Trevor Ng
Gaining distance in golf is a skill that many golfers aspire to improve, whether playing casually or professionally. The speed of your swing is the most important factor in achieving distance, and this can be increased by improving your sequence, increasing your shoulder and hip turn, and focusing on your core rotation. Other factors that can influence distance include the angle of attack, club fitting, ball position, and swing tempo.
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What You'll Learn
Swing faster
Gaining distance in golf is a skill that many golfers aspire to improve. One of the most important factors in achieving this is swing speed. The faster your swing, the further the ball will travel.
To swing faster, you need to increase your tempo. This may seem counterintuitive, as many people believe that slowing down will help them gain control. However, a slower swing will not help you gain distance. Instead, focus on increasing the speed of your backswing to achieve a faster downswing.
Additionally, work on your shoulder turn. The power in your swing comes from the rotation of your shoulders against your hips, which is called torque. Aim for a 90-degree shoulder turn with a 45-degree hip turn. This will help you generate more power and increase your swing speed.
Another way to swing faster is to improve your sequence. Golfers often struggle with the correct sequence, which should be feet, legs, hips, shoulders, arms, and then club. To improve this, grab a 7 iron and turn it upside down in your right hand. Start with your feet together, and as the club swings back, make a small side step with your left foot towards the target. Feel how your body is moving in two different directions. Repeat this drill about 10 times, and then turn the club over and take a normal stance. Swing the club back and feel the step happening, but don't actually take the step. This drill will help improve your sequence, allowing you to swing faster.
While strength can play a role in your swing speed, it is not the most important factor. Training your body to swing faster is crucial, and this can be achieved through dedicated training sessions where you swing all out. Overspeed training methods such as superspeed can also help increase your swing speed.
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Improve your footwork
Improving your footwork is an important aspect of gaining distance in golf. The ground is a significant power source for golfers, and good footwork can help you gain distance without necessarily swinging any faster.
A good way to improve your footwork is to focus on your hips and pelvis. The hips and pelvis play a crucial role in the golf swing, and improving their action can positively impact your footwork and overall swing. As you shift your pelvis towards the target and add rotation, you'll notice movements in your feet: your lead toe will raise, your trail heel will lift, and your trail foot will bank in.
To improve this movement, you can try the 'fancy footwork' drill. First, hit a shot with a high iron. After impact, your front toe (left foot for right-handed players) should be slightly off the ground, and your back heel (right foot) should also be raised, angled towards the inside of your body. These are important checkpoints for your footwork.
Next, grab a 7 iron and turn it upside down in your right hand. Start with your feet together, and as the club swings back, make a small side step with your left foot towards the target. You should feel a natural pull on your right arm as you step. Repeat this motion for about 10 swings. Then, turn the club over, take a normal stance, and swing the club back, feeling the step but not actually taking it. This drill will help improve your weight shift and swing path.
Additionally, you can work on small swings at home with a club, feeling the weight transfer from side to side. Gradually lengthen the swing while maintaining the side-to-side movement. As the swing gets bigger, let your heels come up and push off the ground with each swing.
Improving your footwork through these exercises will help you gain distance in your golf game.
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Work on your sequence
To gain distance in golf, it's important to work on your sequence and improve your technique. Here are some tips to help you achieve that:
Grab an iron and practice: Take a 7-iron and turn it upside down in your right hand. Begin with your feet together, and as you swing the club back to rib height with your right hand, simultaneously take a small side step towards your target with your left foot. This movement will help you feel the coordination of your body moving in two different directions. As you step, you should feel a natural pull on your right arm, bringing it down without force. Repeat this drill for about 10 swings. Then, turn the club over, take a normal stance, and swing the club back, focusing on the stepping motion without actually taking the step. This drill will significantly improve your sequence and help you gain distance.
Focus on your shoulders and hips: The sequence and coordination of your shoulders and hips during the swing are crucial to gaining distance. Ensure your shoulders are at a 90-degree angle, and your hips are at a 45-degree angle. This position maximizes the power generated, which is often referred to as "torque." The optimal combination of shoulder and hip rotation can result in an impressive distance of around 270 yards off the tee for most golfers.
