Some people argue that when it comes to driving for power, you either have it or you don’t. While it’s true that some people have a more natural ability to hit a golf ball than others, that doesn’t mean you can’t add distance to your shots. You may never carry the ball as far as PGA pro Scott Hend, who once averaged 318.9 yards at the Reno-Tahoe Open, but you can definitely get more out of your shots through an efficient and balanced swing. The key: seal energy leaks.
Power leaks, as I have written in my golf tips, are physical faults that inhibit the efficiency of your swing. Usually, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Often, we don’t even know we’re doing them, so they go unnoticed. But string enough of them together in a swing and they can rob you of power and distance. And that, in turn, can affect both your game and your golf handicap. Let’s examine some common leaks and see how to seal them.
The Setup Becoming more efficient in your swing doesn’t mean rebuilding it, just tweaking it. And a good place to start is your settings. One of the biggest enemies of power in your setup, as I’ve mentioned in my golf tips, is tension. You must be loose and relaxed on the ball to generate power. And relaxing during setup starts with your hands. If your hands are relaxed, the rest of you will be too. So take the stick loosely with your fingers and relax your hands. Let that feeling of relaxation run through your arms, your shoulders, and then the rest of your body. Now you are ready to hit.
Takeout is the most critical element in your swing. If you’ve taken the strain off your hands and arms, you’ve positioned yourself nicely for takeout. As you do this, be sure to maintain a good spinal angle. That’s another energy leak. If you slouch, you will have to compensate during your swing. Keep your spine angle steady as you swing. It is your axis of power around which everything else revolves. Helps generate the torque you need for extra distance. Also, try to keep about 60 percent of your weight on your toes.
Another energy drain is your right elbow (right-handed). It is the first joint that depends on your backswing. Keep it relaxed and relatively close to your body. As you withdraw the club, your right elbow bends, allowing the club to start flat. Don’t struggle when the elbow bends and the stick moves up and in. All of that is part of a good backswing. As you reach the top of your swing, feel the coil on your right knee, attaching it to your right hip. Don’t straighten your right knee. That creates a huge energy drain. And place the ball inside the toe of the left foot. That ensures you’ll hit the ball on the upswing, helping to produce the correct launch angle.
The Swing The most common power drain among weekend golfers is the hip slide. Instead of supporting the twist of the body and upper body, the right knee stiffens and the right hip slides laterally away from the target, creating a large energy drain. The club is out of position now. The golfer throws the club out and down from the top, creating a steep angle of descent and a downward stroke. The result: a dead pull or weak cut.
As for the descending phase, the less interference the body has, the better it will be. If you remove the club correctly, the body stores that power and creates torque. And you want to unleash that power on the downswing. If you block that release of power with your body, you inhibit your power, creating another leak. Instead, keep your spine angled and stay behind the ball. Focus on keeping the club extended along the target line after hitting the ball. When you’re done, check the balance on your swing. It’s a great indicator of how efficient your swing was.
Another thing about power leaks. The body itself can be a huge drain on energy. Flexibility and core strength are the keys. Try to keep your body flexible and strong throughout the workouts. If you have a better range of muscle movement, you’ll be in a better position to swing the club throughout the golf swing. So work on flexibility and core strength when you can. And don’t forget to do some stretches before starting a round.
Not all of us can hit the ball as far as a PGA pro like Scott Hend. That doesn’t mean we can’t generate more power from our swings. We just need to seal the energy leaks creating a balanced and more efficient swing. Do that and you will be creating the necessary conditions to improve your golf handicap.
