Jackson Reid
Adding distance in golf is a skill that many golfers want to improve, whether they are playing casually or professionally. The most common way to add distance is to increase swing speed, which can be achieved through physical training for flexibility, strength and power, as well as overspeed training. However, there are other ways to add distance without changing your swing, such as improving your impact, increasing your hip turn, improving your footwork, and using properly fitted clubs.
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What You'll Learn
Increase your hip turn
Increasing your hip turn is a great way to add distance to your golf game. The hip turn is simply the rotation of the lower body towards or away from the target. Biomechanical research on the swing tells us that power comes from actively using the muscles in your upper legs and hips to tilt and rotate your pelvis correctly back and through.
One of the best ways to improve your hip turn is to practice drills. You need drills to feel what the correct hip motion is and then learn to repeat it. One simple drill is the belt buckle over the lead ankle drill. Stand in your golf posture, with an alignment stick in your belt loops or a club across your hips. From a small backswing, shift your pelvis so that your belt buckle moves directly over your lead ankle. Keep your hips 'closed' for a moment, then fully rotate them through the shot, ending with a ~90-degree rotation.
Another drill involves using an alignment rod or stick. Insert it through your belt loops and set up in your golf posture. Make a slow backswing, noting how the stick shows your pelvis turning. Observe any excessive sway and repeat for multiple slow swings before adding speed, ensuring you see a proper turn instead of a pure sway.
You can also try this drill with a club or alignment stick across your pelvis. Focus on letting your trail knee lose some flex while your lead knee gains flex.
It's important to remember that you can turn your hips too much, so consider consulting a certified coach to monitor your progress.
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Improve your footwork
Golfers are always looking to add distance to their game, and one of the most important ways to do this is to improve your footwork. The ground is a huge power source for golfers, and proper footwork can help you gain distance.
The first thing to understand is that the swing starts from the ground up. Your legs are much stronger and more powerful than your arms, and if used properly, they can produce distance, accuracy, and consistency. As you take the club back, your torso begins to turn. Because your feet are planted on the ground, your legs can resist this rotation, creating torque between your lower and upper body. This torque results in a stronger release through the golf ball.
To improve your footwork, you need to focus on the positioning of your feet and how they work in unison with your hips to produce a fluid golf swing. A common issue for amateur golfers is that the pelvis is often too far back and under-rotated. This can be corrected by improving the movement of the hips and pelvis, which will positively impact your footwork.
Instructors like Chris Ryan and Nathalie Filler have developed drills to improve footwork. One such drill is to grab a 7 iron and turn it upside down in your right hand. Start with your feet together, and as the club is swinging back, make a small side step with your left foot towards the target. You should feel how that wants to pull your right arm down. Keep doing this for about 10 swings. Then turn the club over and take a normal stance, and swing the club back, feeling the step happening but without taking it. This can help improve your sequence and gain distance in your swing.
Improving your footwork can help you gain distance without swinging any faster. By focusing on your footwork and the movement of your lower body, you can unlock more power and consistency in your golf swing.
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Swing harder
Swinging harder is one of the simplest ways to add distance to your golf game. The more you practice swinging at a certain speed, the more you'll get used to moving that way. However, it's important to note that simply swinging harder won't necessarily translate to longer shots if your technique is off.
To effectively increase distance by swinging harder, you need to understand how your body and the golf club work together. This understanding will enable you to figure out the most efficient way to generate speed and power. For instance, you can increase the length of your backswing by enhancing the change in flex of your legs, turning your pelvis, and torso. This will result in increased clubhead speed, allowing you to hit the ball farther.
Additionally, focus on increasing your tempo, which may seem counterintuitive, as many golfers are often advised to slow down. However, a slower tempo can hinder your ability to generate speed. By increasing your tempo, you can achieve a faster downswing, which contributes to a more powerful shot.
Another aspect to consider is the equipment you're using. The design of your clubhead, including its weight, length, and material, can impact your swing speed. Proper clubfitting is crucial to ensure you're using equipment that complements your swing and helps you achieve greater distances.