Increase your hip turn: To gain more distance, focus on increasing your hip turn during the swing. This increased hip turn will help you gain a few extra yards without having to put in extra effort. It's a simple yet effective way to improve your sequence and overall performance.
Improve your impact: Gaining distance is not just about swinging faster but also about improving your impact. One training exercise is to practice what the impact position looks and feels like. Get into your setup position with a 7-iron. Without taking the club back, move into your impact position. From the ground up, focus on your right foot rolling off the instep, right knee kicking in, left leg fairly straight, hips rotated open, weight distribution (about 70% on the left side), club shaft past your zipper, and the position of your wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
Remember, gaining distance in golf is about finding the right sequence and technique that works for you. These drills and tips will help you improve your sequence, resulting in longer and more satisfying shots on the course.
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Strengthen your core
To increase the distance of your golf swing, you must focus on strengthening your core. The core and lower body play a significant role in creating power in your swing. Instead of relying solely on your arms, you should focus on a full rotation of your hips and torso during the backswing. The more rotation you achieve, the more power you can transfer to the ball.
To strengthen your core for golf, you can start by improving your hip and shoulder flexibility. This will allow you to achieve a greater range of motion during your swing. Yoga is an excellent way to improve flexibility in these areas, and it is a popular practice among golfers.
Another important aspect of core strength in golf is stability. You need to be able to maintain your balance and posture throughout the swing, especially during the impact phase. Exercises that target your abdominal muscles, lower back, and glutes will help improve stability. Plank variations, Russian twists, and deadlifts are excellent choices for building a strong and stable core.
Core strength also contributes to the consistency of your swing. A strong core helps you repeat the same swing motion with precision, ensuring that your clubface makes solid contact with the ball each time. This consistency in ball striking will lead to increased distance over time.
Finally, a strong core will help you generate more speed in your swing. As you increase the strength of your core muscles, you'll be able to swing with more force and velocity. This speed will directly translate to increased distance, as a faster swing will send the ball farther. Incorporate exercises like medicine ball throws and rotational exercises with resistance bands to improve core speed and power.
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Improve your angle of attack
The angle of attack (AOA) is a measurement of the vertical path that your clubhead travels before impacting the ball. It is measured in degrees, indicating whether the clubhead is ascending, descending, or at the low point when it strikes the ball. A shallow angle of attack decreases spin and creates a lower trajectory, while a steeper angle increases spin and a higher trajectory.
To improve your angle of attack, you need to determine whether you should be using a shallow or steep angle in a particular situation. With shots on the ground, we generally want to be hitting slightly downwards – achieved by having the low point of the swing arc in front of the ball. When using irons, you want the attack angle to be more downward, with the low point in front of the ball, as you are hitting down on it. You can use an empty water bottle as a training aid by placing it about two grip lengths behind the ball and then swinging as you normally would, focusing on not hitting the bottle with your clubhead. This will help you get the attack angle more downward and move the low point in front of the ball, improving your iron strikes.
When hitting with a driver, you want to hit the ball on the upswing to maximise efficiency and power. To increase your distance with a driver, you should aim for an ascending angle of attack as the club-head strikes the ball. Tee the ball up a little higher, position the ball in line with your lead armpit, and bump your hips a little more toward the target, feeling as if your lead hip is higher than your trail hip.
By focusing on precision and understanding which angle of attack to use in different situations, you will see an improvement in your scores.
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Frequently asked questions
The faster your swing, the further the ball will travel. You can increase the speed of your swing by increasing the tempo. You can also try to increase your shoulder turn, hip turn, or both.
The angle of attack, or how the clubhead approaches the ball, impacts how far the ball travels. A more upward angle can result in longer drives, while a steeper angle will give you more control. It is also important to use properly fitted clubs, as they can improve your launch angle and spin rate.
Your core and lower body play a huge role in creating power in your swing. Focus on a full rotation of your hips and torso during the backswing. The more rotation you have, the more power you can transfer to the ball.
Speed is the most important factor in golf for increasing distance. While strength can help, it will not directly benefit your 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, make a small side step with your left foot towards the target. Keep doing this for about 10 swings.
