Every golfer wants to be great, and in order to be a better player, the first thing a new player must focus on is learning how to gain more distance without swinging faster. Increasing your distance will make the game much easier and will also impress your buddies. Really, there’s nothing more rewarding than heading up to the tee box and knowing that you’re going to launch your ball clear down the middle of the fairway.
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Building Confidence and Increasing Distance
Learning how to drive the ball long and straight is an important skill that every player will need to develop.
This is a game that’s all about confidence and nothing will build your confidence faster than hitting a ball straight and long down the middle of the fairway. So what are the key elements to a longer drive without increasing speed?
Using the best golf ball, make sure that the equator of the ball is directly in line with the top of the clubface when you’re setting up. The goal here when you’re using a driver is to hit up on the ball. When you tee the ball at the site it encourages upward strikes.
Many beginners will start by putting the golf ball too close to the middle of the stance just like they normally would when preparing to hit an iron shot. Issues can occur when the ball is positioned too close to the center of a stance. Additionally, how the player has their shoulders positioned at address can change the path of the club.
Beginners tend to use an improper setup that involves placing the ball too close to the center, causing them to strike down on the ball which is the exact opposite of what you want. Downward strikes using a driver will put more spin on the ball which can result in a ball traveling a short distance yet it will go very high.
You must strike up on the ball in order to maximize distance. Placing the ball on the inside of your foot to putt will ensure that the clubhead bottoms out early in the swing, which allows the player to hit the ball on the upswing.
What Influences Distance?
Many golfers believe that speed has a direct correlation to a player’s potential distance off the tee. In order to increase distance, you’ll want to increase the clubhead speed. However, this is not always the case. Boosting clubhead speed isn’t always the most effective and fastest way to increase distance. As an example, if a player has a 25-yard slice using their driver, increasing their speed only increases their slice. There are a few important elements that must be addressed before you learn how to train for speed. These elements can increase your distance without increasing clubhead speed.
Center
If you don’t want to increase your speed but you want to increase your distance, then the easiest way is striking a ball closer to the center of clubface.
As an example, if there’s a low handicapper that has an average drive of around 200 yards considering his handicap, this golfer will be more likely to strike a variety of shots away from the center of the clubface which will result in immediate distance loss.
Just an inch off center can translate into a 12% distance loss.
Learning how to hit the ball in the center of the clubface consistently can allow you to gain around 20 yards immediately off the tee by changing this simple element.
The Proper Setup
Swinging in balance will be the key here and the easiest way to consistently hit the ball in the center of the clubface.
- You can begin practicing this by focusing on proper driver setup and placing your feet shoulder-width apart and using some practice swings to focus on completing your swing and finishing using a balance to follow through. Learning how to change your golf swing isn’t easy but with consistent practice, you can correct any off-centered shots that are a direct result of a loss of posture.
- The most efficient way you can hit a ball is by using a positive attack angle at impact and more loft. Basically, you’ll have to use more of an effort strike on the ball to maximize distance with your driver.
- Using a square clubface upon impact will also be crucial. When using an open clubface at impact, it can cause a slice which is the most common issue beginners have.
- Make sure that your hands are placed in a powerful position on the club in order to control your clubface. A strong grip should always be used over a weaker grip. Using a stronger grip will encourage the right release of the clubface and can increase your distance. In order to put your left hand in a powerful position, make sure that you’re able to see three knuckles on that hand at address.
- As I mentioned earlier, make sure that at least a couple of your knuckles on your glove hand are visible at address, and the lines that are created by the forefinger and thumb remain parallel and point to your right shoulder.
Using the Right Driver
When you have a solid driver in your arsenal, you can do so much for your distance. Many golfers are surprised to learn how much distance they can gain or lose by the combination of the driver head and the shaft they choose. Many beginners will purchase a driver off the rack once they hear a company claiming it can significantly increase their distance. Instead of rushing out and upgrading, I recommend getting a custom fit by a club fitter who knows what they’re doing.
The combination of the right shaft and driver head is crucial. Many experienced golfers know that a club with a lower loft will increase distance. But for some players, it can actually decrease their distance. Each club will have unique characteristics, mainly where the center of gravity is. Toss profile, flex, and shaft weight into the mix and there are endless combinations.
Essentially, your driver can be preventing you from hitting farther because it’s not the right club for you. Finding a knowledgeable club fitter can be the easiest thing to fix your distance problem.
Many stock shafts found on drivers are 46 inches long. This is significantly longer than what you’ll find the pros using.
Over the last several years, many companies have been producing clubs with longer shafts. The manufacturers claim that a longer shaft will give golfers more distance, but there’s a major flaw to this logic. A longer shaft allows the golfer to swing faster which can definitely add some distance. However, the problem with beginners and even seasoned players, is that it can make it more challenging to find the clubface’s center.
So, while the golfer may be swinging the club faster, their distance and ball speed will decrease since they’re striking it over the face of the club. Switching to a shorter shaft can allow you to gain more distance without having to swing faster.
Don’t Worry About Upgrading Your Clubs Too Often
Many of the leading golf equipment companies have been criticized for releasing new products too frequently. Frequent releases often force golfers to upgrade their clubs and other gear once a year in order to remain current with golf technology. While advancements to golf technology are always being made, the reality is that a good golf swing using the proper technique is what can help you improve your distance much faster than buying new equipment. While that’s not to say that you don’t need to purchase a new set of clubs from time to time or upgrade your driver or hybrids, you don’t need to upgrade every time a new model is released. This is a mistake that many beginners make. These newbies believe that by upgrading their clubs they can see a significant improvement in their performance. While in some cases this is true, focusing on proper swing mechanics as opposed to rushing out and buying a new club every year, is one of the best golf distance control tips you will ever hear.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to gain more distance without swinging faster is all about using the proper mechanics at address, and ensuring you have a club that’s the right length for you. This will allow you to easily find the center of the clubface, which can add some serious distance to your swing, without having to struggle to increase your swing speed. If you’re not sure what type of club is right for you, meet with a professional club fitter for recommendations on shaft length and a club design that will vibe well with your swinging style.
