Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
If you want to hit longer drives, understanding HOW power is created is crucial. If you don’t understand the “how”, you will never be able to efficiently execute a powerful swing.
This is something I learned through my speed training journey. I’ve had to not only train my body to swing faster, but also train my mind to figure out how to do it efficiently.
It’s so much fun when you have one of those lightbulb moments. Suddenly, your speed will jump several notches on the radar – all while experiencing a new swing sensation.
Such oscillating sensation is explained below, courtesy GOLF Top 100 Teachers Josh Zander.
Understand this to more power
Faster movement is not simply a product of faster body movement. It is also a result of how quickly you can slow down. It sounds confusing at first, but in practice, it starts to make more sense.
“The most powerful hitters in golf are the ones who are the best decelerators,” says Zander. “They’re the ones who can take their lead, push into the ground hard enough to use it as a brake to get the club through.”
Think of it like ripping a towel. When you do this, move the towel head towards the target, then stop it as quickly as you can by pulling back to the front. When you do it correctly, the tip of the towel goes through with tremendous force, creating that satisfying POP! sound.
“The front of the towel is the brake I’m talking about,” Zander says.
The same principle applies to the golf swing. In order to get the force from your body to the clubhead, you need to brake. This will send the force to the clubhead, snapping at full force as the clubhead hits the ball.
A great drill to get a feel for this is one that legendary LPGA pro Mickey Wright used.
“She liked to do a drill where she would do a full back and then a partial extension,” says Zander. “With all that power coming, to be able to stop it right there meant they had to be a brake on the main leg.”
If you’re trying to learn how to generate more speed, try this workout. It will teach you how to properly hit the brakes on your golf swing and send all that force into the clubhead to send long drives down the fairway.
TheStack + Stack radar package
Save over 15% when you combine TheStack + Stack Radar with our most popular bundle. Enjoy personalized speed training with TheStack, gamified wedge practice with Stack Wedging, tournament-caliber knowledge with Stack Putting, and 60+ instructional videos in the Learning Library – along with our Bluetooth-enabled Stack Radar, which sends your speed data directly to TheStack app for seamless training, Stack Radar is a great package to unleash multiple speeds. training with TheStack, Stack Wedge practice on the range or indoors and measuring your speeds on the course. TheStack App – Speed ​​Training, Wedging and Putting Rated 4.9 with over 5,500+ reviews on the App Store Includes 1-year membership to TheStack Now app on iOS, Android (Beta) and Chrome Web (Beta) Adaptive speed training formulated by Dr. your earnings Bluetooth connectivity with integrated devices. Hands-free data entry using voice input technology for non-embedded devices Membership includes group access to Stack Putting (iOS), Stack Wedging (iOS) and the Learning Library (All platforms) Train and track up to twenty local (ie family) users under one login. The app works with Family Sharing so the whole family can easily train on separate devices Connect with any other Stacker using share codes Are you a trainer? Learn about our trainer license. For youth sizing, see Adjusting the drill for youth requires a velocity device that can measure swings without ball contact. This package includes our Radar Stack. See all compatible devices here. Radar Radar measures swing speed and ball speed. Calculates an estimated carry distance and shock factor. I can capture swing speed without contact with the ball Powers Stack Wedging (iOS), our newest gamified practice feature. Enjoy serious fun wedge practice indoors or outdoors and get accurate feedback regardless of the ball quality of the range or the conditions of the practice environment. Pairs with TheStack app via Bluetooth to enable advanced features. Adjust temperature and elevation while fine-tuning ball speed and launch angle for the most accurate feedback Set the speed trigger threshold at 25, 35, 45 or 55 mph to avoid false starts from quick backswings Includes a stylish carrying case to protect the screen when stored (available exclusively for purchases from our website: Access the Avasrri app in your app Availtail application). Requires iOS 15.0 or later. Access to speed, connectivity, deployment and learning library. Android and Web (Beta): Install TheStack app from the Google Play Store or access it on the Chrome web page when the order arrives. Access to the Speed ​​+ Learning Library today; Wedging + Putting is coming in a future update. See our FAQ pages for questions about membership access.
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