Power Golf

Everyone is looking for that extra distance. Power golf can show how is it done.

Well, here are some interesting articles to help:-

Power Golf Lesson 1

How To Power That Drive Away

By Bill Ritchie - The Golf Professor

Anyone who tells you, that he or she would not like to hit the golf ball further is either a liar, or Tiger Woods.

Drive for show and putt for dough maybe sound advice, but if you ask the average weekend golfer whether they would like to putt like Brad Faxon, or regularly belt the ball like Tiger, most would opt for Tiger’s power off the tee.

It is this fascination with power that prompt’s me to write this article.

A couple of facts first, that were discovered two or three years ago, by the teaching profession in the USA. These were, that by using the test robotic arm generating a clubhead speed of 100 mph, then the golf ball, on average, would go around 265 yards.

However, if the clubface is open by 2 degrees only, then the distance reached was only 225 yards, with the same clubhead speed. Again by opening up the face to 4 degrees, the distance covered was only 185 yards.

This shows that distance is not just about power, and clubhead speed, but also hitting the ball squarely. This may sound like common sense, however many golfers are trying to hit the ball with the incorrect golf swing.

So, what is the secret of achieving maximum power?

Speed, can be increased, by setting the wrists into a cocked position early, and on the downswing keeping the wrists cocked for as late as possible, and then swishing through the ball. This is similar to flicking your wrists, when using a badminton, squash, or tennis racket.

Power, comes from having as full and flexible a body turn as possible, plus creating a wide arc. The powerful muscles of the legs will also help.

To generate maximum power, it is essential that the start of the downswing be calm and unhurried. This enables the golfer to build up speed, so that the golf club is still accelerating when it reaches the ball. Finally, ensure that the arms are fully extended through to a high finish.

A key point to note is that the hands control the position of the clubface, keeping it square at impact.

Golfers, who are inclined to hit at the ball with their hands rather than swinging through the ball, find that they lose a lot of power, and hence distance.

Slow, smooth tempo wins every time.

Power Golf Lesson 2

12 Golf Tips to be a Power Hitter

By Bill Ritchie - The Golf Professor

Firstly, to help you, we need to analyse why the average golfer loses power, and hence distance.

Teeing up the golf ball too low
With the ball teed up too low, the driver is not able to sweep the ball away, but tends to force a steeper downward hit. The thought process came from an earlier period in golf, when the sweet spot was low down on the driver head.

The latest drivers have a larger sweet spot, and the sweet spot is higher up the face to give more spring effect.

To overcome this problem, tee the golf ball up, with at least half the ball above the top of the driver head.

Stance too narrow
Most average golfers have too narrow a stance when setting up to the ball. This tends to lead to an unstable base, and hence poor balance.

To overcome poor balance, a slightly wider stance is used with your toes slightly splayed out. The lead foot should be splayed out around 30 degrees.

At address the hands tend to be too close to the body.
This tends to give the club a narrow arc.

Most really good players when using the driver will reach a little more, producing a much wider arc, dramatically improving their distance.

Swaying during the backswing
There is a tendency to sway backwards, instead of turning about a pivot point. The weight is too much on the outside of the rear leg.

By all means move your weight to the rear leg, but only onto the inside of the trailing leg. Try turning more than swaying backwards.

Keeping club close to the body on take away.
This definitely loses you power.

Extended your arms away from your body, as if handing the club to someone to your right, whilst still maintaining your balance.

Keeping right elbow too close to your body on the top of your backswing.
A lot of average golfers will keep their right elbow too close to their body at the top of the backswing. There will be a loss of power here.

Ensure your right elbow stays out from your body, which in turn will induce a much wider arc, and hence more power.

Reverse pivot
Reverse pivot is a big loser of power. This is where the weight tends to go towards the front leg on the backswing.

Overcoming this weight shift means concentrating on moving your weight onto your back leg, but not too far.

Ball position wrong
There is a tendency to put the ball too far back in their stance.

The golf ball should be roughly opposite the left heel to allow for a nice sweep of the ball by the driver.

Left foot leaves the ground on the backswing
By allowing the left foot (or trailing foot) to leave the ground on the backswing, this will not allow the body to wind up like a spring.

Keep the left foot down and turn your shoulders against the resistance of the lower body. This is a great way to get a nice coil for power.

Swaying on the downswing
Average golfer will sway forward during the downswing.

To keep the power, move the hip slightly in a lateral movement, and start the club down, with the right arm tighter into the body.

Flipping the hands
Some golfers have a bad practice of flipping the hands.

By keeping the hands cocked this gives a nice lag, and plenty of stored energy.

Hands too high at finish
Having your hands too high at the finish produces a weak finish.

Allow the body to come through naturally, hips rotated over the left leg, allowing the right heel to come off the ground.

To get more power into your golf game, then there are several good drills here:

Practice Drills

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