| How can you develop more power in your golf swing? | | | | difference, ask yourself one question: How many |
| This is probably a question that all of us want an | | | | bodybuilders do you see teeing it up on Tour? The |
| answer to. Most of us go to great lengths to do | | | | answer to that question is quite obvious, none! |
| whatever it takes to get that "power" into our drives | | | | It comes down to this idea: the mechanics of a golf |
| off the tee. I think we probably all have some ideas of | | | | swing require specific levels of flexibility, balance, |
| where 300-yard drives come from, but I want to give | | | | stability, strength, endurance, and power to perform it |
| you the answers without any "fluff." | | | | efficiently. If your body does not have the required |
| Golf swing power is the result of three specific | | | | capacities of the aforementioned list, then the result will |
| factors. Two out of the three are much more | | | | be? Anyone want to guess? Well, let me give you the |
| important, but the third does have a bearing on the | | | | answer: a less than optimal and less efficient swing |
| outcome of how far you hit that ball. | | | | than possible. Essentially, your body supports your |
| The first and probably most evident of the three is | | | | swing much like a foundation supports the house you |
| your swing mechanics. I bet you are not surprised by | | | | build upon it. I am sure that all of you would choose to |
| this one. | | | | build a house on a stone foundation rather than a sand |
| The second one is probably the least recognized of | | | | foundation, wouldn't you? I will say that many of you |
| the three, but for many is the "key" to longer drives | | | | make a different choice when it comes to your golf |
| and the category that is given the least amount of | | | | swing. I quite often see amateurs developing their |
| attention. Number two is what we term golf strength. | | | | swing on a "foundation of sand," not a good thing to do |
| This is defined as how well your body is conditioned | | | | in my book. |
| (i.e. fitness) to swing a golf club with maximum power. | | | | Regardless of how much time you work on your |
| Probably the least understood of the three, and maybe | | | | swing mechanics, if your body does not have the "golf |
| the most needed by golfers in general. We will talk | | | | strength" to support your swing, you are limiting your |
| more about this later. Let us move on to number three | | | | potential. I have seen it numerous times, people |
| in regards to power for your drives. | | | | practicing at the range who struggle, not because of |
| Number three is your equipment. Yes, equipment does | | | | trying to get better, but because their bodies are limiting |
| make a difference in how far you drive the ball. The | | | | what they can do with their swing. Quite often I see |
| equipment manufacturers have let this fact be known, | | | | people with limited flexibility, poor balance capabilities, |
| and I bet we all have gone to the pro shop probably | | | | and low levels of strength and power. The bottom line |
| more than twice to pick up a new driver that claims to | | | | is that your mechanics will not get better until you fix |
| give us another 20 yards on every drive. That extra | | | | the body that swings the club! |
| 20 yards might not be down the middle of the fairway, | | | | Up to this point we have discussed the two most |
| but it will give you an extra 20 yards... could be left, | | | | important ideas when it comes to power on the golf |
| could be right, or could be in the center of the fairway. | | | | course. A review of the topics tells us that they are |
| That all depends on points one and two of this article. | | | | optimal swing mechanics and the proper levels of "golf |
| Equipment and technological advances have definitely | | | | strength" in the body. One without the other is going to |
| lengthened the distance of our drives. But without | | | | leave you short when it comes to your potential in the |
| better swing mechanics and your body in better golf | | | | game. |
| shape, new technology will not help your game. A bad | | | | Again, I probably see point number two, golf strength, |
| swing will produce a bad result, regardless of what | | | | being addressed less often than swing mechanics |
| type of "new" driver you may have just purchased. | | | | when you get right down to it. The pros are all aware |
| Swing Mechanics | | | | of the importance of golf strength, why not you? |
| I think all of us are aware of how important the | | | | Equipment |
| mechanics of a swing are when it comes to driving | | | | We have come to the final point, and that is equipment. |
| the ball down the fairway. It is essential, if you are over | | | | I think the majority of golfers are aware of the |
| the top with your swing or come inside too much, you'll | | | | technological advances that have occurred in golf |
| see that dreaded slice or snap hook. The drives will be | | | | equipment over the last 20 years. I mean, think about |
| short, too low, too high, left, right, or a combination of | | | | the '80's when we were still playing with woods that |
| these if you are putting bad swings on the ball. | | | | actually had wood club heads! Imagine that for a |
| It is essential for a golfer to work on the mechanics of | | | | moment, and now we are using drivers with space |
| their swing, week in and week out, to improve their | | | | age faces that shoot the ball off of them at warp |
| game. If it weren't important why would all these tour | | | | speed. In addition, we have to mention the advances in |
| players have swing coaches that work with them on a | | | | terms of golf balls. How manufacturers design golf |
| consistent basis? The golf swing is such a finite, | | | | balls today makes a difference in how far they travel. |
| mechanically complex movement, that requires | | | | What a lot of people do not realize is that the USGA |
| constant work to keep it highly efficient and in check. | | | | has set standards on how "hot" driver faces can be |
| One of the most common mistakes I see amateurs | | | | and how "fast" balls can come off the face of drivers. |
| make is probably a lack of instruction. I see amateurs | | | | Most clubs are reaching this limit, and anything past |
| over and over at the driving ranges, week in and | | | | these USGA rules becomes illegal to play. So what |
| week out, pounding balls without any improvement. | | | | does that tell us? 1) Club manufacturers have done a |
| This, I feel, is a result of one of two things: 1) a lack of | | | | great, and I mean great, job in the advancement of |
| instruction or 2) low levels of golf strength. A lack of | | | | technology, and 2) to increase the distance on your |
| instruction leads to the development and ingraining of | | | | drives you are now going to have to turn to points one |
| improper swing mechanics. This only results in slices, | | | | and two of this article. |
| hooks, topping the ball, and hitting it fat on the course. | | | | So what does improving your power really come |
| And we all know that those types of swings lead to | | | | down to? |
| frustration and bad rounds of golf. I would suggest to | | | | It comes down to three simple ideas. Number one is |
| most anyone to find a good instructor and take | | | | improving your golf swing mechanics. Improved |
| lessons on a consistent basis. This can only help your | | | | mechanics will improve your driving distance. Number |
| game in the long run. Now moving on the second point | | | | two is improving your golf strength. By improving your |
| of how to achieve powerful drives and that is golf | | | | body as it pertains to the golf swing you will improve |
| strength. | | | | your distance off the tee. Finally, equipment does |
| Golf Strength (Golf Fitness) | | | | make a difference, if you hit the ball correctly. Best of |
| Golf strength is a term we use to describe the golf | | | | luck with your game, and if you need additional |
| fitness level of an individual pertaining to swinging a | | | | information stop by our web site |
| club. This is much different than how much you can | | | | Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf |
| bench press or squat, which I like to refer to as | | | | fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the |
| "weight room strength." Understand that these two | | | | PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil |
| terms, golf strength and weight room strength, are | | | | Mickelson. |
| very different. If you do not quite understand the | | | | |