One of the most common things that players want from me is a few extra yards from the tee (and to be fair, who wouldn’t want that). 9 times out of 10 I can get them hitting it further without even uttering the words ‘club head speed’. Obviously club head speed is important and plays a big part in hitting the ball a long way however I believe that the vast majority of golfers could hit it further by becoming more efficient with the speed they have.
The average amateur swings their driver at approximately 93 mph and the average total distance is 214 yards. Trackman has proven that 93 mph is more than sufficient to hit the ball 250 yards. So why the gap?
Most amateur golfers create poor launch conditions. These conditions are often created by hitting down on the ball too much which will reduce the launch angle and spin the ball excessively, both of which are proven to reduce carry distance.
Improving a players launch conditions is the quickest way to hit the ball further without hitting the gym and I am going to share with you my top 3 tips to squeeze a few more yards out of your swing.
Hitting up on the ball is a fantastic way to launch the ball higher and spin it less which (assuming struck from the middle) will help all golfers to increase distance from the tee.
Having their shoulders parallel to the floor at address is a common fault I see from players who struggle from the tee. Positioning your left shoulder higher than your right will get the spine tilted away from the target. This will encourage an upward strike on the ball allowing you to deliver more dynamic loft and launch the ball high.
Another common fault I see from players who are lacking distance from the tee, is a narrow takeaway where the club is lifted away from the ball with minimal shoulder turn.
This can (not always) encourage the player to then create a ‘chopping’ action in the downswing where they will often be swinging downwards during impact.
I encourage my students to feel as though they are pushing the club away in the first part of the backswing (being careful not to let the body sway away from the target) and ask them to FEEL like they are getting their back facing the target at the top of the backswing. Although this may not be physically achievable for many, the FEELING will encourage a wider arc with a fuller turn of the body helping the player hit upwards through impact.
Lots of players undo their good work in the backswing by lunging ahead of the ball in the downswing in a desperate attempt to create speed. This results in a downward strike through impact creating low launch and high spin and often lots of mis strikes. Feeling like your head remains slightly to the right of the ball through impact will keep your spine in the tilted positon created at address. This will aid in getting the club working upwards through impact increasing launch, reducing spin and increasing carry distance.
Try these simple ideas and make 2018 the year you bomb those drives!
