DRIVING: PUSH UP FOR A BIGGER SWING
ow far away are you from playing better? The answer is probably in a different form – and easier to accomplish – than you think. Instead of using superficial metrics such as your handicap index, the number of lessons you take, the amount of practice you put in, or the months on the calendar, consider your improvement plan the way tour pros think about getting better. That means making the results of the shots you hit move closer to the average performance of play- ers who are a little better than you. What does that look like? Instead of thinking about everything you have to do to break 100, 90 or 80 – which can be daunting – split it into manageable, measurable parts. This might sound strange at first, but all you need to do is get 16 metres better across the specific categories of driving, iron play, distance wedges and putting. Do that, and you’ll improve significantly. Let me explain. Adjustments to your driving will unlock 10 more metres off the tee. Hitting your irons more solidly will give you at least half a club less into the green. Let’s call that five metres. Better trajectory con- trol with your wedges will get you a metre closer to the pin. Finally, improving your speed will leave your first putts closer to the hole. Add it up, and that’s 16 metres. Not so unobtainable, right? Let me help you get to that number. – WITH MATTHEW RUDY
I’m sure you’ve heard all the advice about hitting longer drives, like moving the ball more forward in your stance and creating some upward tilt in your shoulders ( above, far left) . That’s a good starting point, but to really hit longer tee shots, think of your driver swing as two separate entities. You should have a normal, fairway-finder move but also a specialty shot where you’re copying some of what the competitors in the World Long Drive championships do. Their swings are typically very long, so they have more time to add speed on the downswing (you’ll need about 5-7 kilometres per hour more to pick up 10 metres). In the backswing, that means unweighting the lead foot, extending your trail leg, getting your arms up and turning your back towards the target (above left, second photo). Extend and turn as much as you can to get your mass mov- ing upward in anticipation of what happens next. As you reach the top of the swing, push hard into the ground with your lead foot – as if you were squashing an empty golf-ball sleeve ( right ). The biggest power leak most players have is initiating this push too late, when they’re down by the ball. Next, as your club approaches the ball, straighten your lead leg and pull up on the handle (above, far right). The more up-and-down force you generate this way – and the better you time these moves – the longer you’ll be able to hit it.
92 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 93
NOVEMBER 2023
NOVEMBER 2023
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