Step 1
Visit a driving range after having taking a lesson, watched a video or searched the Internet to improve or try any technique changes you need to hit a straight, far ball. For a basic drive, tee the ball slightly forward in your stance, use a wider stance and tee the ball just over the top of your clubhead.
Step 2
Hit approximately 10 practice shots to warm up and get into a rhythm. Notice any problems, such as hooking, slicing, topping, hitting the ground or lack of distance.
Step 3
Continue to hit drives, using your lessons or research to experiment with tee height, ball placement, wrist cock, grip or hip rotation. Work on only one adjustment at a time and use each adjustment during at least six swings to see its affect on your shot.
Step 4
Choose one technique you feel will help your drive and continue to swing until you get into a groove and begin to see an improvement. Hit approximately 10 good balls in a row with the new technique.
Step 5
Change clubs and try the technique from different lies. This will help you retain your new skills. Hit long irons and one or two woods, off the ground and from tees. Try to use the same technique on each shot.
Step 6
Develop a pre-shot ritual during this stage of your practice. Tap the ground, waggle the clubhead, take two practice swings or perform some other movement you will use before each drive in the future. Create a different pre-swing ritual for drives than for other shots if you want to try to make this pre-shot ritual more likely to trigger the correct motor pattern for a drive.
Step 7
Hit 10 more drives with your new technique to see if you have imprinted the motor pattern of your new technique.
Step 8
Play simulated holes after you are able to consistently use the technique you've worked on. This will help you recall your new skill later, when you play a round of golf. Visualize the first hole of a course you play and hit your driver the way you would on that hole. Choose an appropriate club for your next shot, based on where your drive landed, as you would for your visualized course. Play the hole out using the same clubs and swings you would choose at your imagined course.
Step 9
Play nine or more holes, using a similar pacing that you would on the course. Don't wait several minutes between shots, but clean the club after each shot, return it to the bag and select the next club. Take your pre-shot ritual before each swing, including practice swings.
