By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Korea Times Golf Columnist
Irrespective of the age and sex, all golfers at all levels strive for secrets to hitting the ball farther and straighter on a more consistent basis. However, there is no secret. To hit the ball farther, you need to be committed to proper pre-swing basics including grip, posture and alignment. Also imperative is to understand the sound in-swing basics including takeaway, top of the backswing, transition from backswing to downswing, impact and finish. Most importantly, you need to know how the pre-swing preparations influence your in-swing movements.
Here are two keys you can benefit from to hit your potential distance.
The most critical part of swing is the first foot of the backswing. It is called "takeaway" and establishes entire swing tempo and path. To hit the ball solidly you need to start your backswing as slowly as you can at least for the first 18 inches. A jerky or faulty takeaway impairs the chances of hitting the ball flush.
A smooth takeaway sets a good stage to create a wide swing arc, making it possible to swing down in the correct sequence, which is absolutely important to generate power and distance.
With a hurried takeaway you cannot control the club. Once you've started your takeaway, it's hard to make adjustments or compensations during the swing. Only a slow, correct takeaway enables you to start down in the proper sequence, helping you make solid, powerful contact.
For an ideal clubhead path and plane you need to avoid taking the club away from the ball overly straight. For a correct takeaway you need to allow the clubhead to work inside almost immediately.
Do not try to fabricate your backswing for a wide arc. Overexertion to swing the club back straight along the ball-target line results in poor result. Just swing the club back low and slow during the takeaway then you will swing the club back on the correct path.
However, there is something you must know before you try to swing the clubhead slow: It's impossible to take the club back at a leisurely pace with a tight grip pressure.
Hold the club as lightly as you can and maintain the grip pressure during the entire swing. That facilitates swinging the club low and slow without an extra effort.
To hit the ball farther recreational golfers tend to use brutal strength. They try to hit hard with their right hand and arm at the start of the downswing only to botch their swing.
Extra distance comes from solid hit and increased swing speed, not from the extra effort. To launch the ball really far you need to go at it about 80 percent of your power. Trying to kill your drive, you will be killed.
Also crucial here is to store energy during the backswing and release it through the ball. It's essential to avoid throwing the club from the top, trying to hit hard with the right hand.
Maximum distance results from properly releasing the energy stored during the backswing and to release correctly, you need to save your power so you can use it later at the right time, through the ball. The greatest possible clubhead speed needs to be generated through the ball.
Weekend golfers tend to exert too much effort at the beginning of the downswing when directional change is made from backswing to downswing. Trying to gain more power, they uncock their wrists prematurely, coming over the top. Even when the club is re-routed onto the correct plane somewhere during the downswing, it is impossible to hit to your full potential if you expend your power and speed prematurely by uncoking your wrists too early.
A good way to save your power is to slow down so you can sense the club falling by the gravity at the start of the downswing. Long hitters make a slow, fluid swing with little effort. They are slow at the start of the downswing and this is what makes their timing superb.
Subdue your desire to hit the ball hard with your right hand from the top and pull down with your left hand. Otherwise, you will come over the top. You will throw the club outside the ball-target line with your right hand.
Trying to hit hard with your right hand causes your right shoulder to jut out toward the ball-target line, forcing the clubhead to work off plane.
Worse yet, that ruins your rhythm and tempo.
What has to be done first for good rhythm and tempo is to keep your downswing under control, initiating it with your left side. For a controlled, rhythmic swing it's essential to initiate your backswing and downswing with your left side.