Reaching maximum distance potential

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

The secret of maximizing both distance and direction off the tee is very simple in theory: striking the ball on the sweet spot of the clubface at the maximum club head speed. However, it's hard to accomplish these two in one breath. Normally, to hit the ball in the dead center of the clubface you must decrease the club head speed and to maximize the club head speed you have to give up dead solid contact of the ball in the center of the clubface.

You have to reach a compromise between these two and every golfer faces the dilemma in some form or other: swing faster for more swing speed at the expense of accuracy, or slow the swing for more solid impact at the cost of speed. After all, it's impossible to run after two hares at the same time to catch them all.

To hit the ball as far as your potential distance you need to first know how far to swing the club back so you can swing it at an optimum speed. Without knowing this, or rather without feeling comfortable or confident at the top of the backswing, you are likely to hit the ball shorter than you have potential for.

You cannot hit the ball as far and straight as you are capable of if you feel awkward at the top. An awkward position at the top typically results from swinging back off plane or on an incorrect path.

To learn to swing back on plane and far enough to hit shots as far as your potential, sit on a stool with your driver in hands. Choke down on the grip a few inches, sole the club head as if you do for a normal shot, then swing the club back. That allows you to move the club back naturally on plane. When you can't swing back anymore, that's your optimal backswing length. For a dynamic swing that is also nice and easy to repeat, you need to avoid swinging back any farther in the full swing.

Taking the club back too far causes you to lose your balance, robbing your swing of its power and distance. That also leads to a lack of consistency. It is as if you've overly pulled elastic and torn it apart. Once it's ripped, there is absolutely no way that you can let it go, and thus no way that you can hit the ball with a reflex.

The most critical to achieving maximum potential distance is square body alignment at address. Failure to get aligned correctly leaves you with really very little chance of swinging properly. A poor alignment calls for adjustments during the swing, limiting your ability to hit the ball as far and straight as you are capable of.

Here is a pre-shot routine that can help you not only align your body and club properly, but also make a nice and fluid swing without any superfluous compensating movements during the swing. Ridding your swing of in-swing adjustments means more power and distance, plus consistency.

1. When you pick up a club, never, ever take the distance only into consideration. Examine the whole situation such as ball's lie, wind's direction and pin position.

2. Grip the club properly.

3. Stand behind the ball and select your target.

4. Draw a line from the ball to the selected target.

5. Pick an intermediate target on the target line within your vision.

6. Approach the ball from the left. That encourages a draw. Doing the opposite produces the opposite result.

7. Set the club head behind the ball so its face is square to the intermediate target, then take your stance with your eyes fixed on the target. Position your right foot first, then your left. This is critical to proper shoulder alignment, which needs to be parallel to the target line.

8. Waggle the club a couple of times so you can swing on an in-to-out path through impact. At the early stage of the downswing you need to re-route the club so it returns to the ball on more of an inside path than when you swing it back.

9. Give your target one last look and then turn your eyes to the ball, just before taking the club away from the ball.

Incidentally, a good way to hit the ball far and straight on a consistent basis is to imagine yourself stone-skipping or swinging a baseball bat. Visualizing a familiar motion makes your swing simple and easy to repeat. Not only does that ensure a natural and optimum backswing length, but also facilitate coiling behind the ball on the backswing and staying behind the ball through the shot. Crucially, that helps you swing the club on the correct in-to-out path through the ball, thereby achieving your distance potential.