by Andre Sanchez

In order to improve your driving distance you have to improve your golf swing speed. The speed that your club face is travelling at when it hits the ball is related to the energy it imparts to the ball.  In fact, it is the speed times the weight that determine the momentum passed to the ball, and momentum is related to speed.

Basically, the faster you hit the ball with your club, then the farther it will go.  If you use a heavier club it will go farther, and with a lighter club it will not go as far.  So the first change for a farther drive you can make is to use a heavier club.  However, the difference is probably not worth changing your club for.

There are other variables that affect the distance your ball travels, but we shall assume that these are constants.  Variables such as the loft of your club and the type of ball you are using are irrelevant to the speed of your drive, and you can change these at any time to improve your distance without changing your drive speed.  Your swing speed is not related to these other variables, so we will ignore these for the time being.

Your swing mechanics and fitness are what determine your clubhead speed. You should be able to pull up a backswing that can unleash all that potential energy in a powerful drive through the ball and then into a full follow through. Many golfers do not appreciate the importance of the follow through because they argue that after the ball has been struck then what does it matter what happens after that.  In fact the follow through is very important, because if you plan for a full follow through you will hit the ball with maximum speed, and as you know, speed equates to distance.

If you don’t try to follow through, you will unconsciously pull back from the shot before you hit the ball. It’s the same principle behind the martial artist that aims to strike a point about four to six inches past the target:  to make sure that they retain full power through the real target.  You do tend to draw back before hitting the target, so have to concentrate not on what you are trying to hit, but on where you want your swing to end up – behind your head!  Concentrate on the follow through and your swing speed will increase, and so will your distance, try it and find out for yourself.

However, to get maximum swing speed you have to be fit and flexible. If you are flexible enough to wind up your backswing like a coiled spring, then you will be able to let it go with all the potential power it contains.  To do that you should train to improve your flexibility for golf.  Your golf swing is a rotational movement, so you have to use rotational exercises to improve your flexibility.  That involves loosening the joints and strengthening the muscles used in your drive. You can’t do that lifting weights in a gym.

Stretching exercises can be as simple as touching your toes and loosening up your back muscles and as complex as twisting from side to side with a weight in your hands, such as a dumbbell or medicine ball.  Even a heavy rock or brick will do. That will improve your rotational muscles and allow you to twist round faster and farther.  A club round your shoulders, with both arms resting on it, is good for twisting exercises from side to side.  These improve the flexibility of your back and hip joints and muscles, and also of your shoulders.  Just as good are a few twists with your arms extended.

Rotational strength can be worked on by trying a few swings with a weight in your hands.  If you try to drive against a resistance, such as using a weight as a club – even a weighted club if your finances can run to one – you will quickly build up strength in all the muscles used in your swing.  There are around 14 groups of muscles altogether.  Imagine how long it would take to exercise and strengthen each of these individually!  The only way to work on them all at once is to swing!  Swing with a weighted club, a dumbbell, a piece of lead piping if you want, but anything heavier than your golf club, and your rotational strength will improve.

None of these exercises involves expensive training aids, and can be used by anybody to improve their golf strength and flexibility.  It is strength and flexibility as they are needed in golf that will enable you to improve your swing speed.  And as you now know, the faster you can drive, the farther you can drive.