3 tips geared towards more solid, powerful ball-striking

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

No one golfer believes solid ball-striking is easy. It is a tall order, for sure, to play well. However, the better you hit your ball, the more you can enjoy the game. Three simple tips here will help you hit your ball better and reduce your score.

Drag your clubhead away from your ball

For solid strikes, you need to swing your club back low and slow. But what you feel differs from what you are doing. To ensure the low and slow takeaway, you need to drag the clubhead as you take your club away from your ball. Ken Venturi called the drag takeaway the “paintbrush” move. It is a true one-piece takeaway.

To drag your club effectively, you need to lag your clubhead. Move your left hand first so the clubhead trails the grip end. Done correctly, your clubhead will lag slightly behind the grip in the early part of the takeaway. That leaves you in position to drag the clubhead against the ground. You cannot drag anything unless your hands are ahead of the object.

Or, just picture that you’re mopping the floor of your room, or try to hear the clubhead dragging as you take it away from the ball.

Besides creating a wide swing arc, the drag takeaway allows you to swing on plane. It also helps you enjoy more lag in the downswing. Importantly, it helps your big muscles work in sync. Dragging your clubhead slows your backswing, creating a smooth, balanced tempo. It also promotes full wrist hinge at the top of the backswing.

Drag your club back correctly. And you will increase your distance and direction, plus consistency to the best of your abilities.

The conventional wisdom dictates you need to improve your body motions to improve your swing. However, your ball listens to what your club tells it to do. You need to focus on your clubhead position and its alignment, which affect your ball flight.

Modern instructors seldom teach this move today. They teach the exact opposite by recommending an early setting of the club, or early hinging of the wrists. But the drag takeaway will open a new golf world for you.

Setting your wrists early in the takeaway almost leads to unhinging them too early in the downswing. This costs your power, accuracy and consistency. Move your clubhead last, not first.

On the downswing, let your body lead your hands, allowing your hands to lead the clubhead.

Turn your left knee behind your ball

Your distance decreases as you get old. As your flexibility decreases, you’ll have difficulty turning your body fully. That plays havoc with your ability to hit your ball as far as you used to.

However, you don't have to worry. There is a way that can help you effect a full turn. Simply turn your left knee behind your ball. That enables you to turn your shoulders enough, allowing you to create more torque between your upper body and lower body.

A word of emphasis about your correct left knee action: Don’t allow it to shoot straight out. That damages your address posture, destroying your swing. Take care to let your left knee break “in” to the right.

Hit an uppercut

When you hit your ball off the tee, you need to catch it on the upswing. That way you can increase your carry, while decreasing backspin. Less backspin means more roll on the ground. Imagine you’re throwing an uppercut to your opponent’s chin. That way you will hit your ball far, to your potential distance.

To encourage the “uppercut,” picture a second ball teed up extra high about an inch in front of the ball. Imagine a ball about chest-high ahead of the ball you are about to hit. Then, pretend the ball is your opponent’s chin. That will help you hit a hard upward blow to your ball as if throwing an uppercut.