You’ll pick up plenty of metres by improving your timing.
As drivers have become bigger, lighter and more forgiving – thank you, manufacturers! – you probably have picked up some distance without doing anything to your swing. However, I know distance gains are addictive, so now you might be tempted to go at the ball harder than ever. That’s fine, but don’t make the mistake of adding speed to your driver swing in the wrong place. I’ll explain.
Many amateurs sacrifice distance by thinking they need to swing down hard into the ball at the start of the downswing. This notion typically leads to the driver slowing down as it meets the ball. There’s no snap-like action through impact. What you want to do is think about having the club moving its fastest at the ball or even after it. Think of it like you’re sneaking up on the ball. Your driver should initially start down on a slower, unhurried pace with a feeling that your arms are simply falling. As the club nears the ball, that’s when you step on the pedal – literally pushing into the ground to get that acceleration in the right place.
Practise this move without a ball. If you do it right, you’ll be in a fully unwound position when you’re done. Then try to re-create that wraparound finish when it’s time to hit the ball. That’s how you gain clubhead speed without swinging harder. – Jason Guss, Golf Digest Best in State Teacher, Naperville Country Club, Illinois
