The driver is the longest club, lowest loft, and the one you’re most tempted to swing hardest—so it magnifies every flaw. Master these three common mistakes (with simple fixes and drills) and you’ll add fairways, distance, and confidence off the tee.

Mistake #1: Teeing the Ball Too Far Forward

Yes, the driver ball position belongs forward—but too far (ahead of the lead heel) invites pop-ups, heel strikes, snap-hooks, and high spin. It forces you to “reach” for impact or stall the body to catch up the face.

Fix It

• Ball position: Opposite your lead heel (logo on shirt roughly behind the ball).
• Tee height: Half the ball above the crown of the driver when the club is soled.
• Secondary tilt: Slight spine tilt away from the target at address (lead shoulder higher than trail shoulder).

Checkpoint: On a neutral strike, you’ll see mid-high launch with a tiny face mark just above center. If impact tape shows low-face or towards the crown, adjust tee height before you change your swing.

Mistake #2: Swinging Too Steep

A steep (downward) attack works with short irons, but with driver it produces weak, spinny shots and wipes across the ball for a slice. Steepness often comes from narrow takeaway, early shoulder “dive,” or yanking the handle down.

Fix It

• Wider takeaway: Feel the clubhead low and wide to hip height; keep the trail arm soft.
• Shallow feel: From the top, let the clubhead fall behind your hands as your lower body starts forward.
• Inside-out path: Aim the handle toward your lead thigh through impact; avoid “over-the-top” shoulder lunge.

Alignment aid: Place an alignment stick just outside the ball, angled along your target line. Your downswing should track inside of it, not crash over it.

Mistake #3: Letting Your Head Drift Past the Ball

Pros keep the head behind the ball at impact with driver. If your head (and upper body) slide toward the target, you lose shaft lean control, open the face, and drain power.

Fix It

• Set the tilt: At address, bump hips slightly target-side while keeping your sternum behind the ball.
• Sequence: Start down from the ground up—pressure into the lead foot, hips unwind, torso follows, arms last.
• Focus cue: “Nose stays behind the ball, chest turns through.” Not rigid—just centered.

Checkpoint: Freeze your finish for two seconds. If your chest is facing the target and your head finished after the strike (not lunged ahead), you sequenced well.

Quick Setup Checklist (Driver)

• ✔ Ball position: Off the lead heel
• ✔ Tee height: Half ball above the crown
• ✔ Stance & tilt: Athletic width, slight spine tilt away from target
• ✔ Grip pressure: 4–5/10 (free up speed)
• ✔ Intermediate aim spot: 1–2 feet ahead to set face first, then feet

3 Fast Fix Drills

1) Headcover Gate (for path & shallowing)

Place a headcover 6–8 inches behind the ball and just outside the target line. Miss it on the downswing. If you hit the cover, you’re too steep or over the top.

2) Tee Line Strike (for centered contact)

Create a “tee gate” just wider than your driver face. Clip both tees without knocking them out. Center-face strikes follow.

3) Step-Through Drill (for sequence & staying behind the ball)

Make a normal backswing, then step the lead foot toward the target as you start down. Feel pressure shift before the club drops; head stays behind until after impact.

Final Thoughts

Fix ball position and tee height, shallow your approach, and keep your head behind the ball with proper sequence. Those three changes alone can turn driver from liability into weapon. Start with setup, add one feel at a time, and let the big dog eat—in play.