CLUB'S SPEED DETERMINES DISTANCE

By Dave Menke
Assistant pro, The Club at Cordillera

Everyone wants more power. Hitting the ball a long way is fun and makes the course play easier. Accurate distance is composed of two elements: contact and speed.

Clubhead speed will help offset a hit that just misses, but without the combination of a solid hit and clubhead speed, players cannot maximize distance potential.

Some pointers to help hit the ball more solidly:

* Maintain consistent spine angle throughout the swing.

* Keep the left wrist flat at impact.

* Make a shorter swing.

* Swing with 75 percent effort.

Many amateurs rely too heavily on the body to generate power, but it is the hands and arms that really increase clubhead speed. To achieve this a player must have light grip pressure with tension-free arms and hands. Relaxed muscles move faster than tense muscles.

Other keys to create more clubhead speed:

* The swing path should remain on plane, without lifting or rolling the arms.

* The swing arc should be wide on the backswing, narrow on the downswing.

* Weight must be transferred to the front foot at impact.

* Hands should be ahead of the ball at impact.