When did your driving distance improve?

Most of you are already playing golf for years, some for decades. But at the beginning you may not have the same driving distance you do have now.

So when did your driving distance improve? Do you have an constant driving distance from beginning to today? Or did your driving distance improved consistendly to some point during the time? Or did you had breakthroughs and your driving distance improved abruptly?

I just begin to golf and I hit with an iron 7 about 80 yards. Its a not very satisfying distance. I wonder if I should work on my swing, correct it or will it get better with the time and constancy.

For me, distance has never been an issue always direction.

When I stopped swinging "hard".

Similarly I got more consistent with my direction and distance when I relaxed on my swing and made sure my grip was the same all the time. Yesterday's round I probably only missed the fairway 5 times and my distance was pretty much 280-300 for every fairway drive. Until recently I always had the feeling that I was trying to control my swing as opposed to letting it happen naturally. I seem to generate a lot more swing speed this way. It's counter intuitive that swinging easier equals more distance but it really is the truth. Tension kills swing speed which in turn kills distance.

When I slowed down my backswing and moved from a xstiff to a regular flex to control a strong fade.

My distance improved greatly once I understood the ball flight laws and I was able to produce a consistent, slight 5-10 yard fade or 5-10 yard draw on command.

I also studied the concept of lag and what it really is and different methods of generating lag. I was naturally a longer iron player from the start, but my driver typically averaged between 220-230 when I first started golfing. I also had a major, disgusting, unplayable slice with the driver though. Once I studied the ball flight laws and I was able to understand why this ball flight was being produced, I was able to analyze my own "feels" and think about my swing. I started to become more aware of the club face throughout my swing path and I was able to make the necessary adjustments to change my path from OTT (over-the-top/outside-to-in) to a path that was more from the inside.

This, with consistent practice, all produced more distance and accuracy over time. I have been golfing for three years now as well.

When I started shifting my weight to the left side through impact and rotation as opposed to pivoting on my right side.  Also, got a new driver that fit my swing better.  I agree on loosening grip pressure and relaxing the swing.  Ball goes further when fluid and loose.  As a beginner you probably feel like you won't be able to hit the ball or hang on to the club when getting loose, but clearing that mental hurdle will result in longer shots.

Also, I have noticed that I try to place the shot instead of swinging and letting the result take care of itself.  That gets me tight and makes it hard to hit a good ball with a good direction.

Like many, I fought a big slice for years.  One day I just decided to learn how to hook the ball.  Once I could feel how to make the ball move I could straighten out my flight and picked-up yardage.

My advice is to take a few lessons.  You can struggle with your swing for years (I know I did) waiting for a eureka moment, or try to learn good fundamentals early and make the game much more enjoyable.

After my coach straightened out by swing by making me crook my body... )

Which after reading some ball flight laws I have turned into a pull-fade that ends up being a nice shot 90% of the time.

Good reading: http://thesandtrap.com/b/playing_tips/ball_flight_laws

When I got lessons which made me strengthen my grip and hit the ball on the inside. Also when I switched to a 7.5 degree driver but I had a really, really high ball flight.

When I hit the gym, improved my flexibility, and gained 20 lbs of lean muscle mass.

I'd put more stress on flexibility than the muscle mass actually.

The ability to generate speed in any swing sport (tennis, golf, baseball) is increased with additional muscle mass (in the right areas, and not overdone). I mean, technique and flexibility is far more important, but if I weighed 140 lbs, I would not be hitting the ball as far.

Those days are long gone for me. Somewhere in here, there is the body of a 245 lb. Div. I State Champion LB.... 10 years and 15,000 beers later, on top of being married, 10 hour days and having a kid.... I rely on past strength and swing oil (beer) to get me my yardage! (I still have fairly long distances, but probably no where near as far as I could have before injuries). The strength is still somewhat there, but the flexibility sure as hell is not!

I weigh 150 and hit the ball further than a lot of people bigger than me, that being said, if I weighed 140 I would probably lose distance too hah. Like I said, more stress on flexibility but didn't say muscle mass was bad. Also, it's maximizing your own personal advantages. Someone who is stronger needs less flexibility, but someone who isn't as strong needs more flexibility.

Here's to the good ol swing lubricant!!

Bubba Watson is approximately 6'3" and right around 180. Compare that to John Daly? Flexibility plays much more of a role in generating speed than mass does. Bubba Watson is a chicken wing in comparison.