Power In Your Golf Swing

How to Develop More Power in Your

Golf Swing





How can you develop more power in your golf swing? This is probably a question that

all of us want an answer to. Most of us go to great lengths to do whatever it takes to get

that power into our drives off the tee. I think we probably all have some ideas of where

300-yard drives come from, but I want to give you the answers without any fluff.



Golf swing power is the result of three specific factors. Two out of the three are much

more important, but the third does have a bearing on the outcome of how far you hit that

ball.



The first and probably most evident of the three is your swing mechanics. I bet you are

not surprised by this one.



The second one is probably the least recognized of the three, but for many is the key to

longer drives and the category that is given the least amount of attention. Number two is

what we term golf strength. This is defined as how well your body is conditioned (i.e.

fitness) to swing a golf club with maximum power. Probably the least understood of the

three, and maybe the most needed by golfers in general. We will talk more about this

later. Let us move on to number three in regards to power for your drives.



Number three is your equipment. Yes, equipment does make a difference in how far you

drive the ball. The equipment manufacturers have let this fact be known, and I bet we all

have gone to the pro shop probably more than twice to pick up a new driver that claims

to give us another 20 yards on every drive. That extra 20 yards might not be down the

middle of the fairway, but it will give you an extra 20 yards could be left, could be right,

or could be in the center of the fairway. That all depends on points one and two of this

article. Equipment and technological advances have definitely lengthened the distance of

our drives. But without better swing mechanics and your body in better golf shape, new

technology will not help your game. A bad swing will produce a bad result, regardless

of what type of new driver you may have just purchased.



Swing Mechanics



I think all of us are aware of how important the mechanics of a swing are when it comes

to driving the ball down the fairway. It is essential, if you are over the top with your

swing or come inside too much, youll see that dreaded slice or snap hook. The drives

will be short, too low, too high, left, right, or a combination of these if you are putting

bad swings on the ball.



It is essential for a golfer to work on the mechanics of their swing, week in and week

out, to improve their game. If it werent important why would all these tour players have

swing coaches that work with them on a consistent basis? The golf swing is such a finite,

mechanically complex movement, that requires constant work to keep it highly efficient

and in check.



One of the most common mistakes I see amateurs make is probably a lack of instruction.

I see amateurs over and over at the driving ranges, week in and week out, pounding balls

without any improvement. This, I feel, is a result of one of two things: 1) a lack of

instruction or 2) low levels of golf strength. A lack of instruction leads to the

development and ingraining of improper swing mechanics. This only results in slices,

hooks, topping the ball, and hitting it fat on the course. And we all know that those types

of swings lead to frustration and bad rounds of golf. I would suggest to most anyone to

find a good instructor and take lessons on a consistent basis. This can only help your

game in the long run. Now moving on the second point of how to achieve powerful

drives and that is golf strength.



Golf Strength (Golf Fitness)



Golf strength is a term we use to describe the golf fitness level of an individual

pertaining to swinging a club. This is much different than how much you can bench press

or squat, which I like to refer to as weight room strength. Understand that these two

terms, golf strength and weight room strength, are very different. If you do not quite

understand the difference, ask yourself one question: How many bodybuilders do you see

teeing it up on Tour? The answer to that question is quite obvious, none!



It comes down to this idea: the mechanics of a golf swing require specific levels of

flexibility, balance, stability, strength, endurance, and power to perform it efficiently. If

your body does not have the required capacities of the aforementioned list, then the

result will be? Anyone want to guess? Well, let me give you the answer: a less than

optimal and less efficient swing than possible. Essentially, your body supports your

swing much like a foundation supports the house you build upon it. I am sure that all of

you would choose to build a house on a stone foundation rather than a sand foundation,

wouldnt you? I will say that many of you make a different choice when it comes to your

golf swing. I quite often see amateurs developing their swing on a foundation of sand, not

a good thing to do in my book.



Regardless of how much time you work on your swing mechanics, if your body does not

have the golf strength to support your swing, you are limiting your potential. I have seen

it numerous times, people practicing at the range who struggle, not because of trying to

get better, but because their bodies are limiting what they can do with their swing. Quite

often I see people with limited flexibility, poor balance capabilities, and low levels of

strength and power. The bottom line is that your mechanics will not get better until you

fix the body that swings the club!



Up to this point we have discussed the two most important ideas when it comes to power

on the golf course. A review of the topics tells us that they are optimal swing mechanics

and the proper levels of golf strength in the body. One without the other is going to leave

you short when it comes to your potential in the game.



Again, I probably see point number two, golf strength, being addressed less often than

swing mechanics when you get right down to it. The pros are all aware of the importance

of golf strength, why not you?



Equipment



We have come to the final point, and that is equipment. I think the majority of golfers are

aware of the technological advances that have occurred in golf equipment over the last

20 years. I mean, think about the 80s when we were still playing with woods that

actually had wood club heads! Imagine that for a moment, and now we are using drivers

with space age faces that shoot the ball off of them at warp speed. In addition, we have

to mention the advances in terms of golf balls. How manufacturers design golf balls

today makes a difference in how far they travel. What a lot of people do not realize is

that the USGA has set standards on how hot driver faces can be and how fast balls can

come off the face of drivers. Most clubs are reaching this limit, and anything past these

USGA rules becomes illegal to play. So what does that tell us? 1) Club manufacturers

have done a great, and I mean great, job in the advancement of technology, and 2) to

increase the distance on your drives you are now going to have to turn to points one and

two of this article.



So what does improving your power really come down to?



It comes down to three simple ideas. Number one is improving your golf swing

mechanics. Improved mechanics will improve your driving distance. Number two is

improving your golf strength. By improving your body as it pertains to the golf swing you

will improve your distance off the tee. Finally, equipment does make a difference, if you

hit the ball correctly. Best of luck with your game, and if you need additional information

stop by our web site www.bioforcegolf.com

About the author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today.

He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has

made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques

available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To reach Sean you

can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com or call 503-644-5500.