| Whack! The feeling of a great drive, the sweet | | | | the result of a combination of factors including; |
| feel as the ball jumps off the clubface and | | | | untrained muscles, poor technique, and lack of |
| rockets down the middle of the fairway-- it's one | | | | physical fitness, a multi-pronged approach is |
| of the best parts about playing golf, and one of | | | | required to get to the goal fast! To accelerate |
| the reasons that we keep coming back for more | | | | your progress, you can use golf training aids to |
| punishment. If only it would happen more often! | | | | train and strengthen your golf-specific muscles, to |
| Ah, to see the green envy in your opponents' | | | | correct poor technique, and to improve your |
| eyes when your ball blasts by theirs. | | | | overall fitness. A variety of training aids exist to |
| Unfortunately, the average male golfer's swing | | | | help with this. Here's a 3-step plan for increasing |
| speed is around 85 mph. With a USGA conforming | | | | your swing speed as fast as possible: |
| driver, this equates to drives of about 225 yards, | | | | 1. Make sure that your grip, swing path, and swing |
| an embarrassing 83 yards shorter than Tiger | | | | plane are correct. It will do no good to increase |
| Woods' average drive, and even 35 yards shorter | | | | your swing speed if technical flaws in your swing |
| than Cory Pavin, who is the shortest driver on | | | | prevent you from hitting the ball straight. I |
| the PGA Tour. So most of us go to the course | | | | suggest using a single training aid for both grip and |
| with an inferiority complex already deeply | | | | swing plane (many exist with this combination) |
| ingrained from watching Tour broadcasts which | | | | and another training aid for swing path. For |
| constantly and blatantly rub our faces in the fact | | | | example, a hinged club with a molded grip is |
| that the pros outdrive us by a country mile. No | | | | perfect for grip and swing path, while a foam |
| wonder most amateurs can't relax over the ball | | | | obstacle training aid will work well for keeping your |
| and tend to over swing. How could the average | | | | swing path on track. Practice with these training |
| guy hope to hit the ball that far? | | | | aids for at least 2 weeks before moving on to |
| Well, the good news is -- it's possible for you to | | | | step 2. |
| hit long drives! To hit like the pros, all you have to | | | | 2. Get some type of weighted club. Weighted |
| do is swing as fast as they do, while at the same | | | | clubs are perfect for training the golf specific |
| time maintaining your balance. If it sounds like it is | | | | muscles to have the strength and explosive |
| easier said than done, just think about this: As | | | | power that you need to produce higher swing |
| mentioned before, Corey Pavin, the shortest | | | | speeds. In addition, training with a weighted club |
| hitter on the PGA Tour, averages just under 270 | | | | can increase your core stability and balance if |
| yards per drive. He is 5' 9" tall and weighs 155 | | | | done properly. Be very careful not to over swing |
| pounds. Now, the average male is 5' 9" tall and | | | | with a weighted club since you can injure yourself! |
| weighs 190 pounds. If Corey Pavin can average | | | | Stretch out and warm up thoroughly before you |
| 270, then you can hit it just as long or longer! | | | | even start swinging the heavy club. I suggest |
| Let's set a goal of out driving Corey Pavin, so we | | | | using this training aid at least 3 days a week, but |
| can tell ourselves honestly that we can drive the | | | | not more than 5. It's important to let your |
| ball as far as someone on the Tour. To figure out | | | | muscles rest a bit each week. |
| how to do this, let's start with the average swing | | | | 3. Get a golf fitness book to augment your |
| speed of 85 mph and average distance of 225 | | | | regular training program. Overall physical fitness is |
| yards. Now, physics tells us that we get | | | | just as critical to your golf game as golf-specific |
| approximately 3 extra yards per additional mile | | | | training. Work out 3 times a week and don't |
| per hour of swing speed. So, if we want to go | | | | forget your cardio to reduce fatigue at the end |
| from 225 to 270 to beat Corey Pavin, that | | | | of your round! |
| means we need 45 extra yards, which equates | | | | If you take these three steps I think you will see |
| to adding 15 mph to the swing speed. | | | | a great improvement in your driving distance |
| How can you use golf training aids to add that | | | | within 2 months, if not sooner. Good luck and I |
| extra 15 mph? Since low swing speed is usually | | | | hope to see you on the par fives in two! |