Pro Tip #10

PGA Pro Tips: Widen The Arc of Your Golf Swing to Add 25 Yards to Your Drives

Driving the golf ball farther is largely a function of maximizing swing speed through impact. One of the most effective ways to add 25 yards or more to your drives is to focus on a wider swing rather than a taller swing.

The Ceiling-to-Floor “V” Golf Swing

Imagine swinging your driver in a room of your house. Most golfers waste club head speed with a golf swing that is too vertical – that is, their swing is focused on going from the floor to the ceiling to the floor again. The vertical golf swing is narrow and very up-and-down, and its shape resembles a "V."

Because the club head cannot go through the ball into the floor, the vertical golf swing has to shed swing speed on the downswing, either through a cast from the top or through an early release. That means the club head is already losing velocity by the time it impacts the ball. That will cost you distance.

The Wall-to-Wall “U” Golf Swing

Contrast vertical golf swings with wide golf swings. With a wider golf swing the golfer feels like they are trying to reach the walls of the room rather than the ceiling and floor.

A wide swing from wall-to-wall creates a "U" shaped rather than a "V" shape. The U shape allows the club to accelerate through the ball all the way to the target, maximizing swing speed through the ball and therefore increasing distance. It also helps increase shoulder turn to maximize power from the core.

Address the Fundamental Issue: Swing to the Target, Not the Ball

More fundamentally, however, the wall-to-wall swing can help the golfer change the focus of the swing from hitting the ball to swinging to the target. It is far more effective to make a swing change by addressing the fundamental underlying cause than it is to treat the symptoms.

A Wider Golf Swing Means More Distance

Widening your swing arc can improve your driving distance 25 to 50 yards. Thinking "wall-to-wall" rather than "ceiling-to-floor" will produce a "U" shaped golf swing that will increase swing speed through the ball and simultaneously address many common swing flaws. When done in tandem with an efficient, leveraged pivot, the result will be effortless power and consistently longer drives.

 

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