Try this simple drill for more solid, center-face strikes

By: Bernie Najar, Top 100 Teacher January 11, 2026

Use this three-tee setup to see if a flatter path through impact works for you.

GOLF

Hit up on the ball with the driver.

You’ve all been told that, but it doesn’t work for everybody. It can add too much loft at impact, create too much spin and make your contact a little too low on the clubface — a big-time yardage robber.

Try this. Tee up a ball as normal, then place two tees directly in front and on your target line as you see here. The goal? You guessed it — hit the ball while also driving the club through the two other tees. If you tend to hit too much “up” on the ball, you’ll definitely miss the most forward tee.

Hitting less “up” on the ball with driver may be your secret to more yards. Catch the ball, then the two other tees. It could mean pow! — Hitting less ‘up’ on the ball with driver may be your secret to more yards. GOLF

Use the visual created by the two extra tees to keep your driver a bit lower to the ground through impact but also on the line you need to be swinging on. By catching the ball and the two other tees you’ll successfully de-loft the club a bit and stay more on path — a boon for anyone looking for a few extra yards. If you start catching the ball more in the center of the face, you’ll know this drill’s for you.

Bernie Najar is director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md.