Stand on any practice driving range and you will be witness to an oddly recurring event: golfers weighing over 2400 ounces (150 pounds) lurching and lunging in an attempt to crush a small ball that doesn't weigh more than 1.62 ounces (45.93 gm).
All golfers I know dream of hitting the ball yards longer. While trying to accomplish generating more power, the lesser-skilled golfers often try to manipulate the club in order to make it move faster, and simply due to a lack of technique, they never achieve what they want and get frustrated.
As a prerequisite to straight and long ball striking, one must have adequate knowledge on how the swing can be empowered to generate maximum club head speed and hit the ball with the square club face, all done while maintaining balance. A higher club head speed increases distance, whereas the square club face and balance promotes accuracy.
Here is what needs to do be done. To generate more club head speed, full use must be made of the bigger muscles of the shoulders and hips. You really don't have to be tall and strong, just use those bigger muscles properly. Don't fall into the trap of using your hands to whip at the ball in the belief that it can increase distance. All this usually results in is a lack of distance with weak contact.
On the back swing, your shoulders should turn 90 degrees or more to the target line, and the hips should simultaneously turn back about 45 degrees. While doing this, your spine angle should not vary, it should remain the same as in the address position. This is what helps create centrifugal force on the downswing, and promotes maximum club head speed to generate more distance in your shots
I am not trying to minimize the importance of the downswing to hit the ball. The down swing is equally if not more important to proper shot making. However it is a good back swing that paves the way for a proper downswing. Once you have a solid shoulder and hip turn on the backswing, you're on the right track.
You are strongly recommended to start the downswing dropping the right shoulder and simultaneously rotating the hips. This helps the club to come down on the right plane (from inside) to hit the ball with a square club face.
You should remember one more thing. Keep your head behind the ball till impact, and then finish your swing on the left foot.
Work on the proper use of the big muscles with your favourite professional instructor and you can be sure your ball is going to pitch yards longer than ever before.
Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Head Golf Professional at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected]