does not have enough loft to properly launch the ball off the tee. The result is low and spinny fades that lack power.

To fix this flaw, you’ll need to teach yourself to route the clubhead from an inside path as you approach the ball, and with an upward angle of attack. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood has the perfect drill for this move — and all the components can be found in your golf bag.

Inside path

Tee the ball up like you would for a normal tee shot and place a headcover parallel to your target line on the opposite side of the ball. With the headcover outside the club path, you’ll have to hit the ball from the inside to avoid the headcover on your swing. This will teach you the correct feel of swinging “in to out” and hitting the inside part of the ball.

Upward angle of attack

Tee the ball up once again just like you would for a normal tee shot, but this time place the headcover in front of the ball. With the headcover in this position, you’ll have to hit up on the ball to keep your clubhead from hitting it on the follow through. This will teach you to hit up on the ball and produce a higher launch angle, key for smashing longer drives.

Related Articles

Instruction
5 shots (& skills) players need to be successful at Shinnecock Hills
By: Kellie Stenzel, Top 100 Teacher
Instruction
Insiders Only Which holes make Shinnecock Hills such a hard U.S. Open test?
By: Zephyr Melton
Fitness
5 exercises every golfer should do to improve their golf games
By: David Sundberg, with Zephyr Melton
Instruction
Insiders Only 9 tips to effortlessly shoot more stress-free low scores
By: Jason Birnbaum with Evan Rothman
Instruction
How a 'burnerverse' golfer went from beginner to single-digit handicap in 18 months
By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
Never hit a slice again with this simple swing thought
By: Maddi MacClurg
Instruction
6 positions from J.J. Spaun's swing that every golfer should copy
By: Brian Manzella
Instruction
Why poor setup may be causing one of the most common golf-swing faults
By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
Nelly Korda's risky grip change paid off — but she wouldn't recommend it
By: Zephyr Melton
was:
Exit mobile version