More Distance Anyone?

Everyone wants to know how they can get more distance. They don't really care if they're in the fairway, they just want to hit it far! So how do you do it? Well, as I always explain to students, there are multiple factors that go into achieving more distance. Here are my top three...

1) Build a solid foundation- You need a wider base to support your swing and to help create more arc. Feet should be positioned wider than shoulder width apart. If not, you are setting yourself up for a weak swing. Our legs and lower body is what creates this foundation and is a source for great power within a golf swing.

2) Club Head Speed- The faster you can swing the club the further the ball will go. Simple equation, right? Many people that I see swing the club very delicately and methodically. It's almost as if they're afraid to do something wrong. Let your swing gradually accelerate towards and through the ball to a full finish position.

3) Solid Contact- The more we can hit the ball in the center of the club face the better our distance will be. This happens by making sure our fundamentals are sound and that we don't swing with out of control rage.

Now to a degree you also need to have certain variables going on in your human body to achieve ultimate distance. You need physical strength, body flexibility, swing technique, leverage (length of the left arm), and neuromuscular coordination.

Obviously the more you have of these variables the greater your potential is to hit the ball farther.

Distance comes through strength and flexibility training along with improved technique.

Chipping

Chip Shot- A low trajectory shot the lands on the green and releases to the hole

How to Chip

1) Feet Close together

2) Ball positioned in the back of your stance

3) Forward press the hands and club shaft towards the target

4) Open stance with more weight distribution on your front leg

5) Keep the club moving forward at an accelerating pace

The Mental Game

In my opinion this game is all in your mind. Don't get me wrong, you just cant think of playing scratch golf and it happens. You need to have strong fundamentals and a decent work ethic. However, no matter what level your at, having a strong mental attitude will help.

I was a head case at one point in my golfing career. I was easily frustrated with bad shots and not playing up to my standards. I broke clubs, threw clubs, swore frequently, and was not fun to play with. Then I realized I'm not getting better by practicing these bad habits. I started reading a lot of mental golf books. As I began reading these books, I began to understand why I was at a plateau with my game. My mental game was awful!

To make a long story short, these books I read changed the way I play golf and to an extent the way I live my life. Once I stopped dwelling on each shot and each round I noticed my scores getting better. I cant control what happens after I strike a golf ball. All I can do is prepare to the best of my ability and accept the outcome. Once I started playing golf this way it was amazing what it did for me.

It doesn't matter what you want to improve at, whether it's a sport or life in general, having a strong mental approach will take you new places. Sometimes all it takes is getting out of your own way (your mind) and letting your preparation, mentally and physically, take care of itself.

Suggested Reading...
Putting Out of Your Mind -Dr. Bob Rotella
Every Shot Must Have A Purpose -Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott
Fearless Golf -Dr. Gio Valiante
Zen Golf -Dr. Joseph Parent
The Golfer's Mind -Dr. Bob Rotella
Extraordinary Golf -Fred Shoemaker