In golf, few things are as frustrating as duffing a drive off the tee. It can deflate your confidence, add strokes to your scorecard, and leave you scratching your head in search of answers. However, duffing a drive doesn’t have to be a recurring issue. With some adjustments to your technique and mindset, you can overcome this common challenge and start launching powerful and accurate drives off the tee. In this article, we will explore effective tips and techniques to help you fix a duff drive and get your game back on track.

1. Analyze Your Setup: The foundation of a successful drive starts with a proper setup. Ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart, aligning them with your target. Position the ball opposite the heel of your front foot for a driver. Maintain a slight bend in your knees and a relaxed posture. A solid setup creates a stable base and promotes a more consistent strike.
2. Check Your Ball Position: Improper ball position can contribute to duffing drives. Make sure the ball is teed up at the correct height, with roughly half the ball above the crown of the clubhead. Positioning the ball too far back in your stance can lead to hitting the ground before making contact, resulting in a duff. Experiment with ball placement until you find the sweet spot that works best for you.
3. Focus on Weight Transfer: A common mistake that leads to duffing drives is insufficient weight transfer during the swing. To fix this, focus on shifting your weight smoothly from your back foot to your front foot during the downswing. This transfer of weight helps promote a descending strike on the ball and generates power and accuracy. Practice drills that emphasize weight transfer to ingrain the proper motion into your swing.
4. Maintain a Smooth Tempo: A rushed or jerky swing can easily result in a duffed drive. Instead, focus on maintaining a smooth and controlled tempo throughout your swing. Take a relaxed backswing and initiate the downswing with a gradual acceleration, ensuring a gradual release of energy into the ball. This smooth tempo helps maintain balance and control, minimizing the chances of a duff.
5. Keep Your Eye on the Ball: Maintaining focus and keeping your eye on the ball throughout the swing is crucial to avoid duffing drives. It’s common for golfers to lift their heads prematurely, resulting in mishits. Train yourself to keep your head steady and your eyes fixed on the ball until well after impact. This will promote solid contact and prevent duffed shots.
6. Practice Proper Follow-Through: A complete and balanced follow-through is essential for a well-executed drive. After impact, allow your body to rotate fully, extending your arms and club toward the target. A proper follow-through helps ensure that the clubface remains square at impact and promotes a cleaner strike.

Conclusion: Duffing a drive can be frustrating, but it’s a challenge that can be overcome with the right approach. By focusing on your setup, ball position, weight transfer, tempo, eye contact, and follow-through, you can significantly reduce the occurrence of duffed drives and improve your overall performance off the tee. Remember to remain patient, practice consistently, and maintain a positive mindset. With dedication and perseverance, you’ll soon be hitting powerful, accurate drives that set the tone for a successful round of golf.