More power and distance behind the ball.

[justinmill14]

Now I know that straighter is greater and for now I need to work on hitting the ball straight consistently first. But with me only driving around 200 yards or so, what do I need to do to get more power behind the ball? Do I need to jsut hit the weights? Or is there something else?

[titaniummd]

Now I know that straighter is greater and for now I need to work on hitting the ball straight consistently first. But with me only driving around 200 yards or so, what do I need to do to get more power behind the ball? Do I need to jsut hit the weights? Or is there something else?

Solid consistent contact with an efficient transfer of energy from the backswing to through the impact zone is key.

Use impact tape to determine where you impact the face of the club.

[ScottRempel]

I'm not sure what kind of build you have, but it is definitely not all about hitting the weights. Honestly, I don't work out at all really...although it probably wouldn't hurt :p. And I'm definitely not a big guy, although I am fairly athletic. I hit the ball a good distance and it's all about swing speed. A driver doesn't take much to swing (i.e. it's not big and heavy), it's just a matter of using your body to generate that clubhead speed. I've seen a lot of well built guys at the ranges swinging out of their shoes and I out drive them easily. Why? Because swinging hard isn't the same thing as swinging fast. I think some of those hard swingers have no snap in their swing.

Anyway, I'm no pro, just offering up my experience as someone that drives the ball a good distance and doesn't have big arms. If you want, you can check out some swing videos I posted here in another thread. Now, I'm not saying they depict a great swing, but you can see the club speed generated.
If you could post up a video of yourself swinging people here may be able to give you some tips. Maybe you are not using your body properly to generate power.

[xTsUnAmI]

The more relaxed you are the farther you'll hit it. I try to be completely relaxed, and take a big breath and exhale just before I start my back swing... Also making sure my arms are fully extended at impact seem to give me the most power.

[ks8829]

I think stretching and building the core muscles will help with making a fuller turn on your golf swing.

Pilaties is great with some light weights.

solid square contact with club head speed equals distance.

[lolzzlolzz]

Lol, before you spend money on non-golf related items, pick up a book that teaches the whole swing from start to finish and practice every day. Anyone with a correct swing will be long AND straight.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

Now I know that straighter is greater and for now I need to work on hitting the ball straight consistently first. But with me only driving around 200 yards or so, what do I need to do to get more power behind the ball? Do I need to jsut hit the weights? Or is there something else?

Step 1: Learn a fundamentally solid swing, preferably from a pro.

Step 2: Practice that swing, checking along the way that you're still executing the fundamentals correctly (not slipping into any bad habits), until you can make good contact with the ball consistently. Step 3: If you're executing your fundamentals and making good contact with the ball, and you're not getting a nice straight ball flight, return to step 1 and find out what's going wrong in your swing to cause the bad ball flight, and then back to step 2. Step 4: Once you're swinging the club with sound fundamentals, making good contact, and getting a desirable shape to your ball flight, see if you still have a distance problem. Odds are you won't. The reason I say this is that if you're not hitting the ball straight, then your distance problem may not actually exist. You've probably got plenty of distance if you just managed to swing the club straight through the ball. Once you're doing that, if you still don't have decent distance, then you've at least got a good, fundamentally sound swing as a starting point, and you can make small adjustments to it to increase distance. You'll be a MUCH better golfer by doing it in this order than you would be if you start trying to produce distance before you've got a good swing. -Andrew

[justinmill14]

Alright thank you.

[extremeld]

Now I know that straighter is greater and for now I need to work on hitting the ball straight consistently first. But with me only driving around 200 yards or so, what do I need to do to get more power behind the ball? Do I need to jsut hit the weights? Or is there something else?

if you are quite new to golf i would suggest you concentrate on big turn, staying relaxed and giving it a belt - you can learn to hit it straight later

if you practice and practice and practice to get a fundamentally sound golf swing at 85mph you aint ever going to be shooting good scores on decent courses, whearas if you get the raw speed you can refine it - i am sure many will disagree but most GOOD golfers get the power then refine it into something they can use internet wisdom is generally just a bunch of people reproducing other peoples opinions as they have some kind of status (!!) on a forum Do all the technique etc etc assuming you aint a kid its a sure way to limit your power and potential for the future

[Petden]

To get the most distance out of your swing you need to make solid contact, while the speed of your club is peaking. That's why when you force the swing too much at the beginning the speed will peak at the top of the downswing and you will be decelerating the rest of the way through - one impacting your distance, in a negative way, and you might loose the stability of the club and shank the shot. Be relaxed, and don't try to murder the ball, be easy and solid.

[extremeld]

To get the most distance out of your swing you need to make solid contact, while the speed of your club is peaking. That's why when you force the swing too much at the beginning the speed will peak at the top of the downswing and you will be decelerating the rest of the way through - one impacting your distance, in a negative way, and you might loose the stability of the club and shank the shot. Be relaxed, and don't try to murder the ball, be easy and solid.

FYI - ss in a good golf swing peaks after impact and NO ONE ever had their peak speed at the start of the downswing - golf club starts at 0 mph and accelerates! When you run one way and change direction are you going fastest at the change?

30 handicap? I hope this is coming from your golf pro and would suggest that you change if he has told you the above.

[Petden]

How do I explain this. Obviously the club speed will start at zero, but forcing the shot, will cause it to peak way before it should becasue the person can not sustain that power/speed that they started with.

Also to go with your analogy- It would be like someone trying to sprint 1km when they know they can only sprint for 500 meters. after the 500 meters he will have to slow down because he doesnt not have the energy/endurance it takes to keep the speed.

I have to admit though I did think the speed would peak at contact. Could you explain why it would peak afterwards?

[extremeld]

How do I explain this. Obviously the club speed will start at zero, but forcing the shot, will cause it to peak way before it should becasue the person can not sustain that power/speed that they started with.

i am working here so briefly - forcing the shot or swinging hard does not mean that you run out of energy before you reach the ball, that is just nuts.

The golf swing is a single explosive motion so the sprinter thing doesnt hold water - a better example would have been a throwing event, regardless when you throw things you accelerate as hard as you can from as far back to as far through as you can go for max power, you dont wait until just before release then try and throw - unless you throw like a girl! The club is accelerating from the transition at the top of the backswing until past the ball - club going faster past the bottom of your swing - Put the ball further forward in your stance and hit up and you will hit it further

[Petden]

That makes sense. I am still learning, as I do not wish to stay at a 30 handicap. Unfortunatly time does not permit and I only get out and play maybe 5 times a year.

[Mr.Wedge]

i am working here so briefly - forcing the shot or swinging hard does not mean that you run out of energy before you reach the ball, that is just nuts.

I'm assuming Petden is referring to what is known as release. or in this case, early release, which would cause max velocity prior to the ball. Whether that occurs up top or lower in the swing is less relevent than the fact it is occuring. In actuallity, if this is what is meant by "forcing the shot", there is no release at all, but a manipulation of the hands to unhinge the wrists.

"...from as far back as you can" could use some definition. Violating one's own range of motion will dramatically diminish power, accuracy, and consistency.

[extremeld]

i didnt assume anything, i simply replied to what was written -