Add yards with our long drive secrets
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By 13 of the longest hitters in the world, Photography by Warren Keating
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 So you think you’re a big hitter? Well, consider this. Today’s top long
drivers don’t bunt the ball a measly 250 yards off the tee. Heck, a
mediocre wallop drops somewhere around the 320-yard range. Frankly,
these guys aren’t satisfied with anything under 400 yards when it comes
time to winning a paycheck. Now that’s long!
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When your driving goes south—or when situations call for something other than the big dog—don't forget your options
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By Brady Riggs, PGA, with Mike Chwasky, Photography by Warren Keating
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 The well-worn cliché “drive for show, putt for dough” is familiar to
most golfers, but heeded by few. Hitting big drives is, in fact, often
the most desirable accomplishment in the game for many recreational
players, most of whom are less concerned with score than the bragging
rights that accompany a long drive. Players who are interested in
shooting good scores, however, know that accurate driving, or
strategically positioning the ball off the tee, is a critical part of
playing solid golf, and sometimes mandates the use of different clubs.
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For more clubhead MPH and more yards, turn to your hips
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By Joe Thiel, PGA Master Professional; Photography by D2 Productions; Opening Photo by David Johnston
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 If there’s an absolute truth in golf, it’s that the faster you can move
the clubhead, the greater the potential for extra distance. Granted,
you still need to make solid contact in the center of the face and with
the club moving on the proper plane, but all other things being equal,
more speed definitely means more yards. The big question is: Where does
speed come from? Your hands can move fairly quickly, and there’s no
faster part of your body than your fingers. But where the golf swing is
concerned, a fast clubhead almost always results from fast hips moving
correctly and in the proper direction.
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Serious advice and drills for big, big hits
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By Brad Brewer, PGA Photography by Terry Renna
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 Each of my students completes a pre-instruction questionnaire,
indicating wants, needs and goals. I’ve used this questionnaire for 20
years, and easily the most oft-noted goal is “more distance with more
control.” Many of these golfers own sound fundamentals, solid iron
swings and good short games, but nonetheless lack the skill to
consistently produce pure and powerful drives. In your own attempts to
improve, does it seem like the harder you try to gain distance, the
worse it gets? Trust me, you’re not alone. I’m confident that learning
from four typical driving faults and comparing those to the moves of
golfers who hit it forever with a seemingly effortless flow of motion
will help you do the same.
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Simple tips and drills for finding the fairway more often
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By Chuck Winstead, Photography by Warren Keating
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 The higher the handicap, the more pivotal the tee ball becomes. Driving
the ball into water, rough, bunkers, trees and other hazards is what
causes high-handicappers to rack up strokes. As players become more
proficient, they develop skills to execute trouble shots and hit
pitches from the rough and sand, putting less pressure on hitting
fairways. It’s almost as if good players expect to miss every now and
then, feeling confident in knowing that they have the tools to recover
from an errant drive. High-handicappers, unfortunately, don’t have that
luxury.
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Learn the secrets of the longest drivers in the world
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By Brady Riggs with Mike Chwasky; Photography by Warren Keating
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 Recreational golfers, top amateurs and pros have at least one thing in
common—they all want to drive it long. It’s a desire all golfers have,
which is why driving ranges are full of people swinging out of their
shoes in the attempt to hit it higher, longer and farther.
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Maximize your distance by learning the methods of some of the Tour’s longest hitters
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By Brady Riggs, with Mike Chwasky, Photography by Warren Keating
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 "How do those guys hit it so far?” has got to be the most common
question asked by recreational golfers in regard to the pros. Strength
training, stretching, finely tuned equipment and lots of practice are
certainly part of the reason, not to mention outrageous amounts of
talent. But while it’s relatively easy to understand why tall, strongly
built guys like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh can crush their
tee shots, it’s not clear to most golf fans why a lot of the
average-sized guys on Tour can do it, too.
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