Swing speed and strength, two major factors in getting better distances
“Swing strength” and “accuracy” to make a perfect stroke have always been crucial for good performance on the golf course. There are plausible reasons why golfers are always concerned about improving their drives and accuracy. Not every golfer is blessed with all the skills required to shine on the course, as there are certain things that make the sport more complex than it may seem.
Without a doubt, being expert in hitting long drives with accuracy is something almost every golfer dreams of. However, the grim reality is, once players improve their driving distance after getting involved in rigorous practice, which is one of the most important factors in the sport, they face yet another trouble that comes in the form of deteriorating accuracy. Accuracy comes slow, which means it can take years of practice and consistency.
Despite all the talk of what matters more to players—swing speed or swing strength, there has always been a debate about the importance of both skills. Some players place more emphasis on strength than speed, saying it is long strokes—not accuracy—that play their role in winning the match. Since hitting the ball from tee to the putting green takes considerable strength and agility, most golfers seem to favour the idea of honing their skills in "long strokes."
It's a fact that players usually lose their shot power with the passage of time. Age factor is the biggest reason that causes golfers to lose their stroke power, which further makes it difficult for them to enjoy long range shots.
Since players always keep in mind "par" of a hole when making an attempt to hole the ball, hitting long shot becomes “key” to winning. For instance, a par-3 hole typically requires the player to sink the ball in the just 3 shots.
No matter how accurate the player's drive is, he will always find it difficult to land the ball on the putting green if he is bad at hitting long range strokes. This is why players always worry about losing their distance. The idea of improving swing strength also causes players to get into intense practice. Since sending the ball across 250 yards is tough, players now seem to place more stress on good tee ball.
A number of techniques have been devised for players to hone their distance skills. For instance, holding a club properly is more important than making a bid at "useless swing." Good swing strength and long distance go hand in hand. As soon as players become expert in making a perfect swing, their distance woes start to fade away, as strength needed to land the ball on the greens gradually improves. Another big issue that worries most players is that they find it difficult to focus on the swing, which often stems from "hasty attempts."
To understand why swing strength means everything to most golfers, consider the plight of the former world number one Tiger Woods. The 35-year-old Woods is no longer in the top spot due to a string of issues but some observers attribute his slumping performance to his deteriorating swing strength. He has been battling multiple injuries, which made a deep dent in his trademark long strokes.
On the other hand, Woods himself seems convinced that one of the major factors hurting his performance is “lousy swing.” He claimed that he is now practising to regain his swing power.
Despite importance of swing strength, swing speed should not be ignored as it makes a difference when it comes to accuracy.
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