Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Everybody wants to drive the golf ball farther. Why not? It's fun, and blasting it past your buddies makes you the Alpha dog of your foursome, no matter what the final score may be. The key to distance is simpler than you think.
3 Factors That Determine Distance
Firs, it will help if you understand the three factors that influence distance. These factors are not opion, but rather are based on the laws of physics.
- Clubhead speed (how fast you swing);
- Center Contact (how well you hit the middle of the clubface);
- Angle of Approach (a shallow "U" shaped swing is far more preferable than a vertical "V" shaped swing).
Of the 3 distance factors the most important by far is clubhead speed. Here's what I mean.
The Impact of Clubhead Speed On Distance
For every 1 mph you increase your clubhead speed you add 2.5 yards to your tee shots (approximately). Your ball may travel farther or shorter depending on the conditions of the golf course.
That said, however, it two things should jump out at you.
First, the relationship between distance and clubhead speed is linear. The equation is simple: The faster your clubhead speed, the farther your drives will go.
Second, you may notice is that there is no "power" equation for distance. The key factor is not size and strength. What matters is how fast you can swing the club. Jamie Sadlowski, a 2-time Re/Max World Long Drive Champion, is only 5' 11" and 175 pounds soaking wet. Yet he can drive the ball over 400 yards!
That means the main thing you should evaluate when looking to add distance to your drives is finding ways to increase your swing speed.
How Can You Increase Your Clubhead Speed?
Here again the answer is deceptively simple: Practice Swinging as Fast as You Can!
How To Practice Swinging as Fast as You Can
Here’s the way I suggest you practice swinging faster. It is an exercise I call the “Baseball Rip Swing.” The benefit to practicing this drill is that you will wind up teaching yourself in a natural way how to increase the speed of your golf swing.
This drill is deceptively simple, yet you may be surprised at how difficult it is at first to swing fast and stay in balance. Your goal is to make a series of continuous back and forth baseball swings chest high while rotating your hips and core all the way back and all the way forward through 180 degrees of rotation. Every 2nd or 3rd swing, rip it as fast as you can swing, then get back into your rhythmic swings. The more you practice, the faster you will swing.
Here's How To Do The Baseball Rip Swing:
- Take a normal to slightly wide stance;
- Stand upright, keeping your spine straight and vertical (do not lean forward or take a golf stance);
- Hold your driver out at chest height with your club parallel to the ground straight out in front of you. Keep your arms fully extended
- Begin swinging back and forth in a continuous rhythm;
- Turn Your Belt Buckle and Core Thru 180 degrees of Rotation. Try to get your belt buckle to turn completely away from the target, then turned all the way towards the target;
- Every third swing just swing as fast as you can, then get back into your continuous rhythm;
- Stay in balance;
- Pay attention to the sequence of your Rip swing: weight shift, hip turn, shoulders follow, club releases. You will increase your swing speed in a very shot period because your regular swing will rapidly incorporate the same sequence!
- Discontinue the exercise immediately if you find it gives you any discomfort!
Summary
To get more distance with your drives you need to increase your clubhead speed. Practice swinging as fast as you can. To increase your swing speed you need to learn how to swing as fast as you can without hitting a ball first. The baseball rip swing drill is a simple way to learn how to swing fast in practice, and to learn to stay in better balance as well.
