Most golfers we come across and speak with usually ask the same question: “How come I see professional golfers hit the ball so easy and make it go so far?” The answer is simple; they let the club do the work for them.
What does this mean? It means simply that! Golf clubs are designed to strike the ball in a way that allows for easy liftoff from the ground. Sure, you won’t always get the results you want i.e. slicing/hooking, but more often than not, if you simply come down on the ball (even with the softest swing) then the ball is going to take flight.
Are some of these things happening when you strike the ball?
- Golf ball is skidding across the ground
- Golf ball shoots straight up into the air
- Golf ball takes a couple of bounces and then stops
These are definitely problem areas to work on, but they are not the clubs fault. Many amateur golfers thing the harder they swing, the longer the ball flight. While it does help to swing the club at a faster pace, the truth of the matter is that club control and excellent ball striking will allow your ball to travel farther and straighter than a fast swing that does not strike the golf ball correctly.
Keep some of these things in mind when you are standing over you ball about to strike it:
- Are you shoulders and spine square?
- Do you try to increase your swing speed by pulling your body up some during your downswing?
- Do you keep hitting the ground before you hit your ball?
These are all body and swing speed control problems. Try this: Instead of trying to hit the cover off of the golf ball, slow your swing speed down by 25%, keep your backswing and downswing steady, and strike through the ball at a controlled pace. Once you have swing speed and ball striking down, then you can go for the long shots.