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“How
to Develop More Power in Your Golf
Swing”
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by: Sean
Cochran
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How
can you develop more power in your
golf swing? This is probably a
question that all of us want an answer
to. Most of us go to great lengths to
do whatever it takes to get that
“power” into our drives off the
tee. I think we probably all have some
ideas of where 300-yard drives come
from, but I want to give you the
answers without any “fluff.”
Golf swing power is the result of
three specific factors. Two out of the
three are much more important, but the
third does have a bearing on the
outcome of how far you hit that ball.
The first and probably most evident of
the three is your swing mechanics. I
bet you are not surprised by this one.
The second one is probably the least
recognized of the three, but for many
is the “key” to longer drives and
the category that is given the least
amount of attention. Number two is
what we term golf strength. This is
defined as how well your body is
conditioned (i.e. fitness) to swing a
golf club with maximum power. Probably
the least understood of the three, and
maybe the most needed by golfers in
general. We will talk more about this
later. Let us move on to number three
in regards to power for your drives.
Number three is your equipment. Yes,
equipment does make a difference in
how far you drive the ball. The
equipment manufacturers have let this
fact be known, and I bet we all have
gone to the pro shop probably more
than twice to pick up a new driver
that claims to give us another 20
yards on every drive. That extra 20
yards might not be down the middle of
the fairway, but it will give you an
extra 20 yards… could be left, could
be right, or could be in the center of
the fairway. That all depends on
points one and two of this article.
Equipment and technological advances
have definitely lengthened the
distance of our drives. But without
better swing mechanics and your body
in better golf shape, new technology
will not help your game. A bad swing
will produce a bad result, regardless
of what type of “new” driver you
may have just purchased.
Swing Mechanics
I think all of us are aware of how
important the mechanics of a swing are
when it comes to driving the ball down
the fairway. It is essential, if you
are over the top with your swing or
come inside too much, you’ll see
that dreaded slice or snap hook. The
drives will be short, too low, too
high, left, right, or a combination of
these if you are putting bad swings on
the ball.
It is essential for a golfer to work
on the mechanics of their swing, week
in and week out, to improve their
game. If it weren’t important why
would all these tour players have
swing coaches that work with them on a
consistent basis? The golf swing is
such a finite, mechanically complex
movement, that requires constant work
to keep it highly efficient and in
check.
One of the most common mistakes I see
amateurs make is probably a lack of
instruction. I see amateurs over and
over at the driving ranges, week in
and week out, pounding balls without
any improvement. This, I feel, is a
result of one of two things: 1) a lack
of instruction or 2) low levels of
golf strength. A lack of instruction
leads to the development and
ingraining of improper swing
mechanics. This only results in
slices, hooks, topping the ball, and
hitting it fat on the course. And we
all know that those types of swings
lead to frustration and bad rounds of
golf. I would suggest to most anyone
to find a good instructor and take
lessons on a consistent basis. This
can only help your game in the long
run. Now moving on the second point of
how to achieve powerful drives and
that is golf strength.
Golf Strength (Golf Fitness)
Golf strength is a term we use to
describe the golf fitness level of an
individual pertaining to swinging a
club. This is much different than how
much you can bench press or squat,
which I like to refer to as “weight
room strength.” Understand that
these two terms, golf strength and
weight room strength, are very
different. If you do not quite
understand the difference, ask
yourself one question: How many
bodybuilders do you see teeing it up
on Tour? The answer to that question
is quite obvious, none!
It comes down to this idea: the
mechanics of a golf swing require
specific levels of flexibility,
balance, stability, strength,
endurance, and power to perform it
efficiently. If your body does not
have the required capacities of the
aforementioned list, then the result
will be? Anyone want to guess? Well,
let me give you the answer: a less
than optimal and less efficient swing
than possible. Essentially, your body
supports your swing much like a
foundation supports the house you
build upon it. I am sure that all of
you would choose to build a house on a
stone foundation rather than a sand
foundation, wouldn’t you? I will say
that many of you make a different
choice when it comes to your golf
swing. I quite often see amateurs
developing their swing on a
“foundation of sand,” not a good
thing to do in my book.
Regardless of how much time you work
on your swing mechanics, if your body
does not have the “golf strength”
to support your swing, you are
limiting your potential. I have seen
it numerous times, people practicing
at the range who struggle, not because
of trying to get better, but because
their bodies are limiting what they
can do with their swing. Quite often I
see people with limited flexibility,
poor balance capabilities, and low
levels of strength and power. The
bottom line is that your mechanics
will not get better until you fix the
body that swings the club!
Up to this point we have discussed the
two most important ideas when it comes
to power on the golf course. A review
of the topics tells us that they are
optimal swing mechanics and the proper
levels of “golf strength” in the
body. One without the other is going
to leave you short when it comes to
your potential in the game.
Again, I probably see point number
two, golf strength, being addressed
less often than swing mechanics when
you get right down to it. The pros are
all aware of the importance of golf
strength, why not you?
Equipment
We have come to the final point, and
that is equipment. I think the
majority of golfers are aware of the
technological advances that have
occurred in golf equipment over the
last 20 years. I mean, think about the
‘80’s when we were still playing
with woods that actually had wood club
heads! Imagine that for a moment, and
now we are using drivers with space
age faces that shoot the ball off of
them at warp speed. In addition, we
have to mention the advances in terms
of golf balls. How manufacturers
design golf balls today makes a
difference in how far they travel.
What a lot of people do not realize is
that the USGA has set standards on how
“hot” driver faces can be and how
“fast” balls can come off the face
of drivers. Most clubs are reaching
this limit, and anything past these
USGA rules becomes illegal to play. So
what does that tell us? 1) Club
manufacturers have done a great, and I
mean great, job in the advancement of
technology, and 2) to increase the
distance on your drives you are now
going to have to turn to points one
and two of this article.
So what does improving your power
really come down to?
It comes down to three simple ideas.
Number one is improving your golf
swing mechanics. Improved mechanics
will improve your driving distance.
Number two is improving your golf
strength. By improving your body as it
pertains to the golf swing you will
improve your distance off the tee.
Finally, equipment does make a
difference, if you hit the ball
correctly. Best of luck with your
game, and if you need additional
information stop by our web site
www.bioforcegolf.com
Sean Cochran is one of the most
recognized golf fitness instructors in
the world today. He travels the PGA
Tour regularly with 2004 Masters
Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made
many of his golf tips, golf
instruction and golf swing improvement
techniques available to amateur
golfers on the website
www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his
manual and DVD, Your Body & Your
Swing, on BioForceGolf.com
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GOLF SWING :: Improve
your game by improving your swing. Check our
selection of articles to help you swing like
a pro.
EXERCISE :: Strength,
Distance, Stability. Try these exercises
designed specifically to improve your golf
game. You can never be too strong or too fit
to play golf.
PRACTICE :: Practice does
not make perfect. Perfect Practice makes
Perfect Performance. Are you practicing your
game the wrong way? Read these articles to
find out the best way to practice and
improve your golf game.
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