Many golfers watch top pros and wonder how they hit the golf ball so far with a smooth easy swing. Look at Ernie Els who appears to swing in slow motion when hitting a driver, yet the ball rips down the fairway pitching nearly 300 yards. This is not an optical illusion; speed comes from maximising swing arc and by starting the downswing correctly. Follow these simple tips to find out how to improve club head speed, and hit the golf ball further while still swinging smoothly.
Swing Mechanics to Improve Golf Swing Speed
The secret to increasing distance off the tee lies in learning how to strike of the golf ball correctly. A glancing blow across the ball will dramatically affect ball speed, but by improving swing mechanics a golfer can learn to compress the ball correctly through impact so it accelerates off the club like a sling shot. This improved strike comes from improving swing mechanics and by understanding the correct ‘feel’ to the downswing. To improve swing mechanics concentrate on these important basic fundamentals.
- Make sure the club is swept away from the ball with a one piece takeaway - this creates the widest possible swing arc.
- Turn the shoulders fully on the backswing.
- Keep the left arm firm and straight.
- Make sure the last three fingers of the left hand keep a good firm grip of the club. A golfer cannot improve club head speed if the backswing is too loose.
The Secret to Hitting the Golf Ball Further
Once a golfer has achieved a tighter backswing, the secret to increasing club head speed lies in the downswing transition. Many golfers misunderstand the start of the downswing and try to create power with an aggressive hip and leg drive, but this is not correct. The secret to hitting longer drives lies in finding the downswing plane as soon as possible, so the golfer can accelerate for the longest possible time on a direct line at the ball.
If a golfer starts down too fast, the likelihood is that the club is thrown onto the wrong plane where adjustments have to be made. These adjustments mean a loss of acceleration and a loss of ball strike. The anomaly is that a slow controlled downswing finds the correct plane at the earliest opportunity, which allows the golfer to accelerate smoothly, gradually building to a crescendo at impact. The 'feel' is to start slow and build up to a climax at the ball.
The Correct Downswing Transition ‘Feel’
The emphasis during the downswing transition must be on finding the correct plane, not on creating acceleration. This means the start of the downswing must be smooth and unhurried. Only when the arms have found the correct slot can a golfer pour in the acceleration at the ball.
Imagine turning up the volume to maximum on a music centre and equate the example to hitting further. The correct ‘feel’ should be to slowly turn the knob and then twist the dial fast as it approaches maximum volume ‘whooOOOSH’. This gradual building up of volume would equate to increasing club head speed near the ball.
Most golfers start their downswing with a jerky move and then have to decelerate as they instinctively realise the club is on the wrong plane, which would equate to 'WHOoosh'.
Swing the Golf Club to a Finish
Keep the swing wide on the backswing and start the downswing smoothly and slowly - then pour in the power as the club nears impact. It is this alteration to where power is injected on the downswing that defines the finish position in the golf swing. If a golfer ‘hits at’ the ball, the club normally stops before the swing reaches it's finish. When a top golfer swings at the ball, the later acceleration pulls them through to a natural full finish.
See also: Understand an Over the Top Swing For Better Downswing Plane or Hand Action and Release in the Golf Swing
John Hoskison - John is a class 'A' member of the British PGA and author of the acclaimed book 'Inside - One Man's Experience of Prison'.
