Hit It Farther Today!

Just how do you maximize your distance off the tee?

The biggest factor in hitting the ball further is clubhead speed. It’s also the hardest swing factor to increase. Rather than spending long hours in the gym working on strength and flexibility, maximize your current club head speed by launching your drives high with less back spin. Here’s how to optimize your driver distance: Use an upward or ascending blow but do it the right way. Most amateurs flip their wrists in an attempt to create an ascending blow (Photo 1). This motion adds loft and backspin causing the ball to launch too high with too much back spin and will actually decrease your driving distance.

To do it the right way, follow these instructions:

• Tee the ball up opposite your left instep (Photo 2)
• Make sure to wind into your right leg; your left shoulder should be over your right instep at the top of your backswing (Photo 3)

• Minimize spin loft – the difference between the loft of the club at impact and the angle of attack of the club head as it approaches the ball. (Photo 4)
• You should feel as if you are leaning the shaft /grip toward the target while swinging it upward. (Photo 5)

Drill: grip the club and address a tee normally. Move the club head back about 18 inches, slightly inside the target line and sole it on the ground. Swing the handle forward and up, dragging the club along the ground for the first foot. Allow the club head to swing upward as it approaches the tee. (Photos 6-9)

Practice this drill every time you visit the range and you’ll soon get those hands where they need to be when you take a full swing — working in conjunction with the clubface to get the least spin, the correct angle of attack … and bigger booms down the fairway.