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How Phil Mickelson says amateurs can gain yards off the tee with leg technique

Originally posted on HITC | By Lee Connor | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 10:45 AM ET

While Phil Mickelson’s short game has always drawn most of the attention, the six-time major champion has never been shy about his ability to move it off the tee either.

Fans of Mickelson are well aware of his catchphrase, ‘hitting bombs’, which has turned into a bit of an ongoing joke between him and golf fans on social media.

As he nears 56, his driving distance has not stayed as consistent as it once was. That is not unusual for someone who has spent so long in professional golf.

But over that time, he has gained a wealth of knowledge across every aspect of the sport. And he has always been willing to share what he knows.

In an old advert for Callaway’s Big Bertha drivers, Mickelson talks through what players should consider when stepping up to hit a driver and why club selection is just one piece of the puzzle.

Phil Mickelson’s tip for amateurs to drive the ball further

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Distance has become such a big part of today’s game, so it never hurts to pick up a useful tip, especially from someone with Mickelson’s experience.

While his short-game skills have always stood out, he could move the ball pretty well in his prime too. According to him, one of the most important areas for amateurs to focus on is leg positioning.

“Here’s a tip to help you hit your big bertha (driver) farther. The front leg creates a spring on the start of the downswing. If I straighten my front leg it slings the club down.

“It’s very hard to straighten your front leg and keep your arms straight so it creates a sling effect. So on the downswing I try and straighten the leg so that it creates like a whip and creates even more clubhead speed. And that’s how you can hit driver longer.”

How Phil Mickelson’s driving stats have shifted over time

Mickelson was never one of the longest hitters in golf, but at his peak, he was averaging over 300 yards per drive.

StatMuse notes that his best year came in 2003, when he averaged 306 yards off the tee.

This marks an improvement of over 30 yards since the initial data recording in 1993.

Year	Average driving distance (yards)
1993	269.2
1998	283.4
2003	306
2014	292.4
2025	305.3

A selection of Phil Mickelson’s average driving distance over the years

While those numbers varied as he got older, Mickelson was still averaging just over 300 yards as late as 2015.

More recently, LIV Golf data shows him averaging 305.3 yards during the 2025 season – a sign that even into his fifties, he has not lost much off his swing speed and continues to stay sharp with the driver.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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