Hi folks.
I am a very average golfer with a handicap of 11.5. I've been playing properly since about 2021. I am in my 30's and pretty out of shape. I'm overweight and fairly high body fat %. I feel as if I lack balance, and stability and also strength/power.
One thing I have always lacked is distance. On a relatively decent strike, my driver carries 220 at best, my 7 iron 130-140 and so on. My driver CHS as of 2023 was between 95-100mph. Now I'm high 80's to low 90's, so I've lost speed even from then. I'm pretty sure in 2022 I was even averaging 98-105mph at one point. I understand that my numbers are very playable for most golf courses. I understand that a more consistent strike and better mechanics will assist with distance.
I play at a lot of different courses all at various lengths thought society competitions and mini tours etc. On the longer courses I struggle even on a good ball striking day. I'm having to hit driver then 3 wood/hybrid/long irons on longer holes. Meanwhile my playing partners are anywhere between 30-50 plus yards past me off the tee. On the shorter courses I play well and score better because I can hit driver then 7/8 iron etc. Now there is a bit of ego here as well - don't get me wrong and I accept that but it seems really obvious to me that an easy way to improve my scores is to add some distance to my game.
So yeah, I want to add distance to my game. The way I understand it (please correct me if I am wrong or missing anything) is that distance comes from the following;
- Good swing mechanics
- Consistently good ball striking
- Flexibility and Mobility
- Strength/ Power
- Overspeed training
My plan for this winter is as follows;
- Workouts using Fit for Golf app, also flexibility and mobility work.
- Better diet, eating more healthily and consistently to help with losing body fat and gaining strength
- Overspeed training with The Stack (or another)
- Continue to work on mechanics with coach and practice
- Continue to get out and play golf when weather allows
I do understand that I may also lose any ability to hit a golf ball as well if I properly go for it, but that's where the coach comes in. I don't see any real reason (unless there's an underlying health issue - but I wouldn't have thought that to be the case) that if I am consistent with the plan that come spring I should have added some speed and distance throughout the bag.
Anyone have any tips/advice?