Club Head Speed Generated From the Hips
Everyone who plays golf wants more distance on their shots.
It is no secret that more distance is accomplished by two basic things: a cleaner strike on the golf ball and greater club head speed.
Hitting a golf ball "cleaner", which is with the club face square to the ball at contact requires proper swing basics.
Generating greater club head speed, which everyone tries to do with every swing, will be the subject of this article.
Most people try to generate more club speed from the wrong places.
Using the hands or wrists to generate that additional "pop" to generate speed just before impact has found to no really add any actual speed, but is apt to throw the club face off line.
Likewise when amateurs try to generate speed from the arms and shoulders it normally just throws the club face off line, eliminating the clean ball strike.
I am sure you have noticed that professional golfers normally don't have excessive activity in the arms and upper body.
Professional golfers understand that power is generated from the core of the body.
This pivoting action from the hips generates the energy outward to the arms, hands and finally to the club head.
When the hips turn quickly and with a full turn, opening fully at ball impact, they are generating maximum power without looking like they're putting much work into the swing.
Here is the way you should make your hips work: 1.
Back swing.
At the top of the back swing, your hips should be at about 45 degrees to the target and the shoulders about 90 degrees.
2.
Downswing.
Begin the down swing with the hips, not the hands.
A lateral move with the lead hip toward the target will start the power needed for the swing, all the while keeping the back facing the target.
3.
The hip turn.
When most of your weight has been transferred to your left side, quickly turn the hips out of the way to allow the arms to proceed through the swing.
The quickness and timing of this hip turn is the power generator.
4.
The finish of the swing.
If your belt buckle ends up facing the target, everything else naturally should follow.
Allow the knees to touch and the hands to finish in a high position.
With this in mind, you can see where power isn't generated by strength, but by centrifugal force.
That is why relatively small, wiry people can hit the ball a great distance.
A final swing key: use your shoulders to pull the hips back in the back swing, but use your hips to pull your shoulders and club through the ball.
It is no secret that more distance is accomplished by two basic things: a cleaner strike on the golf ball and greater club head speed.
Hitting a golf ball "cleaner", which is with the club face square to the ball at contact requires proper swing basics.
Generating greater club head speed, which everyone tries to do with every swing, will be the subject of this article.
Most people try to generate more club speed from the wrong places.
Using the hands or wrists to generate that additional "pop" to generate speed just before impact has found to no really add any actual speed, but is apt to throw the club face off line.
Likewise when amateurs try to generate speed from the arms and shoulders it normally just throws the club face off line, eliminating the clean ball strike.
I am sure you have noticed that professional golfers normally don't have excessive activity in the arms and upper body.
Professional golfers understand that power is generated from the core of the body.
This pivoting action from the hips generates the energy outward to the arms, hands and finally to the club head.
When the hips turn quickly and with a full turn, opening fully at ball impact, they are generating maximum power without looking like they're putting much work into the swing.
Here is the way you should make your hips work: 1.
Back swing.
At the top of the back swing, your hips should be at about 45 degrees to the target and the shoulders about 90 degrees.
2.
Downswing.
Begin the down swing with the hips, not the hands.
A lateral move with the lead hip toward the target will start the power needed for the swing, all the while keeping the back facing the target.
3.
The hip turn.
When most of your weight has been transferred to your left side, quickly turn the hips out of the way to allow the arms to proceed through the swing.
The quickness and timing of this hip turn is the power generator.
4.
The finish of the swing.
If your belt buckle ends up facing the target, everything else naturally should follow.
Allow the knees to touch and the hands to finish in a high position.
With this in mind, you can see where power isn't generated by strength, but by centrifugal force.
That is why relatively small, wiry people can hit the ball a great distance.
A final swing key: use your shoulders to pull the hips back in the back swing, but use your hips to pull your shoulders and club through the ball.