One of golf’s longest hitters has easy advice to gain yardage

Niklas Norgaard is one of the longest hitters in golf. His incredible length off the tee didn’t come about by accident, either. 

The Danish pro, who is now plying his trade on the PGA Tour, averages around the 320 yard mark with his driver. In 2025, he’s averaged longer drives than Rory McIlroy, Min Woo Lee and the rest of the PGA Tour, bar one.

But, how does the 32-year-old produce such incredible distances?

Well, when I found out that my colleague, John Turnbull, was interviewing Norgaard for a feature in the latest issue of bunkered, I had to make sure he picked the bomber’s brains on distance.

Interestingly, Norgaard’s advice to gain yardage was simple – and it made perfect sense.

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“My best advice to amateurs or other pros would be at the end of every range session, you have to just hit five or ten balls as hard as you can,” said the Dane.

“Don’t care about where the ball goes, just swing absolutely out of your shoes, as hard as you can. This just helps the nervous system, to find out what the most you have feels like.”

While Norgaard says this can help you gain yards, there are other ways in both technique and gym work that can help you to maximise your potential with the driver.

“Spend some time in the gym and be flexible,” said Norgaard, who also credits his height of six-foot-three as a factor in hitting the ball a long way.

“It’s not just about being strong. It’s all about being flexible too.

“Then, be very good at knowing when you release your hands, release them as late as possible.”

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As well as that, the Betfred British Masters champion commented on how at a young age, he focussed on gaining yardage as much as possible, before then tightening his dispersion.

“When I was younger, I didn’t hit it very long, and then I just focused on thinking that all that matters is to hit it long.

“So, about ten years ago, I hit it a long way, but I couldn’t find a fairway, and then I just gradually narrowed it in.”

So, next time you’re at the driving range, be sure to set aside some balls before you leave to swing the club as hard as you can. You might just find it helps you hit them straighter, too.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor