270 Yards with the Driver
Golf has developed into a power game. Longer holes, thicker roughs, elevated greens and tighter fairways have attributed to this change in concept. In the golf swing there is only 3 power sources available: wrist cock, arm swing and body turn. Club head speed and power is the effect of the blending of these power and speed sources. Golfers must use all 3 power sources when attempting to maximize distance and speed.
Allowing the wrist to cock and unclock freely during both sides of the golf swing will increase speed and distance. As the club swings back allow the wrist to cock thus forming a right angle from the left arm and club. Holding the club lightly will allow this action to take place.
The body needs to turn freely on both sides of the swing. The backswing the shoulders turn 90 degrees as the hips turn 45 degrees. On the forward side of the swing the lower body needs to initiate due to the coil established in the backswing. The knees should touch with the right hip finishing closer to the target as the left. A great drill to assist with the back swing pivot is to place a club on the shoulders at address and turn the shaft into the top of the swing. Allow the upper body to turn against the resisting lower body.
Complementing the wrist cock and body turn is the swinging motion of the arms as the right arm bends 90 degrees. The arms must swing freely on both sides of the swing as the right arm bends. The arm swing is the effect of the correct posture and relaxation at address and during the motion.
A drill to assist you with generating these power sources, is what I call the wind up exercise. Place a club across your chest. From the starting position, wind your upper body against the lower body. Allow the shaft to rotate freely at right angle to your spine. Hold for 5 seconds at the top and repeat. As you do this exercise, maintain your posture and keep your abs engaged.
The completed power backswing has full wristcock, arm swing and body pivot. Allowing your wrist to cock, arms to swing and body to turn will give you the opportunity to create Rory McIlroy’s power and speed.
Ninety degrees of wristcock, shoulder turn and right arm bend will generate 270 yards of distance. Allow the arms to swing, wrist to cock and arms to swing and you will hit it like Rory!
Controlling distance with your Wedges
By Tim Mahoney
Golf is a unique activity where you have the combination of distance, direction and trajectory control of the golf ball. In the short game the ability to score is directly related to controlling the distance of the golf ball. Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler have the ability to control the distance of their wedges within 95% of the required goal. For an example, on a 30 yard shot, Spieth has the control of his wedges to hit the ball 28.5 yards, a differential of 1.5 yards in total distance.
Distance is controlled by club choice, length of club at address, length of swing, elevation of the shot, solidness of the strike and the speed of motion. All golfers should have a minimum of 3 wedges with the lofts of 48, 52 and 56 degrees of loft. All wedges should have a differential of 4 degrees of separation. As you work with the wedges identify the distance of ½, ¾ and full swing.
Length of club at address will have a direct impact on the speed of the motion throughout. Golfers should attempt to grip down the shaft, ½ of a grip and a full grip. Combine this with different length of swings as well. A shortened club will work with a shortened swing and a long club will work with a long swing. All wedge swings should be balanced or symmetrical on both sides of the motion. A partial backswing should match a partial forward swing. The golf swing needs to be balanced in order to control speed and distance.
A mirrored impact position and address, of the will assist with controlling the loft of the club. The impact position should be identical to the starting position. Unlike the full swing where the shaft needs to be forward leaned for speed in pitching the shafts needs to match.
Solidness of the strike is the effect of the angle or plane of the swing. A vertical swing motion will produce a toe hit and conversely a horizontal or flat swing will produce a heel hit or a shank. The club must be swung on the desired angle or right angle to your spine.
Distance control in the short game is the effect of the club, speed, length of swing and solidness of the hit. Control these variables and you to will pitch like Spieth.
Impact for Consistency
As you watch golf on TV across all the different professional tours, you will see different grips, postures, swing shapes and ball flights. Regardless of the differences in all the unique swings, there is one constant in all good ball strikers – they look identical at impact. Perfect impact and your ball striking will improve.
Impact position consists of: a forward leaning shaft, hips open to the target line, shoulders square to the target line, left wrist flat and right wrist bent. Establish the angles and plane during the backswing and maintain these angles at impact. Anticipation of the strike or an in-correct mind-set will create impact misery and inconsistenctcy. Simply rehearsing impact or an isometric exercise will assist you with your impact goals. Start at address and move into impact
A drill that will assist you with the motion of impact and correct alignments is making small swings into an impact bag. Allow the power sources to accumulate on the back swing and turn into impact. As the club strikes the bag, note: a forward leaned shaft, flat lead wrist, hips open and shoulders square.
All golf swings are different: upright, flat, close faced or opened face. But all great ball strikers are perfect at impact. Work on impact and your scores will lower.