Power focus

[mnel]

I left golf alone for the better part of 5 months due to external factors, and only took it up again about two weeks ago. I'm a 18 handicap, and went playing with some guys in the single digits the past weekend. They all complimented me on my swing, while I felt like I had a shovel in my hand, two left hands and a bad case of Parkinson's

I think this has to do with my tempo and rythm. I noticed my swing starts off too fast, and the majority of my power is generated very early in my downswing. This has the effect of loss of power and control as the clubhead reaches the ball. I now try slowing down the early part of my downswing, and accelerating right before contact. Am I doing the right thing? Is this what you guys always mean with "accelerating through the ball" ? Any thoughts/drills on this topic?

One good thing about leaving the game alone for a while, is that I seem to have dropped some bad habits I picked up. But I'm looking forward to developing a whole bag of new ones!

[Ringer]

Learn to accellerate to the halfway point of your backswing, and accellerate to the halfway point in your forward swing (just after impact). Those two points are where the most clubhead speed should be generated. That means you must ACCELLERATE as far as you can on the forward swing. Trust me, you won't be able to accellerate any further than the halfway point. Your arms won't let you.

[John Boy]

Good point on half way power check. A tool to help tell where you are attempting to generate power is by swinging your club upside down. The loudest part of the "SWOOSH" should be at the bottom of your swing (where you strike the ball). It also helps for hitting half and three quarter shots to ensure you ACCELERATE through the ball.