Monteleone says one big key to a successful tee shot is to make sure that your entire body -- hips and shoulders -- faces the target on your follow through and that your hands finish high up around your head.

Another key is to obtain a shallow approach on your downswing when impacting a ball. A good swing thought is to envision that you are swinging down the first base line from the top of your swing.

Two drills to help transport
that perfect drive on the range
to the first tee on Sunday morning

By Jeffrey Monteleone • Photos by Mike Norris

Hitting the driver well takes an athletic move paired with a strong mental capacity. This is easy to do at the practice facility, but some days it’s a long walk to the first tee. Here are two drills that will help you take that driver swing to the golf course.

Hitting little ones

Hit golf balls with your driver only to the 100-yard flag or marker, then 125 yards, then 150, then 175, gradually moving to a normal distance for your driver. Concentrate on the path of the driver swing, especially on the downswing. Try to obtain a shallow approach when impacting the golf ball. Another way to explain this shallow approach is to swing down the first base line from the top of the swing. A good indicator of a correct path is that the golf ball starts just right of the intended target.

Follow through drill

Hit balls or take practice swings where you focus on completing your swing so that your body, hips and shoulders, faces the target. Your hands should finish high and around behind your head and your right foot should be perpendicular to the ground.

Also have your right foot up (right-handed golfer) on the follow through so that you may tap it on the ground. This will ensure your completion of the follow through and weight transfer. I also have many of my students, especially juniors, hold their follow through for three seconds. The finish is one of the most ignored areas of the golf swing. When you focus on swinging through the hitting area and completing the swing, your golf shots will improve radically. This is a great swing thought to take to the first tee and carry with you around the golf course. It is a nice, general swing thought that will certainly increase your fairways hit.

 Remember, the drive stance should start right and stay right. Start behind the ball (tilted shoulders), turn behind the ball and impact behind the ball. This is different than an iron, which is more of a steeper angle of approach and a trap impact. The driver swing needs to hit the ball on the up-swing; therefore the shallower approach is the better approach.

Take these two drills to the practice facility and try them out. I really believe they will help. Any questions or concerns, please consult your local PGA Professional.

Jeffrey Monteleone is in his first season as the head golf professional at Renaissance GC. Before coming to Renaissance, Monteleone served as the head golf professional at New Hampshire’s Crotched Mountain Golf Club.