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GOT
DISTANCE ? |
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Hitting them Longer & Harder |
This week we look at the concept of hitting the ball farther.
Everyone can benefit from extra distance. It makes courses play
shorter, it allows golfers to play more offensively, and if combined
with accuracy, can definitely contribute to lower scores.
There are new, high tech golf clubs that allow golfers to hit it
farther, but they're expensive. And without good swing fundamentals,
you sometimes run the risk of paying a lot of money and still not
hitting it any farther. Longer distance can be attained with the clubs
you've got, but it requires both understanding and some work. Lets
look at some ways to increase your distance.
MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE DRIVE SQUARELY.
The bottom line is, distance equals clubhead speed through the hitting
area, times the squareness of contact. If you don't hit it square, you
miss half of the equation and you lose distance. Why is it that a
slender, petite LPGA pro can often hit it farther than your average,
bigger stronger male golfer? Because they consistently swing in a way
that achieves square contact. Hit drives squarely, and they will go
farther.
DO EXERCISES TO BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE.
Flexibility plays a vital role in allowing the golfer to get maximum
use of the muscles in his or her body during the golf swing.
Stretching exercises for the shoulders, stomach, hips, legs, arms, and
especially the back, do wonders for the golfer's flexibility and allow
the golfer to take a fuller, more complete backswing, and to get
optimum extension through the hitting area.
Everyone can find moments during the work day where they can stretch
and become more flexible. Do it, and you'll be on your way to better
golf.
DO EXERCISES TO GAIN MORE STRENGTH.
The object of strengthening exercises is to get stronger,
particularly in the muscles that control the golf swing. Then you can
swing at a nice smooth pace, but the added strength will translate to
more clubhead speed through the hitting area, which should translate
into more distance. It's only logical that strength exercises for the
fingers, hands, arms, shoulders, back, stomach and legs give you a body
that will allow you to hit it farther than a body that doesn't
exercise. Do Nautilus workouts at a health club, swing a weighted
club, squeeze a handball or tennis ball, do sit-ups, or abdominal
crunches, but do some exercises to get yourself stronger. It will
help.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE BACKSWING IS WHERE YOU LOAD UP THE POTENTIAL
POWER TO BE UNLEASHED DURING THE DOWNSWING.
During a good golf swing, there's a certain understanding of the fact
that you're not "hitting the ball on the backswing." You are swinging
it back as smoothly as possible with the thought that you will reach a
completed backswing position with an optimum amount of stored power
waiting to be unleashed. (At the end of these tips, I will recommend
three books that, in their own way, each explain the feelings of
loading up power on the backswing, and indeed, have great, in-depth
information on getting greater distance during the golf swing. There
are whole chapters explaining the feelings of coiling and transferring
weight to the right side during the backswing.) Remember this - the
backswing is simply that - a backswing. You are similar to a pitcher
in baseball winding up before striding forward and releasing the ball.
A pitcher with good mechanics winds up completely, and you as a golfer
should be patient until you finish the backswing.
BE PATIENT AND UNDER CONTROL AS YOU TRANSITION FROM BACKSWING TO
DOWNSWING, AND BEGIN IT WITH THE LOWER BODY FROM THE GROUND UP.
The one moment during the golf swing where you need to be focusing the
most is that moment where you begin your downswing. Once you trigger
the downswing, everything will happen so fast you will not be able to
catch up. You will not be able to correct anything. You have a
fraction of a second until you hit the ball. This is where you need to
have a clear head and be under control. and this is the single most
visible place where you can tell a good golfer from a bad golfer.
Since you swing your weight onto the right side during the coil of the
backswing, you have to uncoil and get your weight onto the left side
during the downswing. Simultaneously, you are pushing off the right
foot while you are transferring your weight onto the left foot, after
which the rest of your body - knees, hips, shoulder, arms, hands -
follows as your downswing proceeds to deliver the blow. (Again, this
is explained better in whole chapters of the better golf books.)
Remember also the tip from last week. No tip really matters unless you
strike the ball squarely. So think of a trigger thought to start the
downswing, and concentrate on swinging through the ball.
If you work on the fundamentals and the exercises we have discussed,
you can probably add some distance to your game. Remember, though, it
doesn't come easy. If it did, everyone would be doing it. And they're
not. The rewards of golf usually come to those who grasp the
fundamentals and then work most successfully at refining their skills. |
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