| "body"> | | | | opposite of what you want to do. Fred Couples' |
| Players taking my golf lessons often confuse | | | | transition is nearly flawless. He shifts his weight to |
| length off the tee with muscle power. They're not | | | | his left side and tucks his right elbow in at the |
| the same. While you may never drive the ball as | | | | right side, all while maintaining the right angle |
| far as John Daly, quite possibly the Tour's longest | | | | between his wrists and the club, which generates |
| driver, you can generate additional power off the | | | | power. |
| tee--and improve your golf handicap --by | | | | Maintaining a straight left arm is also critical during |
| developing a sounder technique. | | | | the transition, as most golf instruction points out. |
| Here are 7 keys to a great drive:o Widen your | | | | A straight left enables the clubhead to be |
| stance for stabilityo Point your left toe slightly | | | | returned to the ball squarely and at the right |
| toward target (for right-handers)o Hover the | | | | attack angle. This move re-establishes the swing |
| clubhead above the ballo Don't rush the back | | | | radius, keeping it wide and power laden. Curtis |
| swingo Hit hard with your right hando Take | | | | Strange provides a good example of someone |
| advantage of playing elements. | | | | who makes the transition well. Even though his |
| If you've read my golf tips, you know I often | | | | left elbow is bent during the backswing, he |
| mention improving your technique. That's because | | | | straightens his left arm in the downswing, |
| good technique promotes good shots, whether | | | | re-establishing the radius of his swing and |
| you're driving, pitching, chipping, putting, or just | | | | generating power at impact. |
| hitting an iron. And good technique starts with | | | | The position at impact is something that |
| your address. | | | | distinguishes all great drivers. Whether they have |
| Once you've selected a target and determined | | | | a herky-jerky swing or a smooth big-hitting one, |
| the ball's flight path, take an address position | | | | their swings are identical at impact. The image to |
| designed to generate power. Widen your stance | | | | keep in mind at this point is that of swinging |
| slightly, which improves stability and provides a | | | | through the ball, not to it. Another key is hitting |
| solid base from which to swing for power, and | | | | hard with your right hand. As Henry Cotton said, |
| place about 60 percent of your weight on your | | | | "it's not possible to hit too hard with your right |
| left side (for right-handers), promoting a good | | | | hand as long as the left had works in unison." |
| power coil. | | | | In addition to improving your technique, taking |
| Greg Norman does two additional things to | | | | advantage of the playing elements helps generate |
| generate more power: (1) he points his left toe | | | | more distance. Those elements include the wind. |
| toward the hole slightly, encouraging his left side | | | | Use a following wind to add extra distance to |
| to clear out of the way more easily through | | | | your drive. Also, teeing the ball higher than normal |
| impact; and (2) he hovers the club above the | | | | generates higher ball flight, with more carry |
| ground, promoting a smooth one-piece takeaway. | | | | through the air, so that you can get more |
| The takeaway produces a wide arc and builds | | | | distance. |
| rhythm, as I've written in my golf tips, both of | | | | Playing into a headwind, on the other hand, kills |
| which are required to generate additional power. | | | | power. In this situation, you want a shot with a |
| At the top of the backswing, your shoulders | | | | more penetrating trajectory, but be careful not to |
| must turn a full 90 degrees, and you should end | | | | swing down on the ball, as we said previously. |
| up with your back pointing at the target. Lifting | | | | Doing so creates excessive backswing, which has |
| your chin away from your chest encourages the | | | | the effect of putting backspin on the ball, making |
| shoulder turn. John Daly drives the ball great | | | | it climb higher. (However, teeing the ball lower also |
| distances. Many players ask about him during their | | | | has a tendency to make you swing on a more |
| golf lessons, wanting to know his secret. In | | | | upright plane, creating a fade. Bear that in mind.) |
| addition to sound technique, Daly takes a massive | | | | Whether you're taking advantage of the wind or |
| shoulder turn and maintains a wide swing arc, yet | | | | working on your technique, try to maintain your |
| he's never out of sync. He always has rhythm | | | | rhythm and tempo. Swing about 75-80 percent, |
| and tempo throughout the swing. | | | | allowing the club to do the work. |
| Once you've completed the backswing, you start | | | | Once you've mastered these suggestions, you will |
| the downswing phase. This transition is critical. If | | | | see some well-deserved distance improvements |
| you rush it, you narrow and cramp your swing | | | | and can start taking serious aim at lowering your |
| arc. You also create a tendency to swing straight | | | | golf handicap. |
| down on the ball, sapping your power--the | | | | |