A question often asked by club golfers is why do pros hit the ball so far and straight swinging apparently slowly and smoothly, when amateurs, many of who are just as strong, hit the ball all over the place when they attempt to hit hard.
Start the Downswing Transition Slowly and Smoothly
- Imagine a Formula 1driver sitting in his car on the grid with one job to do - drive as fast as possible to the finish line four hundred yards, straight down the track.
- If the car is lined up pointing directly at the finish, the driver can floor the accelerator knowing the car will speed away on the right line.
- But imagine if the driver hasn’t lined up the car accurately and it’s pointing into the barrier on the right. Can he accelerate straight away? Absolutely not, if he did the car would go crashing into the barrier. First he has to gently steer the car onto the right line and only then can he accelerate.
- The car that can accelerate immediately will obviously be travelling faster at the line.
Swing Slow from the Top for Better Ball Striking
If you equate this example to golf, the professional golfer lines up his back swing pointing at the target. Instinctively he knows he can accelerate immediately from the top, pouring all his energy into the start of the downswing, knowing the ball will fly straight towards the target.
However, a club golfer doesn’t have the same quality to his back swing. Effectively he is aiming into the barrier, and if he accelerates from the top he will crash the swing, and impart a glancing blow across the ball, ending up with a weak wayward shot.
Give Yourself Time to Find the Line for Club Head Speed
If an amateur golfer has lessons, often it involves trying to improve the top of their back swing position. But while they are concentrating on that aspect of the swing, a smooth, slow transition at the start of the downswing will give them a better chance of steering the club onto the right line as early as possible, giving them a better chance for an accurate strike and longer and straighter drives.
How to Time the Swing and Start Down Smoothly
- There is an old saying that golfers should count ‘one - and - two’ when swinging.
- One is the backswing – and is the crucial transition to find the line on the downswing, almost a pause at the top – two is the accelerating blow into the ball. Most amateurs only swing to the rhythm one-two.
- Give yourself time from the top by starting down smoothly for more club head speed, control, better golf shots and longer stright drives.
- One-and-Two - Up-and-Down - Back-and-Forth
Related Article - Natural Golf Swing for More Control and Power - PGA Tip
Related Article - Improve Golf Swing with Chip Shots - PGA Tip
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'.
