Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
If you want to take longer rides, please understand How power is created is crucial. If you don’t understand the “how,” you will never be able to execute a powerful swing efficiently.
This is something I learned during my own speed training. Not only have I had to train my body to swing faster, but I also have to train my mind to understand how to do it efficiently.
It’s kind of fun when you have one of those light bulb moments. Suddenly your speed will jump a few ticks on the radar – all by trying a new swing feel.
One such swing feel is explained below, courtesy of GOLF Top 100 teacher Josh Zander.
Understand this for more power
Swinging faster is not just a result of moving your body faster. It’s also a result of how quickly you can slow down. At first it sounds confusing, but in practice it starts to make more sense.
“The most powerful hitters in golf are the ones who are the best slowers,” Zander says. “They are the ones who can take the lead and push into the ground so hard that they use it as a brake so the club can fly by.”
Think of it like breaking a towel. When you do this, tap the towel head towards the target and stop the towel as quickly as possible by pulling the front back. If you do it right, the tip of the towel will rush by with tremendous force, which is a satisfying feeling POP! sound.
“The front of the towel is the brake I’m talking about,” says Zander.
The same principle applies to the golf swing. To get the power from your body to the club head, you have to hit the brakes. This sends the power to the club head and snaps with full force, exactly as the club head hits the ball.
A great drill to feel, this is one that legendary LPGA pro Mickey Wright used.
“She enjoyed doing a drill where she did a full backswing and then a partial follow-through,” says Zander. “Because all that power was coming through, it meant they had to be a brake in the lead leg to be able to stop it there.”
If you’re trying to learn how to generate more speed, try this exercise. It teaches you how to properly apply the brakes during your golf swing and send all that power to the club head to send long drives down the fairway.
TheStack + Stack Radar Bundle
Save over 15% when you combine TheStack + Stack Radar with our most popular bundle. Enjoy personalized speed training with TheStack, gamified wedge drills with Stack Wedging, Tour-caliber insights with Stack Putting, and over 60 instructional videos in the Learning Library – along with our Bluetooth-enabled Stack Radar, which sends your speed data directly to the TheStack app for seamless training. Stack Radar is a great multi-function launch monitor that fits easily in your golf bag, making it perfect for speed training with TheStack, Stack Wedge drills on the course or indoors, and measuring your speeds on the course. TheStack App – Speed Training, Wedging and Putting Rated 4.9 with over 5,500 reviews in the App Store Includes 1 year membership of TheStack App now on iOS, Android (beta) and Chrome Web (beta) Adaptive speed training formulated by Dr. Sasho MacKenzie Guided training timer for reps, sets and rest intervals Custom speed data to track your gains Bluetooth connectivity with integration devices. Hands-free data entry using voice input technology for non-integrated devices. Membership includes bundled access to Stack Putting (iOS), Stack Wedging (iOS), and the Learning Library (all platforms). Train and track up to twenty local (i.e. family) users under one login. The app works with Family Sharing, so the whole family can easily train on separate devices. Connect to any other Stacker using Share Codes. Are you a coach? Learn more about our Coaches license TheStack Hardware 5 milled stacking weights allow 30 weight combinations between 0g and 300g Dual-sided weight case / phone stand Precision designed training club – adult (41.5″). For Junior sizing, see Adjusting Juniors. Stacking training requires a speed device that can measure swings without ball contact. This bundle includes our very own Stack Radar. View all compatible devices here. Stack Radar measures swing speed and ball speed. Calculates an estimated transport distance and smash factor. Can record swing speed without ball contact Powers Stack Wedging (iOS), our newest gamified practice feature. Enjoy Seriously Fun wedge drills indoors or outdoors and get accurate feedback regardless of the quality of the distance ball or the practice environment. Pairs with TheStack App via Bluetooth to enable advanced features. Adjust temperature and altitude while fine-tuning ball speed and launch angle for the most accurate feedback. Set the speed trigger threshold to 40, 55, 45 or 55 km/h to avoid false triggers from fast backswings. Includes a stylized carrying case to protect the screen during storage (available exclusively for purchases through our website) Platform Availability iOS: Access the TheStack app from the App Store when your order arrives. Requires iOS 15.0 or newer. Access to speed, wedges, putting and the learning library. Android and Web (Beta): Install the TheStack app from the Google Play Store or access it via Chrome Web when your order arrives. Access the Speed + Learning Library today; Wedging + Post in a future update. Please see our FAQ pages for questions regarding membership access.
View Product
#longer #rides #starts #understanding #key #concept