The two strongest influences on distance are clubhead speed and proper ball/clubface contact. Both are absolutely critical to a properly executed golf swing. One without the other is going to be a source of tremendous frustration to your golfing progress.

Clubhead speed is controlled by a number of factors. The most important ones to consider are; the speed of the body rotation, the speed of the arm swing, and the speed and timing of the hand release. If this sounds like a lot to think about let me give you an image to simplify things. Picture a discus thrower. The leg drive determines the speed of the body rotation, which determines the speed of the arm swing. Proper focus and relaxed arm and hand muscles determine the timing and speed of the release. The golf swing is virtually identical. The movement looks different because we are in a different posture holding a club but, the method of generating of speed is the same. Turning the legs and hips toward the target initiate the arm swing and fast loose hands complete the chain reaction. The legs are the only part of the motion where strength is critical. The muscles of the upper body should be transmitters NOT generators. The arc size of the swing is also very influential in determining the speed but, most golfers get more trouble than benefit when attempting to dramatically increase arc size.

The most important ingredients in proper ball/clubface contact are path, face angle and angle of attack. I have written about all three in detail in the first two Smart Path articles and in last week's Q&A article. To me, these are the foundation of a good golf swing. All the clubhead speed in the world will not give you distance without these three elements being correct. Let me give you an example. If you could have John Daly's clubhead speed of 130 miles per hour but, your angle of attack was 6 degrees to steep (downward) his ball would fly 300 yards and yours would fly 210. Path and face angle are every bit as critical.

Even among professionals club distances vary greatly. Corey Pavin expects his average 8 iron to fly 140 yards, John Daly plans on a 190 yard carry. I would recommend you work on generating as much clubhead speed as you can WITHOUT sacrificing solid contact. We all have a redline on our swing. If we go above it we risk blowing up the engine. Find your redline and stay just below it. Your shots will be a lot more consistent and your scores will drop because of it.

Til Next Time