One of the key questions I’m often asked is “How can I get more distance off the tee?” This usually comes from a golfer who has been playing for decades and as he ages his distance starts to decline.

Since the main factor in driving distance is swing speed there isn’t much you can do to increase your swing speed if your body is not what it used to be. When you reach the age that you can’t run as fast, you can’t lift as much, you can’t do as much work, etc., chances are your swing speed has slowed down too. The video is an example of the type of videos you can find on YouTube. Do a search for golf fitness and you can find something you like.

So, let’s look at what we can do to maximize distance with the swing speed we have. If you know your swing speed with a driver you can multiply your swing speed by 2.8 to get the maximum potential carry distance for your swing speed. Anything less than that means you are not getting all you can get. Make the changes necessary and you can get more distance.

To get your maximum carry distance your driver needs to be fit to your height, athletic ability, strength, and swing characteristics. If you bought your driver off the shelf, chances are you need to get a driver check up and get into a driver fit for you.

Why is fitting important? You may be asking… For one, hitting the ball on the sweet spot, or center of the face is a key factor in getting maximum distance. Off center hits will cost you 10 to 15 yards are more depending on where on the face and how far off the center you hit it. Off the toe is worse than off the heel. So, what are the things you need to do to get more distance?

  • Maximize Swing Speed
  • Maximize center face hits
  • Improve your wrist cock release point. Delay it!
  • Get the right loft to maximize your carry distance by improving your launch angle.
  • Adjust your Angle of Attack (hitting on upswing, not downswing)
  • Adjust your ball position and tee height
  • Get a club with the right total weight and swing weight (or MOI) for your swing.
  • Get a club the right length that fits your body type and swing type
  • Get physically fit. YouTube has lots of golf fitness videos to help

Easy to list, not so easy to do.

Maximize Swing Speed

  • FITNESS – There are a number of things you can do to maximize swing speed and they are listed above. Get into a fitness program and improve your fitness is very helpful in getting back some of that lost swing speed.
  • RELEASE – Delaying your wrist cock release point is a good way to pick up 4 or 5, maybe more MPH in swing speed. Get your local teaching pro to help you learn how to do this.
  • LAUNCH ANGLE – I like to say getting the right distance with launch angle is like getting your water hose to squirt water farther by elevating the flow upwards or downward to get the longest landing point. Getting the right launch angle allows for the most carry distance combined with maximum roll out when it hits the fairway.
  • ANGLE OF ATTACK – This is where you strike the ball in the swing. If you are striking the driver on the downswing you are losing yardage. You should be striking the ball just past the bottom of the arc and slightly on the upswing. You can adjust your tee height a little higher to allow you to do this. Move the ball a little forward in your stance and tee it higher.
  • TOTAL WEIGHT & SWING WEIGHT (MOI) – This is where you need to find a good AGCP Certified Clubfitter. Having the right total weight and balance point (swing weight or MOI) is critical to getting the best swing path and face angle at impact. Having the right shaft to get the weight and balance point need a good fitter who understands this.
  • LENGTH – Longer isn’t always better. Sometimes shorter is better. Having your driver fitted to the right length to hit the ball in the sweet spot is critical to getting your maximum distance.

The questions in my order process and with follow up emails we can find that driver for you. Use the form on my Contact Me page to discuss with me before you buy any clubs. We can figure out the best head and get an idea of what kind of shaft you need before you pull the trigger on a new club.