Golf Swing Basics | Review

For many golfers, a big concern is how to hit the ball farther.  Typically, a good swing with solid fundamentals will naturally allow you to hit the ball far provided you have good strength.  There are a few important keys that you can specifically work on to hit it farther.

The first key I recommend is having good angles in your setup or swing.  A good setup will have good knee flex and a correct bend from the hips with the weight on the balls of your feet.  A good setup is a critical component to not only swinging more on the correct path but also hitting it farther.  You want to have a good shoulder turn on the backswing where your shoulders turn a full 90 degrees.  This will allow you to swing the golf club over your shoulder and maintain good angles at the top of your backswing as well.  From there, you’ll be in a powerful position to swing back down through the golf ball.

Second key is swing speed.  You want to make sure you are swinging fastest at the point of impact.  Many golfers make the mistake of rushing their backswing, making it too fast and then from their it is forced to slow down coming into the golf ball when it should be speeding up at this point.  One key on timing of your swing is the backswing should be three times as long as the downswing.  Tour players were studied and it was recorded that they all have this correct tempo where their backswing all are three times as long as their downswings.  Make sure not to try to swing too hard from the top of your backswing.  Often times golfers try to hit the ball too hard resulting in lots of problems when hitting the golf ball.  You want to have a nice and smooth transition and allow the swing speed to increase as you are nearing the impact position.  This will maximize your chances of hitting the ball longer and straighter.  

Third key is creating lag in your swing.  You do this by hinging your wrists in the backswing which allows you to build up “leverage”.  Then on the downswing your hands will actually lead into the golf ball before the club hits the ball.  With the hands slightly ahead at impact, you’ll be assured of a solid strike which will make the golf ball travel farther.

Copyright (c) 2009 Scott Cole

Let’s face it, nearly every golfer wants to add distance to their tee shots, and there is a whole host of marketers who want to sell you the latest driver, the newest training aid, or the newest exercise to help you gain that extra 20 yards you so desire. Here are the key strategies to gain extra distance of the tee better golf swing .

1. Improve your golf swing! I developed my golf fitness website because I noticed the need to debunk some of the information being put out there by so-called golf fitness gurus and even the golf profession overall. You can NOT gain distance off the tee just by lifting weights or doing any “golf-specific” exercises if you have a significantly flawed swing! Sure, you may increase your swing speed better golf swing, but that will only make the ball curve further off-line!

For instance, if you have the classic over-the-top golf swing that results in a slice, right there you are limiting your ability to hit the ball further. And, learning a new stretch or exercise will NOT solve this problem!

A hook will always go further than a slice. Learn how to hook the ball by correcting this major swing flaw, and I guarantee you will add yards right away. That is just one example, but the point is to look at ways to improve your golf swing first. If you are able to strike the ball more solidly, you will see an immediate increase in your driving distance!

2. Ok, let’s say you do actually have a decent golf swing, but you want to add some yards. What should you do now? Join a gym with the goal of being able to bench press 300 pounds? No, absolutely not. The best way to increase your distance off the tee, if you have a decent swing already, is to improve your flexibility, especially with your shoulders and your trunk. This will allow you to make a fuller shoulder turn. A fuller shoulder turn will help you to widen the arc of your swing, a key component to hitting it long for a better golf swing.

This is especially true with older players. As we watch our golf heroes age, they tend to lose flexibility and their swings get shorter and shorter. Arnold Palmer is a clear example of this. If he had focused a bit more on his fitness and flexibility at a younger age, he could have a longer swing than he has now. We can’t eliminate all of the issues that come with aging, but we can sure hold them off as long as we can.

With that in mind, get yourself on a stretching program. You can learn a few key stretching exercises that you can do from home in 15 to 20 minutes. Stretching should be done every other day. The hamstrings, back and shoulders are what require the most attention.

3. If you’ve significantly improved your flexibility, now you can consider ways to increase the power of your golf swing through strength training. Although I believe in developing a balanced, strength training program which will exercise all of the major body parts, you should evaluate your body and identify the weaknesses first.

First and foremost, the most important muscle group for generating power is your legs. The legs are the foundation for the golf swing, and if they are weak, you will not be able to maximize your power. Now, this does not mean you need to be able to squat 500 pounds! I suggest you learn some classic martial arts stances that are meant to increase strength while improving balance. These can be done in the comfort of your own home with no equipment necessary.

After the legs, probably the next most important muscle group is the upper back and shoulders. I have probably benefited significantly from having strong shoulders as a result of my 10 years as a competitive swimmer when I was a kid. Over the years, I have continued to be sure to maintain strength in these areas. Simple pull ups and a set of dumbbells are all you need to work on these areas. Want to increase their strength and work on some cardio at the same time, a rowing machine might be a good investment.

Finally, work on your core strength as well as your arms. Keep this in mind though, you do not need huge arms to add greater distance, and increasing your core strength will not do much either. However, conditioning these areas is important mainly to help avoid injury.

4. Alright, you’ve got a pretty good golf swing, you’ve increased your flexibility, and improved on the strength of your body. What else is there!? Well, this is where some more advanced golf swing techniques come into play.