| Golf Tips: Better Set-Up Leads to More Power |
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Question: I'm a lady golfer with a 22 handicap. I'm told I have a very nice, smooth swing, but the problem is that the ball doesn't go anywhere. Accuracy is not a problem, as I don't hit the ball far enough to reach the trouble! All my clubs seem to go the same distance. I can always use more club when I'm in the fairway, but my drives don't go far enough either, and that's the longest club I have. Is there anything you can tell me that will increase my distance, especially off the tee? -- J.A., Naples, Fla. Answer: You may have a nice looking swing -- long, smooth and rhythmic -- but it sounds like you're leaking oil, probably on the downswing. Assuming that you've properly cocked your wrists at the top of your back swing, in order to get the maximum club head speed, you must retain this wrist cock until your club head reaches the hitting area. Releasing the wrist cock early is referred to as casting, because it's the same motion as casting a fishing line. Energy is stored in the wrists, and if the energy is spent before the club head reaches the ball, your club head speed will be drastically reduced. You may still put the club solidly on the ball, but without any club head speed, the ball won't go very far. Early releasers usually have better luck hitting the driver, because the ball is on a tee, and the fairway woods, especially the seven wood, because the early release will cause you to sweep the ball off the turf and you can get away with this with the woods, although you'll lose distance. The irons will be a problem, however, because a properly struck iron shot requires a more descending blow, which is not possible with an early release. To get the feel of the correct way to begin the downswing, with the help of a partner, make a full back swing and hold your position. Have your partner stand behind you and firmly hold the shaft of the club, not allowing you to swing the club down. Now, with your hands and arms totally relaxed, shift your left hip toward the target and retain your wrist cock, letting your right elbow drop into your right hip. Go back and forth several times until you get the sensation of your body pulling the butt of the club down, with your hands and arms relaxed. Then have your partner move away and repeat this motion continuously once, twice, and on the third swing, let the club release through impact. You'll feel a tremendous whipping action, which means you've released the club at the proper moment and generated your maximum club head speed. Once you've improved your swing technique, here are three things you can do in your set-up to increase your distance. - Tee the ball higher: If you swing the club on a good, inside-out swing path, you'll produce a "draw," a shot which moves right to left and gives you the maximum distance. It's easier to draw the ball when the ball is on a higher tee.
- Play the ball farther forward in your stance: Try playing it off your left toe. You'll catch the ball slightly on the upswing, giving you more lift and carry, and the ball will tend to have more over spin, which will give you more roll when the ball finally hits the ground.
- Take a wider stance: This promotes a wider swing arc, which allows you to generate more club head speed. It also gives you greater stability, so when you "rip at it," you won't fall on your face in your follow through!
There's no magic in getting more distance. The first thing to do is make sure there's not a flaw in your technique, and then the tips I've given you in regard to your set-up should give you as much distance as you should expect. (Golf professional Jon Ebert writes for the Naples Daily News in Florida.)
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