NOT FOUND: get more distance.jpgThere are three factors that you need to be concerned about in the golf swing, three of which affect DISTANCE, and two that affect DIRECTION. The three that affect distance are 1) clubhead speed, 2) center of contact with the clubface, and 3) angle of approach from the top of the swing to the ball. The first factor, clubhead speed, is influenced by five human variables, 1) physical strength, 2) body flexibility, 3) swing technique, 4) leverage, and 5) coordination. But, first, in order to get a better understanding of this information, doing some research into the mechanics of golf performance will lead you into the science of kinesiology, the study of motion, human anatomy and how the body works, physics, the transfer of energy as it relates to the golf swing, and geometry, defining lines, angles, shapes, and surfaces. It’s hard to believe that the golf swing can be broken down into a science. When you mention physics or geometry, it’s enough to make someone cringe.
However, a basic understanding of how your body works would help when learning how to play golf. Let’s leave the sciences to the instructor, keep things more simple, and get back to how to achieve more DISTANCE. Strength is the more important human factor that will influence distance. Without body flexibility and range of motion, the strength factor will not help you too much. Many players have sufficient strength, but lack the flexibility, which then results in inefficient swing technique. Just remember that many of us maybe have limited range of motion due to a body condition or injury. Keep this in mind and be realistic when you are trying to get more distance. The first two steps to achieving more distance is to increase your strength and more important flexibility, to improve your swing technique. The next variable, leverage, is one’s ability to create and maintain the lever (extended left arm) during the swing. “Extended or straight” doesn’t mean lock your elbow in place; that can create tension. Leverage also is the ability to maintain balance, which comes from one’s ability to keep the lower body, hips down to the feet, in a stable position, which doesn’t mean you can’t pivot your lower body. Our fifth variable, coordination, is one’s ability to use the muscles at the right time and with the correct force. This trait is influenced by heredity. Students that learn to play golf bring with them certain talents along with some things beyond their control and can be overcome with proper training.
The next factor, centeredness of impact that the ball has with the clubface, influences distance. Clubhead speed without center contact won’t help you achieve distance, but the combination of these two absolutely will achieve distance. This brings us back to technique and coordination, the two vital elements that will help bring speed and center contact together. Before you practice with your driver or any iron if your distance is lacking in either, and pick up some clubface tape. When you strike the ball, a mark will be left on the face so you can determine if you made center contact. Off center hits produce a glancing blow that transfers less energy to the ball. Proper posture and an inside swing path back to the ball will help you attain center contact. The third factor, angle of approach, also affects distance. A steeper approach creates more backspin, more lift, and less distance. The angle is formed by the descending or ascending arc of the clubhead on the forward swing in relation to the slope of the ground. Although a slightly descending arc can produce more distance if it doesn’t deviate too much from the arc. Do your own test with your driver. Hot shots with the ball teed up much higher than your norm.Then tee up the ball much lower and see if you can feel the difference between the ascending and descending arc and the effect each has on the ball flight.
When you strike the ball with a well-timed swing that has little effort involved but the ball just seemed to jump off the clubface, three things happened, 1) the ball is hit in the center of the clubface, 2) present an angle of approach to the ball which enhances the maximum transfer of energy, and 3) release the full power without experiencing the usual inhibiting tension. Enhancing the five variables will help you use the three factors more efficiently to achieve more DISTANCE.