Distance problem

I've been playing for about a year and a half. I have had a problem with club distance the whole time. I always thought I am a short hitter and was ok with that, but i really dont want to be. So I started working on it, i have been practicing about 5 times a week for about a year.

No real advancement.  My driver distance is about 175 yrds. 5 iron about 135 yrs.  Horrible.

I know one problem is i cannot get a full backswing, When i try to my swing falls apart. So I only use a swing that is a little over half a swing.  Its hard cuz i play with guys who never practice and smash it way farther than i can.

Just wondering if there is some instruction book, training aid or something that can help.

Why can't you get a full back swing?  Physical limitation?  With limited information, I would recommend straightening your right leg to assist in a bigger back swing.  I have a client who has Kyphosis and when we started he only had 57 degrees of shoulder turn at the top of his swing, we straightened his right leg and now he is consistently around 85 degrees and has seen more distance from it.

Other then that, I would make sure you have your weight forward and weight forward at impact.  If you could post a video I could probably give you better advice.

thanks for the response, no physical limitation on the backswing. I notice when i try to get a full swing and fully cock the wrist the ball flies high and not far, so i get frustrated and go back to a short quick swing.  Dont have a camera right now to record swing will try to soon though.

If it's going high and short, I would definitely recommend hands forward and weight forward at impact.  Do you get a divot?  Make sure you get a divot after the ball.

no not much of a divot. getting hands in front of club at impact is important i know. just seems like the only way i can do it is with that short swing.

Whenever you change something in the golf swing it is awkward and difficult.  I always recommend REALLY slow swings or smalls swings or even both when working on something new.  Again, making some assumptions because I don't have video, but high ball flight, short, and not much of a divot I would suggest the following with SMALL and SLOW swings until you get use to it.  Hands forward, weight forward, divot after ball.  Hope this helps...

This should help a lot

That is exactly what i need to do, the videos helped. I have never tried the full swing slowly. I get the mechanics just need to do the drills in the videos. thanks sk

Should i also try to have my weight forward with my hands in front of the club at impact with the driver also?

Yes every club.  With the driver make sure the ball position is further forward, that will help shallow out your AoA.  When moving weight forward to lead leg, make sure head is still between both feet so you create axis tilt.

got it. tried some of the drill in the videos with and iron without a ball and a slower swing, got a six inch straight divot with weight and hands forward at impact.

Tried some short swings today with hands and weight forward at impact. Then tried a full swing and both go about the same distance. Guess i need to be patient and lengthen the swing gradually

That is a great video!

Andrew Rice. Great guy and a very good teacher. Lot of worthwhile stuff on his YouTube channel.

Post a video of your swing if you get a chance

The Golf Channel had a great show for distance tips last week.  See if you can find "School of Golf; Lesson 3" with Martin Hall.

Here is the swing. Sorry that the angle of the camera is not straight on I had trouble lining it up.