While swinging harder can be an effective strategy, it's important to remember that it's just one part of the puzzle. To truly master distance in golf, you should also explore other techniques, such as improving your impact, utilizing the ground for power, and incorporating flexibility and stretching exercises into your routine.
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Improve your swing technique
To add distance to your golf shots, you don't necessarily need to completely change your swing technique. Here are some tips to improve your swing and increase the distance your ball travels:
- Increase your backswing: A longer backswing can increase clubhead speed without requiring a drastic change in technique. This is achieved by increasing the change in flex of the legs (the left leg bends and the right leg extends for right-handed golfers), along with turning the pelvis and torso more. This results in increased power with the same amount of effort.
- Ball position and shoulder tilt: Position the ball just inside your left heel for optimal contact and trajectory. Also, maintain a slight shoulder tilt, with your right shoulder lower than the left. This allows you to hit the ball on the upswing, which is crucial for achieving maximum distance.
- Head position: Keep your head behind the ball, maintaining a direct line of sight. This promotes a stable upper body and powerful extension through the ball, enhancing accuracy and impact.
- Flexibility and stretching: Improving flexibility in the hips, shoulders, and spine can increase your range of motion, resulting in a longer backswing and a fuller follow-through. Regular stretching routines can help you move more fluidly and consistently, maximising the potential of each shot.
- Relax your arms: Focus on relaxing your arms during both the backswing and downswing. This can improve your wrist action and sequencing, and also improve your swing path.
- Swing harder: While this may seem obvious, the more you repeat shots at a certain speed, the more you'll become conditioned to swing at that speed. However, note that a slower and more rhythmic swing can sometimes produce more distance than a faster, more powerful swing.
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Use the right clubs
Golfers should aim to optimise their distances based on their skill level and physical abilities. The goal is to achieve consistent and accurate shots with each club. It's essential to focus on improving technique, swing mechanics, and timing to maximise club distances effectively.
One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is purchasing clubs that aren't right for their swing. Marketing campaigns sway a lot of players, who then buy clubs off the rack. Working with a qualified club-fitting professional can help golfers gain (or lose) 20-30 yards with a driver by choosing the right driver head and shaft and dialling in the settings. Custom club-fitting based on individual physical attributes and swing characteristics can maximise efficiency and distance.
To add distance to your golf swing, you can also adjust your ball and foot placement. The optimal ball position varies with each club. Placing the ball forward in the stance allows for an upward angle of attack, increasing launch height and reducing spin. Golf balls placed further back in the stance will generally decrease distance but add more control to the shot. For a right-handed golfer, keeping the right foot square creates more torque and energy in the hip, which can be released through the golf shot. Opening the front foot a quarter turn makes it easier to rotate the hips through impact, increasing speed and total distance.
To improve your sequence, grab a 7-iron and turn it upside down in your right hand. Start with your feet together and as the club is swinging back with your right hand only about rib high, make a small side step with your left foot towards the target. Keep doing this for about 10 swings. Then turn the club over, take a normal stance, and swing the club back, feeling the step happening but not taking it. This can help your sequence, as a faster tempo can gain distance in your swing.
To add distance, golfers can also work on their physical fitness. Sitting at a desk 40-50 hours a week without a fitness plan removes your body's ability to move in the way required for golf. Flexibility, strength, and power can add swing speed. Overspeed training teaches your body to move faster by training it at speeds that are faster than usual. SuperSpeed Golf has a set of weighted clubs that has become one of the most popular training aids in the industry, used by golfers of all levels.
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Frequently asked questions
The faster you swing, the more distance you can expect. To increase your swing speed, you can try increasing your hip turn, shoulder turn, or both.
You can try overspeed training, which involves training your body at faster speeds than it is used to.
You can try increasing the length of your backswing by increasing the change in flex of the legs.
You can try improving your fitness by working on your flexibility, strength, and power.
Yes, personal launch monitors can measure your golf ball speed, swing speed, and estimate distances.
