In today’s fast-paced society, time has never been more precious. We are so busy that we may not get chance to go out and do the grocery shopping, or finish that DIY project that has been sitting unfinished for the past three years.
That means, as much as we would love to, we also haven’t got the time to commit to a six-month strength and conditioning program, a very unappealing no-carbs diet or a series of lessons to try and improve our golf game.
What we really want is that quick tip or lightbulb moment that unlocks 10 extra yards, preferably with minimal effort or commitment on our part, especially considering the fact that the season is almost upon us.
Well, we've got your back. We have compiled this list of 10 realistic ways you can hit the ball further this weekend. They won’t all work for you, but hopefully two or three will be enough to give you a yardage boost on the course and put a spring in your step.
1. Tee The Ball Higher
You won’t catch World Long Drive Champion Kyle Berkshire pushing his tee peg deep into the ground any time soon. In fact, it is that high tee height that encourages a more upward hit on the ball and those precious extra yards.
Doing this not only increases the ball’s launch angle through additional dynamic loft, but it also reduces backspin and may even encourage you to attack the ball more from the inside, all of which are key ingredients for more generating more distance.
2. Get Fitted On A Launch Monitor
Despite their growing popularity, many golfers still haven't hit a single shot on a reputable launch monitor. Embracing this type of technology could be an eye-opening experience, especially as they have become much more accessible and less expensive. Let's face it, every golfer wants to brag about being the longest in their social group, and now you can have the data to back it up.
The best golf launch monitors will quantify your launch characteristics – so things like attack angle, ball speed and launch angle will be given a numerical value and your pro can tell you if they are good or bad. They may also suggest technical or equipment-related tweaks to improve them.
3. Increase Your Loft
Generally speaking, the correct driver loft increases as swing speed decreases. The formula balances speed, backspin and launch angle to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible. Dustin Johnson’s swing speed is over 120mph and he uses an 10.5° driver. Loft is your friend, not your foe, and the days of 7° drivers are over. Most amateur golfers would generally benefit from a driver with 12° of loft or more.
4. Change Your Ball
While premium golf balls provide the best all-round performance, if it’s out-and-out distance you are after then switching to a lower compression golf ball, or one with a bigger core, should provide you with extra yardage. There is also the added bonus that you could save a few pounds too.
5. Invest In New Irons
The hype around game improvement and super game improvement irons is getting stronger every year. This is mostly down to the lower centre of gravity positioning, that has been implemented to get the ball up in the air quicker than ever before, so sadly your 7-iron is barely keeping up with today’s 8-iron. A new set won't just look great, but will likely mean you can hit shorter irons into greens and get you moving towards lower scores.
6. Choose A Straighter Club Off The Tee
Foresight Sports GC2 launch monitor simulator program found that shots that land on the fairway roll three times as far as those that land in the rough. That’s 18 yards of extra roll out for an average driver swing speed.
So, if you struggle to find the short grass with your driver, switching to your more accurate fairway wood might just be the secret to hitting more fairways and gaining those valuable yards.
7. Wear The Right Shoes
When thinking about golf shoes, there are some important aspects to consider. Ensuring you have the right size and type is important, as both factors can seriously affect your power and therefore your distance.
Major golf footwear brand, FootJoy, has proven that the correct style of shoe – be it structured or mobile - can achieve 3-4 mph more club head speed on average. That equates to about 10 yards in additional distance just based on what you put on your feet. Overall, 98 percent of tour players achieved more distance with the shoe the system recommended for them.
8. Find A Lower-Spinning Driver
Backspin is often referred to as the 'distance killer', and while we all need some of it in our lives, less is more if you catch my drift. The higher your swing speed, the less backspin you need with your driver (providing the launch angle is high enough), so why not help yourself out by switching to a low-spin driver.
9. Switch Out Your Old Worn Grips
Worn out grips cause a golfer to hold the club tighter, which restricts the length of your swing and reduces speed and control. A Golf Pride study found that swing speeds improved by more than 2mph when a player replaced an old grip with a new version of the same grip. So come on people, get a grip... or 14 of them to be precise.
10. Fix Your Club Path
What if we told you that you can swing the club with the same speed and hit the ball 20 yards further? All you need to do is change the way you deliver the club. By altering your delivery from a steep out-to-in fade, to a shallow in-to-out draw, you have the potential to add some serious distance to your game with the same amount of effort.
If you are not sure what path your club takes during your swing, using a swing analyzer could provide you with invaluable information to transform your game and develop your speed.
