Posted by Susan Briske, LPGA on 5/17/2006, 6:52 am, in reply to "Question about increasing distance"
70.104.1.78
Hi Debbie, the distance a ball carries is influenced primarily by club head speed. Presumably the longer the club and the wider the body turns, the wider the arc of the swing and therefore the faster the clubhead can return to the ball as it travels through the hitting zone. Try this drill without a ball - hold your golf club upside down and swing the handle end. Swing it hard and fast and notice where you hear the "whoosh". The whoosh sound should be at the bottom of the swing area as it passes over the imaginary ball. Notice what you body and arms do to increase the sound and/or to "move" the whoosh sound to bottom of the swing arc. Clubhead speed that equates to distance is not only generated by your hands trying to swing faster. By using the big muscles of your body and making a wider swing by turning more and then releasing properly through impact generates more speed. Many new golfers work so hard at making contact so as not to whiff the ball, they actually slow down the swing to be successful. If you are making contact with the ball each swing then trust your swing and know that the release "through the ball, not just to the ball" will increase clubhead speed which will produce more distance. Use your big turning muscles and swing to a balanced finish!
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