By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Korea Times Golf Columnist

Your swing needs to differ from those of other golfers because your body is built differently from theirs. Your face, for instance, is not same as those of others. And your way of thinking is different from theirs as well. A different way of thinking leads to different manner of action, which makes it necessary for you to swing differently from others.

In reality, there are a plethora of efficient swings; the number of which would probably be equal to that of the number of golfers. Here are a few tips to help your swing get better and gain more distance.

1. Rotate your right forearm over the left through impact

A common piece of advice for getting more distance and accuracy is to square the clubface at impact, but that's hard to repeat. Instead, try to control your release, which is easier. A correct release through the ball leads to proper clubface rotation through impact, enabling you to hit the ball farther and straighter on a more consistent basis.

A good way to release the clubhead is to slap the ball with your right hand through the hitting area by rotating the right forearm over the left with the upper part of the left elbow pressed tightly against the chest. It is difficult to unhinge your wrists properly when the left arm bows out at impact.

Also crucial here is to keep your lower body quiet so the legs support the slapping motion of your right hand.

Slapping the ball with your right forearm, rotating too early or unhinging your wrists prematurely causes a hook and too late a push, but its best to go after it aggressively. It's uncommon to do it too early, as far as you turn your lower body wide open before impact with your shoulders aligned square to the ball.

2. Move the left hip upward

The secret to launching huge, straight drives is an aggressive, powerful hip turn toward the target that is made at the initial stage of downswing. This is true but the real secret is to move your left hip upward as you turn your hips toward the target at the early part of the downswing.

The higher your left hip moves upward, the better. This secret works with every club in the bag except putter.

3. A lighter grip pressure promotes a more powerful release

What has to be done first to increase your distance is to learn to generate effortless power; to create power without a forced effort you need to get all parts of your body to move in sync and feel your swing simple.

A good way to achieve this is to keep your hands soft throughout the swing by gripping the club lightly. A light grip pressure helps to keep your muscles supple, including those of the fingers, arms and shoulders, which in turn, promotes a more powerful release through impact.

4. Initiate downswing with lower body

Another good way to get increased power and distance is to leave the club at the top as long as possible. That enables you to begin the downswing with your lower body, not with your hands and arms, which means a correct downswing sequence.

Swinging the club down in the correct sequence or initiating the downswing with your lower body by keeping the club at the top as long as possible helps create a tremendous amount of clubhead lag, which is the secret to more power and distance.

5. Move the ball forward in your stance

To get your potential distance out of the driver, move the ball forward toward the target in your stance about two-to-three inches instead of teeing it in your normal ball position. That facilitates swinging down and through, encouraging you to fully transfer your bodyweight down the target line.

That also helps extend your arms fully to make solid contact. The greater the extension, the greater the clubhead speed and distance. That promotes a way more effective weight shift to the left and fuller arm extension. You will gain some extra distance.