What arent they telling us?

[Stillhacken]

Re: What arent they telling us?

I dont think there is a secret. I think there is information overload. Backswings look different , follow thrus look different , addresses look different , but the one thing the pros do the same is the position at impact. They are bringing the club from the inside. Sadly this is the last thing most golfers learn or they never do learn and continue the over the top move. Imo once they groove this inside path all other factors can be improved easily if even needed . Backswing , follow thru, address dont mean a thing if you still come over the top.

[Martin Levac]

Re: What arent they telling us?

the key to distance is all about technique, physical shape helps alot, but technique is the most important thing. ive seen guys who can bench 300lbs golf and they hit it 230, while im 6' 160 and i can fly it 100yds past them.

and im sorry to tell you all this, but distance is innate. you arent going to be able to go from hitting it 200 to 250. you will be able to pick up a few yards, but nothing is going to get you to hit substancially farther. you have to have always hit the ball far to be a long hitter.

ive had my swing speed measured using radar and other things and i average around 120 if im swinging well, and i can get over 125 if i juice things up. i can bomb it out there pretty well, and i always have hit it far. when i was like 12 or so i was hitting it farther than some of the older guys at the course.

im posting a new article for more distance

OK. So, I began playing golf only two years ago and all I could manage was a measely 200 yards with a 46" driver. Now, I expect to send it 250 with a 43" driver because that's what I can and frequently do.

My presonal experience tells me that what you just wrote is a lie. Sorry to tell you that.

[james.welsh]

Re: What arent they telling us?

Club head speed. I just finished watching Tiger win the CA World Golf Championship at Doral for the third time. He and Brett Wetterich were exchanging drives including roll of up to 340 yards. Charles Howell who could be termed skinny sends it a great distance as well. The thin in common is how fast they hit the ball. The ball takes off like a missile.

A ball does not understand how strong you are or your technique or whatever. It just bounces off the club face. Just like any other ball. The harder you bounce a basketball onto the ground the higher it will bounce. It's really as simple as that. The "ground" in the case of golf is the club face.

If you want to send the ball farther you have to hit the ball faster. Yes you do that by swinging the club more "efficiently", no casting, hitting the ball in the sweet spot, staying on plane, perfectly impact conditions to keep the spin perfect etc -- all that.

But no matter how "efficient" your swing, if you swing as fast as granny does the ball ain't goin' to go too far!

[JohnP]

Re: What arent they telling us?

I just watched that tournament too, I couldn't believe the practice swings Brett Wetterich was making before attempting to drive the par 4, it was insane speed, if I attempted that, I would fall over - he than setup and hit the ball with the exact same swingspeed - Tiger then did exactly the same, hitting the ball with incredible speed, they both missed the green slightly, but - I have to concur with the thought that as long as the swing is going down the target line at impact, no matter how it gets there - the ball only really understands speed - which it then translates into distance!

So, if your swing is in good shape and you want more distance, the answer is - work on increasing your clubhead speed!

If your swing is not in that great shape (ME) - work on this first before thinking of attempting the above

[SmashFactor1.55]

Re: What arent they telling us?

OK. So, I began playing golf only two years ago and all I could manage was a measely 200 yards with a 46" driver. Now, I expect to send it 250 with a 43" driver because that's what I can and frequently do.

My presonal experience tells me that what you just wrote is a lie. Sorry to tell you that.

Well your swing has obviously gotten better. Im saying if you have been playing for awhile you arent going to magicly get 50 more yards overnight. Fred Funk has been trying to get more distance. He said that hes trying to get his swing speed up 1-2MPH which is only a few yards. He's not going to be able to go and get another 20. You're a beginner still, so of course there is room for improvement. And the shorter driver will actually help you hit it farther, because you will be able to swing it faster.