When it comes to hitting massive drives, few people know more about it than Kyle Berkshire.
A four-time World Long Drive champion, the 28-year-old is widely recognised as one of the sport’s biggest hitters.
In 2023, Berkshire set a world record for the longest golf course drive, hitting the ball 579 yards from the tee box. Additionally, this August, he achieved a remarkable 1,060-yard drive on a runway, which included a carry of over 400 yards.
During his conversation with golf coach Kerrod Gray, Berkshire outlined three key steps that can help amateur golfers add distance to their tee shots.
1. How to set up a positive angle of attack
Berkshire’s first tip is to check your spine tilt to help create a positive attack angle. The way you position your shoulders at address plays a big role in how the club approaches the ball.
“The first thing I see, and I see this in a very surprising amount of golfers, is they don’t have any spine tilt. They’re like this (leaning towards the ball, on their left leg), and it’s almost like they’re trying to force the ball along, and they try to use their hands to hit the golf ball.
“That’s promoted by having a setup that’s either flat, or some people set up with their lead shoulder under their right shoulder. The best setup for speed is the spine axis tilt that’s positive to the plane you’re swinging the golf club.”
This means having your right shoulder (for right-handed players) lower than your left shoulder at address.
“What I want you to do is put your hand on your chest, tilt, and feel that tilt. Then, go in for the swing. That promotes an ascending blow. A positive attack angle. Almost every single longer hitter on tour has a higher-than-average attack angle into the golf ball with their driver.
“That’s because the high attack angle allows the ball to fly better.”
2. Avoiding a slice
For many amateur golfers, slicing the ball is a common frustration, and your setup often plays a bigger role in this than you might realise. When the slice starts creeping in, the natural response is to aim further left. But according to Berkshire, that approach only deepens the problem.
“Another thing I see a lot of people do that causes some issues is that they set up so open to the ball. Sometimes they look at the target, and don’t realize they’re starting to [turn their body left].
“That makes you swing on top of the golf ball and hit a huge slice with a lot of spin. What I encourage people to do is set up slightly closed with that shoulder tilt. Now, everything you’re doing is promoting an inside half strike of the golf ball.”
If you are not familiar with what ‘closed’ means here, it refers to having more of your back facing the target rather than your chest.
Berkshire added: “What I mean by inside half is if the half furthest away from you is the outside half, and side closest to you is inside half. We want to promote an inside half strike with an ascending blow.”
3. How to grip the golf club
Berkshire’s final tip focused on grip.
“The third thing I would say has to do with grip. It’s so important to learn what makes the golf ball go far, and that is a strong grip,” he said.
“If you want the most amount of speed, you want it in the fingers, and you want your glove hand slightly inside the grip, on the side closest to you is the inside half.
“Just above where the fingers start to split from the hand, then have the thumb to a point where you can see the midline of a grip, on that left edge of a thumb.”
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You might not suddenly start hitting 400-yard drives by following these tips. But if you’re looking for a bit more distance and control off the tee, Berkshire’s advice is a good place to start.
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