Width = Distance

[wrx_junki]

Lately I've gone from averaging 220-40 off the tee to about 250-270. Hit a couple of ~300 yard drives with the help of wind or downward slopes. Lately my weight shift and hip turn has been improving but I mostly attribute the added distance to the width or my swing. Have been trying to keep the width throughout the backswing and then let loose on the hips. Fairway percentages are up from 30% to 60% as well. Would be shooting some nice scores but I tend to go on streaks where I start thinning the ball for a few holes and end up blowing them up.

[ControlJunkie]

I saw a drill a while back that helps you "get wide". I think it was David Ledbetter that explained it. Basically, he used a towel, it looked to be the size of a hand towel or a golf towel, and he gripped it similarly to how you would grip a club (top hand over, bottom hand under). The difference was that he separated his hands to where they were a little less than shoulder width apart. From there, it was just a matter of getting into your normal stance, and mimicking your swing, except that you should be keeping tension on the towel by pulling your hands away from each other throughout the swing motion. Repeat 3-5 times prior to taking a swing with the club. I really liked the drill, and I felt like it gave a nice wide stretch.

I'll see if I can find a link to it somewhere incase my explanation was jacked up.

[ControlJunkie]

I saw a drill a while back that helps you "get wide". I think it was David Ledbetter that explained it. Basically, he used a towel, it looked to be the size of a hand towel or a golf towel, and he gripped it similarly to how you would grip a club (top hand over, bottom hand under). The difference was that he separated his hands to where they were a little less than shoulder width apart. From there, it was just a matter of getting into your normal stance, and mimicking your swing, except that you should be keeping tension on the towel by pulling your hands away from each other throughout the swing motion. Repeat 3-5 times prior to taking a swing with the club. I really liked the drill, and I felt like it gave a nice wide stretch.

Found it!

http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio.../05/leadbetter

[RC]

Width (meaning separation of hands from head, especially on the back swing) is half the length equation and the other half is how you unload the coil in your lower body. The other 90 percent of length is all in your head and swinging to a full release of the right side.

Seriously, you will develop a more oval shaped swing when adding power so it takes a while to measure to the ball. So, hitting thin usually (not always) shows up as one creates more width and a stronger, agressive body turn back to the ball (especially if you mess up and hurry up trying to bring the upper body in too soon.) That is why I like to teach additional width drills first with an 8 iron off a tee, so that positive re-enforcement happens rather than topped shots. Then work down to normal lies.

[BillyG]

Found it!

I just want to say, Thank You very much!

[ControlJunkie]

I just want to say, Thank You very much!

No problem, glad I could help!

[Herms]

I actually skimmed past that article in the mag... my mistake. That is a very good article and the video helps a lot too. Can't wait to get out and try it. i have a really bad out-to-in swing and maybe this can help that too.

[grantc79]

Its not just width going back though.

The wider you can get going back, the narrower you can get coming forward, and the more you use your lower body = max power.

[wrx_junki]

Its not just width going back though.

I try not to overthink the downswing too much. I shift to the left and turn the hips and let my arms follow. Although the arms sometime get in front and which ends up being a pull.