Players like the idea of keeping the arms close to the body during the swing. This might work for a putt or a short, delicate putt around the green, but it’s not so good when you want to generate as much power as possible.
Try this: Take your usual driver setup and swing the club halfway. Leave it with your trailing hand and reach out and grab the shaft. If this is too easy for you to do, then you need more width.
Set up again and this time focus on creating more extension with your arms and club. Again, stop halfway back and reach toward the shaft with your trailing hand. If this requires more “achievement” or effort, you’re officially in the speed-making business.
Make this concept of extension a part of your backswing on your real putts, and when your arms come back in front of your body at impact, the ball won’t know what hit it.
Bernie Najar is one GOLF Top 100 Teachers and is director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md.
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