10 tips for extra distance
We asked 10 very different golfers to give us their secret tips to gaining extra length off the tee, and here’s what they said.
1 - Tee up the ball higher
Jean Hugo (seven-time Sunshine Tour winner)
By teeing it up higher, you are looking to get a better launch angle, which ultimately leads to greater carry and roll, and therefore more distance. It will also encourage you to hit the ball on the ‘up’ part of the swing, which will produce less backspin – ideal for getting more distance. In the Highveld’s thin air or in the wet Cape winters, greater carry is key to greater distance.
2 - Turn the top half of the body against the bottom half
Simon Hobday (US Senior Open winner)
By turning the shoulders against the hips, you are generating torque which, when released, creates clubhead speed. The shoulders will turn somewhere near 90 degrees against the 45 degrees of the hips, creating energy – much like when you release a stretched elastic band.
3 - Create a wider arc on your backswing
Ryan Cairns (Sunshine Tour player)
Taking the club away in a wider arc generates greater clubhead speed than normal as the club is further away from the centre of the swing and benefits from the stronger centrifugal force. For a visual image, imagine a spinning tyre, where the centre spins much slower than the outside.
4 - Widen your stance
MornÉ Zurnamer (World Long Drive Championship finalist)
By widening your stance just a little bit, you are giving yourself greater stability and therefore better balance, allowing you to swing harder at the ball with a longer backswing than usual.
5 - Look for your clubhead out of your left eye
Seve Ballesteros (Five-time Major winner and former world No 1)
Seve is referring to a very complete backswing, where you wait until you see the club out of the corner of your eye before starting the downswing. While it may be physically impossible for some golfers, what it does teach you is to make a full turn, which will create more speed into the ball from a longer backswing.
6 - Take the club back as slowly as possible
Bobby Cole (Two-time SA Open winner)
What the pro says: The slow backswing helps to create good rhythm, which leads to better timing of the golf ball. Many players tense up when trying to hit an extra-long drive, but by being more relaxed you can release the club easier and therefore hit it further.
7 - Release your hands through the shot
Teddy Webber (Two-time SA Amateur champion and golf pro at Atlantic Beach)
By releasing your hands through impact, the lever of the cocked wrist is released, and this movement helps to generate more clubhead speed. It also helps to promote a draw (right to left) shape, which is often a more penetrating flight with more roll.
8 - Keep your hands in front of the ball
JB Holmes (Two-time US Tour winner and renowned long hitter)
By keeping your hands ahead of the ball you encourage the late release of the wrists, which will promote greater clubhead speed, while also de-lofting the clubhead slightly for a more penetrating, lower launch with less backspin.
9 - Swing Harder
Dale Hayes (European Tour Order of Merit winner)
He might be stating the obvious, but what Dale means is that you need to complete your swing. A nice full, balanced finish means you have done everything else right and have maintained good balance and posture.
10 - Fire the hips
Jeff Clause (2006 International PGA Pro of the Year and director of golf at St Francis Links)
By ‘firing’ or turning the hips towards the targetline, you are helping to lead the downswing with your hips, pulling the club down and through the ball, releasing the torque built up in the backswing.
Nigel Herd is a PGA professional at Steenberg Golf Club and has been a member of the PGA for five years, having previously been based at Fancourt. For advice or lessons,.
Contact Nigel on 074 197 4303 or e-mail him at nigelherd@hotmail.com.
