In this paper, the train of thought and contents of studying the polar drive for SG-Ⅲ prototype facility are teased out, and the beam approximation principle regarding the illumination uniformity on the target is proposed. Based on such a principle, the increase-by-degrees design method is developed and numerically simulated as well. The required laser parameters of target symmetrical illumination are optimally designed under various conditions. The investigation results are experimentally demonstrated on SG-Ⅲ prototype facility, showing that they are in excellent agreement with the designed illumination uniformity on the target. The obtained conclusions can give powerful guidance for the theoretical and experimental study of polar drive in the future.