Gaining Distance. How do I do that?
Well, this is one of the BIG questions in golf at all levels recreational and professional and there’s no denying the further you hit the ball the more of an advantage you have. Golf courses are shorter, par 5’s can be accessible in 2 shots, shorter approach shots into greens, clearing hazards off the tee (fairway bunkers, water etc.) and reaching greens in regulation.
Ok so it’s important, where should I start to look to increase my distance?
Well, there are 3 key areas that are going to determine how far you can hit a golf ball.
- 1. CLUBHEAD SPEED
This is the most Important piece of the puzzle for me, the greater the clubhead speed, the greater your optimal potential distance can be. The biggest effect on distance will always be the engine and that is clubhead speed. Two main things to consider when thinking about clubhead speed are physicality, how powerful is an individual, how much force they can produce physically. The second is the technical ability of the golfer, as clubhead speed can be created from good technique and correct sequencing. Seeking advice off a PGA Professional who can properly assess this with you is extremely important, whether this is through physical screening or looking at the golf swing on various technologies such as Trackamn 4 launch monitor, Boditrak pressure mat or through 3D software such as K-Vest. For more information on TPI screening visit my blog below:
https://acego1f.co.uk/blogs/when-do-i-need-to-upgrade-my-wedges/what-is-a-tpi-screen
To book a premiere lesson and receive a TPI Screen, plus golf swing analysis with use of Trackman 4, Boditrak pressure mat and K-Vest 3D software, my online diary is below the conclusion at the end of this blog:
- 2. EFFICIENCY
This shows how well the golfer transfers the energy from clubhead to the golf ball. This is measured with the use of launch monitors like Trackman 4, and the first number that would give good feedback on how efficient a golfer is striking the ball would be SMASH FACTOR. i.e. for a driver an optimal SMASH FACTOR would be 1.50, so anything below this would mean somewhere the golfer isn’t being efficient. Let’s also be clear 1.50 is a perfect hit, I typically say to golfers I coach/fit, if their smash factor can be somewhere between 1.45-1.50, they are efficient.
So, what is SMASH FACTOR, well this is the measurement on energy transfer from clubhead to the golf ball. The first thing to consider here is centeredness of strike as this will make a big difference in ball speed, however this is only a piece of the puzzle. How many times have you sprayed foot spray on your driver’s clubface or used fitting tape and seen the strike is centred yet the smash factor and ball speed numbers are low. There are lots of other factors that affect smash factor and ball speed and not just centeredness of strike, such as SPIN LOFT, SPIN RATE, DYNAMIC LOFT, FACE AIM, CLUB PATH and ANGLE OF ATTACK to name a few. Quite often if you improve one of the numbers, the others fall inline, the expertise here is knowing which numbers. Small changes to angle of attack or club face can be the difference in spin and therefore SMASH FACTOR and BALL SPEED.
- 3. GOLF EQUIPMENT
There are 3 parts to this piece of the puzzle.
Properly fitted equipment.
This is extremely important, ensuring your clubs are fitted correctly whether its the length of shaft, lie angle, shaft flex, kick points and torque. For more information on the fitting process, please read my blog on custom fitting:
What is a custom fit and why is it important? (acego1f.co.uk)
As discussed in EFFICIENCY a better struck golf shot is going to result in better smash factors and ball speeds, one of the main reasons for having your golf clubs custom fitted is to help improve you’re ability to do this.
Latest technology
A huge part of the game of golf is the equipment and having the latest equipment is of course going to be an extra advantage in achieving the highest smash factors and achieving optimal ball speeds. Technology is constantly developing and improving each year increasing ball speeds and increasing MOI (more forgiveness across the face). In 2024 brands have now reached 10K in MOI which is the highest to date. The latest equipment, fitted correctly is a definite advantage.
Club – Swing connection.
Quite often poor mechanics in the golf swing are caused by golfers using non-fitted incorrect equipment. Examples of this could be clubs that are too heavy, too long, wrong lie angles, less forgiving heads etc. If the clubs are incorrect for a golfer quite often the swing faults we see as coaches are a result of the individual compensating to the clubs. Having correctly fitted golf equipment is not only important for good contact, but also the long-term development of your golf swing.
Conclusion
If you are looking to increase distance to your game, you need to look at all three areas discussed above, its it one of these you can improve, is it all three? Seek PGA Professional advise to help you with this.
