Swing Faster, Not Harder

Jason Witczak, PGA Director of Instruction, The Club at Pradera and Pinery Country Club

During my 20-plus years of teaching and competing in golf and long-drive tournaments, one of the biggest misconceptions I have heard is “use your body for power.” People tend to forget that what’s in their hands is ultimately going to send the ball in the desired direction, so they try to hit it further by swinging with all their might, pushing off the ground forcefully and interrupting the natural motion of swinging towards the target. 

Remember: the body is a key element in the motion of the swing, but has to respond to the uninterrupted motion of the club being swung towards the target. There is a huge difference between doing something faster and doing it harder. Faster is effortless speed that creates the centrifugal force of the club head to increase. Harder involves effort that fights against the physics of the club. 

Moreover, when you swing “harder,” you’re usually focusing your force and energy towards the ball—and making a “hit” not a “swing.” When you swing “faster,” you’re focused on swinging towards the target.

The following exercises help golfers use their bodies correctly to create speed. If done correctly 2-4 times a week, you will start seeing an increase in clubhead speed. You also will notice improved stamina later in your rounds, as your legs are getting “golf strong” with the focus of stability and balance.

The Balanced Cord Swing These two photographs show the proper and improper way to swing. In both, I’m standing on a Dyna Disk and swinging a shaft attached to a bungee cord.

Forward-Backward Monster Walks (seen at the top of this post)

• Put a smaller resistance band around your ankles and hold out a medicine ball to activate your core.

• Stay low, keeping your hip flexors engaged. Move forward, not up and down while you step.

• Focus on holding the medicine ball in front of you, activating arm strength and core golf muscles.

• With your right foot, step forward on a 45-degree angle away from your center, keeping your left foot planted.

• Bring your left foot even with your right.

• Step forward in the 45-degree direction with your left foot.

• After taking eight total steps forward, do the exact same thing backwards. 

• Do three sets sets with 60-90 seconds breaks. 

Opposite leg-opposite arm balance

• Holding an Orange Whip trainer in your left hand, step onto a Bosu ball with your right foot.

• Lift your left foot and balance yourself on the ball with your right foot, achieving posture.

• Extend the arm holding the Orange Whip and get it moving back and forth while keeping the arm extended. 

• Once you get the motion of the whip moving back and forth, use your extended arm to slowly make an arc from right to left, then slowly return it back to the starting position. It should take 20-30 seconds.

• Repeat motion with your left foot and right arm.

• Do three repetitions on each side to start.

• As you progress, your balance will improve as your body responds to the swinging motion of your arm moving around the radial axis of your spine. This exercise promotes tremendous stability and flexibility. 

Jason is the PGA Director of Instruction at The Club at Pradera and Pinery Country Cub, both in Parker, Colorado. For lessons, fitness, and on-course instruction you can contact him at [email protected] or by phone at (303) 607-5677

Related Posts:

[related_posts limit=”3″]

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.