One easy adjustment to hit your driver longer – maybe a lot longer

[PHOTOS: James Farrell]

I see two common issues when amateurs try to hit the ball further with the driver, and both have to do with the length of the backswing.

In one camp are golfers who are trying to restrict the movement of the hips as they take the club back. It’s the old “X-factor” move where golfers are attempting to generate power by coiling the upper body against a stable lower body. The problem is, most people don’t have tour-pro flexibility and end up with a short-and-tight backswing [above] – and that doesn’t set up much power coming down.

In the other camp are golfers who are trying to lengthen their backswings to generate more energy. That makes sense, because a longer swing provides more time to pick up clubhead speed on the downswing. However, the mistake is to keep swinging back with the arms and hands after the body stops rotating. This runoff often leads to poor contact, which negates any speed the longer motion might produce.

I’m all for a longer backswing provided you can make a bigger turn of your body as well, not just extra swinging of the arms and hands. To help you get that increased range of motion, I suggest you let the heel of your lead foot come off the ground as you stretch towards the top of the backswing [below]. When you do this, it frees up the core and hips to make a better turn. It also promotes better use of the ground, as the trail leg in turn stabilises the rotation, like a post, so you have more leverage to swing through.

Done correctly, letting the lead knee move inward towards the ball [above] will help you lengthen your backswing without your hands and arms disconnecting from your turn. It’ll set up a more powerful move down to the ball. I wouldn’t be surprised if you pick up 10 to 20 yards on your drives.

Jason Birnbaum is one of Golf Digest‘s Best Teachers in New York. He is director of instruction at Manhattan Woods Golf Club in West Nyack.