What can I do to gain power in my swing?

Question

I only hit my driver about 100 yards if I am lucky.

Answer 1

There are numerous things your can do to increase power.

The first and most important thing would be to take some lessons from a professional to improve your swing, which will give you more power.

Additionally, there are numerous exercises one can do to increase the power in one's swing. The key to power comes not through the swinging of the arms, but rather from the rotation of the body through the swing.Therefore, it important to have a strong core for maximum power. I highly recommend both upper and lower back exercises (as they will also help prevent many golf related back injuries) crunches, squats, and chest work. Also, wrist strengthening, along with biceps, and triceps can give extra power and control.

However, the honest truth is that no matter how strong you are you will never be able to hit a golf ball far or straight without learning the proper fundamentals of a good golf swing. This is why I recommend taking lessons so strongly. I'm 5'8", can barely bench 125, but I can drive it 280 if I hit it well. Charles Barkley, meanwhile, is 6'5", jacked, and an incredible athlete, but his swing looks like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s50K65PNe...

My point is, all the strength and athleticism in the world won't help unless you can develop a decent swing. I therefore highly suggest you take some lessons, whether at a course, a local golf shop, or even online. Good Luck! (You'll need it).

Answer 2

why use your driver if you are lucky to hit it 100 yards // you would be better going back to a 3 wood and this would suit you better

Answer 3

Driver is the hardest club to hit straight and long, especially if you are a beginner.  If you are getting 100 yards only, you should leave it at home and use other clubs that goes over 100 yards.

That was the philosophical answer.  Now on power in your swing:

You're probably trying to 'kill' the ball and swing real fast to get the distance.  This is the WORSE thing you can do in a golf swing.  To get distance (power), you must first have a correct grip, right swing plane, and coil properly during your backswing and uncoil on the downswing.  If you imagine your club is a bamboo stick, you 'whip' the stick at your target, right? Not just swing fast with your hand.  Now think about you throwing a football, do you use your arm muscles or your waist and leg muscles?  Same in golf swings... it is the uncoiling and the whip action with your lower body that produces the power and distance; your stance, swing-plane and grip effects how straight the ball will go.

Answer 4

chances are if your only hitting your drive 100 yards, its not power, its technique.  YOU need to learn how to hit. Your probably not hitting on plane.  Your probably not makeing a proper pivot or a proper turn with your hips and shoulders.  Your probably not placing the ball correctly in your stance.  You may be hitting the ground behind the ball first or skying the ball straight up.  

This is more about technique than power.  Heck, when I want to make a good drive, I usually use less power to make sure I have the fundamentals correct.

Get some golf videos that break down the fundamentals of the swing.  Jim McClean 8 steps to a better golf swing is pretty good.

Answer 5

Place the club in your dominate hand and swing it just as you would if you had both hands on it, do this about 20 times a day and before you go golfing, when you get both hands in the club it will seem half the weight, and your more dominate arm will be getting use the motion and getting stronger, you should be able to get up to 175-200 in about 2 weeks with just a few simple swings daily...

Answer 6

Buy a copy of Golf Digest with the picture of Lorena Ochoa on the cover. Read the atricle on how to get more distance. Try and see if it works. Distance comes from lower body inclusion in the swing.

Answer 7

Be sure that you are not reverse pivoting.  You could be attempting to coil your body but are counteracting that with your legs pivoting.  Make sure to make a complete shoulder turn (think about putting your back to the target during your backswing) begin your downswing with your hips and keep your wrists ****** as long as possible... this creates lag in the club head... very necessary to hitting the ball a long way.  Also do not ever try to "muscle" the swing... let gravity do the work... golf is all about leverage... not brute force.  One more thing... never sacrifice accuracy for distance.  If you can hit it 100 yards in the fairway or 300 in the woods... hit it 100 yards... you'll always shoot lower scores.

Answer 8

Work on your swing muscles and practice your turn and increase your power through your swing and follow through.