How Should The Driver Sit At Address? Many Golfers Get This Wrong

When you set up to hit a driver, you’re probably thinking about the middle of the fairway, your takeaway, your follow-through or something related to the shot itself. However, there are mistakes that many players make before they even start their backswing, mistakes that begin with how the driver is positioned at address. From how the club lies on the ground to your grip, tee height and ball position, each detail matters.

Flat versus toe-up: How should the driver sit?

One of the most common setup mistakes is trying to make the sole of the driver sit perfectly flat on the ground. It feels logical that you would want this considering it’s how your irons are set at address. For the driver, a flat sole at address often leads to poor posture, a weak grip and inconsistent strikes.

Nearly every professional golfer sets up with the toe of the driver slightly elevated. This “toe-up” setup creates a more natural arm hang and better body angles. Trying to force the club flat pushes your hands too high, shifts the club into the palm and often opens the face unintentionally.

Hover or rest: Should you ground the driver?

Some golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, prefer to hover the driver just above the turf at address. This eliminates any tension from the club resting on the ground and allows for a free, flowing takeaway. It’s a solid option if you’re confident with your rhythm and grip pressure.

Most golfers rest the driver on the ground behind the ball. If that’s your go-to, there’s one setup mistake to avoid.

During the swing, your posture and arm structure often change, even slightly. As you rotate and generate speed, the handle may rise a bit and your arms can naturally stretch farther away from your body.

The clubhead will shift slightly upward and outward through impact and if you’re not careful, it could result in a heel strike.

The quick fix is to try setting up with the toe of the clubhead just behind the ball. As your body moves during the swing, this small adjustment helps return the center of the face to the ball at impact.

Grip placement: Where the club sits in your hand

How you grip the driver directly affects how the club sits at address. Many amateurs let the grip slide too high into the palm, especially when trying to make the sole lie flat. This weakens the grip and can lead to high, weak fades or slices.

Instead, the grip should run through the base of the fingers, not across the palm.

Holding the club too high in the hand forces poor wrist mechanics and encourages a toe-down address position.

Ball position forward, not centered

Your driver is the only club in the bag you want to hit on the upswing. This means the ball should be positioned forward in your stance. A good rule is to place it opposite your lead heel (left heel for right-handed golfers).

This forward position helps you launch the ball higher with less spin. If the ball is too centered, you’re more likely to hit down on it, leading to low, spinning drives that fall short.

Tee it high

The right tee height allows the driver to deliver the ideal launch conditions. According to MyGolfSpy’s driver testing, shots struck too low on the face (often due to low tee height) result in poor launch and high spin. That combination kills distance.

The general rule is to have half the ball sitting above the top of the driver’s face at address. This promotes a strike slightly above center.

Arms hang naturally

Many golfers unknowingly raise their arms at address or hunch their shoulders, especially when trying to flatten the club on the ground. This posture results in inconsistent movement and a disconnection between the arms and the body.

Instead, let your arms hang naturally from your shoulders. Start by placing the club in your fingers (not your palm), then bend forward from the hips, not the shoulders, and let your arms fall into position.

Final thoughts

You don’t need to overhaul your swing to get more out of your driver. Start by checking how your driver sits at address. Let the toe rise slightly, grip it properly, let your arms hang and don’t be afraid to experiment with tee height and ball position. These small setup changes can lead to longer, straighter and more confident drives.

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