Distance

[saevel25]

Well power comes from coiling againts your lower body with your upper body. For example, your hips turn 45 degrees to the target line, they would point to the right for a right hander. While your shoulder get close to 90 degrees to the target line. Then what happens is that your hips begin the unwinding process and all that potential energy gets turned into kenetic energy. All this energy is braces againts the ground, and will travel up into the core were it speeds up due to the rotation and then travel down the club like a whip. Your hands will rotate through impace delivering all that energy into the ball. I have seen alot of people think they get a turn and they don't they turn there hips way to much.

If you want a good stretch, sit on the ground. Lay one leg out straight, cross the other leg over the other and keep it bent. Now rotate to the left if you crossed the left over the right, and bring your right arm againts the left knee pushing againts it. You should feel a stretch in the back and side abdominals. Make sure to keep your back upright and straight. This will stretch out the muslces that can restrict the movements in your backswing.

[noefi13b]

How long are the courses you are playing???

I play just slightly longer than you (about 10-15%) and on most courses sure it would be nice to hit it futher but length is not my main problem...

Just a thought..

[scott71law]

Ray you didn't mention if you have any physical "ailments", but I can tell you from experience that back/hip issues will KILL your mechanics. I was hitting my drives 230-250 last year pretty regularly and was an 11 handicap until November when I hung up the clubs for the winter, then developed some sort of lower back/hip problem where I can barely move some days, thought it was a torn hip labrum but MRI negative. I have gone out three times this year and have yet to hit a drive over 150 yards and have shot 96-94-94 on easy short courses. Measured my swing speed (with a pretty crude spring loaded device) at 60 mph this year when it was 85 last year. Needless to say I am about ready to quit the game for good since I can't even reach longer par 3's with my driver now. I guess what I am getting at is make sure you are 100% healthy before you go to any pros for lessons.

I just wanted to update my post here, I have been strictly following a rigorous stretching regimen I came up with myself for about the last 3-4 weeks, and it has made all the difference in the world. My back, although stiff from time to time, is much better now and my hip is pain free as a result. As far as distance/club head speed, I am now measuring my swing speed anywhere from 95-107 mph, which is substantially better than the 60-65 I was only able to produce a few weeks ago. Of course, I still have to make solid contact on the course no matter what the speed is, but that should come around. I've been out twice so far since the exercises and the last time out shot an 85 with a few 200+ yard drives. Bottom line, increasing flexibility/strength has made all the difference in the world for me, and has also rehabbed my back injury.

Scott

[scott71law]

Update: Back stretching has made my hip/back pain almost unnoticeable.

Scott