Great Distance When Accelerating Through

[Espo99]

I have struggeld with my irons all season hitting inconsistent shots and overdrawing or hooking alot of shots. When I start playing golf my irons where solid, straight and with great distance (160 yards iron 8). My driver had slice problems i I only had my irons to thank for reaching 11 year 2.  

Now 5years later i still playing 10 in hcp. I hit my driver solid 300 yards, but as i wrote above I struggling with my irons. Pulling, over draw or even hooking. I only have average distance (130yards pw) I have seen most videos and tried it all this season and now its a bit better.

Yesterday i saw a video about hitting througt and have the feel of accelerating throught impact. I tried this today and it had amazing effect on distance. Slow backswing feel the power loading throught the turn and start of downswing and have the feel of reaching maximum power and accelerating througt impact. I carried the PW 160 yards, 30 yards longer then normal and about 50% was straight and maybe draw 30% had few pushes and some pull draws.

Bottomline is how could this feel of accelerating througt give me that much extra distance? Have you tried this with similar effect?

[DaveP043]

A pretty common mistake is for a player to hit "at" the ball.  I'm sure others can describe the actual mechanics better, but that thought seems to encourage the player to slow the body and arms prematurely and flip the club into the ball.  The image of swinging and accelerating "through" the ball generally helps the player keep body rotation and arm movement, which for many players results in more solid contact and better clubhead speed.  In reality, what you're hoping is that you reach peak clubhead velocity exactly when you're hitting the ball, anything else is a waste, but that doesn't mean you should use that as an image or feel while swinging.

[Pretzel]

It's likely that previously you were casting the clubhead from the top and reached peak clubhead speed somewhere around halfway down to the ball, before slowing down. It's likely that your feeling of accelerating into the ball means that your swing speed is the same as it was before, it just reaches its peak much closer to the time of impact than it previously did.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 8/18/2017 at 1:48 PM, DaveP043 said:

A pretty common mistake is for a player to hit "at" the ball.  I'm sure others can describe the actual mechanics better, but that thought seems to encourage the player to slow the body and arms prematurely and flip the club into the ball.  The image of swinging and accelerating "through" the ball generally helps the player keep body rotation and arm movement, which for many players results in more solid contact and better clubhead speed.  In reality, what you're hoping is that you reach peak clubhead velocity exactly when you're hitting the ball, anything else is a waste, but that doesn't mean you should use that as an image or feel while swinging.

I have to agree with this! It's an oldie, but a goodie! Swing "through" the ball, don't hit "at" it. AKA, "Just swing the club, and let the ball get in the way!"

I often wonder why I hit the ball so well in pre-season practice at the golf dome. I think it's because I'm making a complete swing, with no thought about the target.

[Zeph]

You are probably getting more lag through impact. Stored energy which is released closer to impact. By flipping, much of the energy is wasted on the way down to the ball. By focusing on acceleration through impact, you can retain the lag better, which is inevitably released around impact, giving you a higher clubhead speed at impact, a more descending blow, better contact and distance. Launch angle will also be lower, which helps with distance.

A picture to demonstrate. On the left the golfer is flipping the clup at the ball, losing distance and control. On the right the hands are in front of the clubhead, giving a descending blow and higher clubhead speed when more energy is released closer to impact.

Trying to "hit" the bal is a very common issue. Most can make practice swings that looks really good, but once you put a ball in front of them, the brain is telling them to swing the clubhead at the ball, creating positions like on the left image.

Edited August 20, 2017 by Zeph

[SemperFi]

 I havent played much in the past 3 to 4 years.  This year I started trying to get out for 9 at least once a week.  I took a lesson from a PGA pro and he has helped me tremendously.  He showed me a swing that leads with the left hand and accelerates before impact just before the apex.  I struggle on the course as I tend to "think to much".  I am striking the ball better and am making it to the range more to try and work on consistency.  

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2017 by SemperFi