Looking to add more distance to your drives? It will help if you understand the three factors that influence distance in your golf swing so that you know where to best focus your efforts. The three swing factors that influence distance are:
1. Clubhead speed;
Golf
2. Center Contact
3. Angle of Approach
How Clubhead Speed impacts Driver Distance
The most important factor for creating more distance with you drives is increasing your clubhead speed. For every 1 mile-per-hour you increase your clubhead speed you add 2.2 to 2.7 yards to your distance, depending on how much your ball rolls out after landing. As a result, the first thing you should evaluate when looking to add distance to your drives is finding ways to increase your swing speed.
How do you know what to work on?
The challenge here is that there are quite a few ways to go about increasing your swing speed. You could work on your swing arc width, weight shift, hip turn speed, lag, forearm rotation, grip pressure, or your finish extension. Which one will be the most effective for your particular swing?
Practice Swinging as Fast as You Can
Here's an easy way to zero in on the most important factors for increasing the speed of your unique swing: Practice swinging as fast as you can.
It seems simple. Even logical. But most of my golf students have never even tried to see how fast they can swing!
The Baseball Rip Swing
Here's the way I suggest you practice swinging faster. It is an exercise I call the "Baseball Rip Swing." The benefit to practicing this drill is that you will wind up teaching yourself in a natural way how to increase your swing speed.
Practice Swinging as Fast as You Can
This drill is deceptively simple, yet you may be surprised at how difficult it is at first to swing fast and stay in balance. Your goal is to make a series of continuous back and forth baseball swings (not golf swings!) chest high while rotating your hips and core all the way back and all the way forward through 180 degrees of rotation. Every 2nd or 3rd rotation, swing as fast as you can (rip it!), then get back into your continuous rhythm. The more you practice, the faster you will swing.
How to Do the Baseball Rip Swing:
1. Normal to slightly wide stance;
2. Stand Upright - Spine completely upright and vertical (do not lean forward or take a golf stance);
3. Hold your driver chest-high, parallel to the ground, and straight out in front of you with your arms fully extended
4. Begin swinging back and forth around your spine in a continuous rhythm;
5. Turn Your Belt Buckle and Core Thru 180 degrees of Rotation;
6. Every 2nd or 3rd swing make a Rip swing as fast as you can, then get back into your continuous rhythm.
7. On your Rip swings, move your "whoosh" as far forward in the swing as possible;
8. Stay in balance;
9. Pay attention to the sequence of your Rip swing: weight shift, hip turn, shoulders follow, club releases. Eventually your regular swing will incorporate the same sequence, and you will be increasing your swing speed!
10. If this exercise gives you any discomfort, discontinue it immediately!
Summary
To get more distance with your drives, practice swinging as fast as you can. Driver distance is most directly affected by swing speed, so learning to swing as fast as you can without hitting a ball can help you increase your swing speed. The baseball "rip" swing is a great way to practice swinging faster.
Practice a Faster Golf Swing to Get More Driver Distance
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