Why Does a Power Golf Swing Elude Most Golfers?

The answer to having a power golf swing is not determined by your build and strength, but rather how you apply golf technique and the basic fundamentals.

Most golfers experience loss of distance at some point. It is particularly noticeable with beginners. Confidence and lack of applying the basic fundamentals and poor timing contribute to loss of a power golf swing.

Good timing on the other hand depends on good posture and balance, proper weight transfer during the swing, and a true alignment of the right hand with the clubface at address and impact. A great set up for a power golf swing.

Balance

To improve your timing you should try and finish each swing balanced on your left side. Wait for the ball to land on the ground before dismantling your position. This will force you to swing within yourself, and help you hit straighter longer shots. This is the only way to consistency, maximum distance, and a power golf swing.

Weight transfer

What helps enormously with weight transfer in the back swing is addressing the ball with the upper body in correct position.

Having your spine too perpendicular to the ground keeps the shoulders too parallel, from this position it becomes harder to transfer you weight to the right side.

Fix
Your spine angle should be slanting away slightly over to right side at address. See pictures here of this position.

I have always said that that the easiest way to move any object is through weight transfer. Think about that! To help this, the address position puts you in an excellent position to turn the upper body behind the ball without much head movement.

The weight should be able to move to the inside of right foot easily. This critical move ensures the weight does not move the wrong way (to the left foot ).

It also gives the hips a better chance to pivot correctly to the right side.

Swaying

Swaying is a major cause of power loss in the golf swing, and causes many other golf problems, sliced , topped, and fat shots. No coiling effect can be felt in the back swing and a lunge usually follows.

Fix
Keep your right knee still and bent into the backswing. Every good player and tour pro keeps the right knee still and bent. You can do the same.

It is the only way to feel a proper coil of the body.

Bent left arm

If you start your downswing with the left arm bent, you prevent the legs and back from contributing power in the swing. A major loss of power in the golf swing.

Failure to start the down swing with a cocked right arm, promotes an early uncocking of the wrists and loss of club head speed.

Fix
Transfer your weight to the left side the moment you start the down swing and move the right elbow into your right side at the same time. This will put you in a position to hit later and correctly into the ball.

Pulling upwards before impact

Releasing the wrists too early in the down swing can cause you to lift the body before impact. Most of your power in the golf swing will have been spent already.

Fix
Holding the “wrist break” a little longer into the down swing will help you to swing down and through the ball achieving maximum club head speed.

Alignment of the right hand

If the right hand is not positioned correctly on the grip it can decrease your ability to generate distance Take a look at the perfect golf grip here.

Fix
Keep your right hand grip position square to the club face. This has a few advantages. It promotes the correct folding and unfolding of the wrists, keeps your club on plane in the back swing, and helps to promote straighter and more powerful shots.

Grip pressure

Grip pressure plays a major role in how much club head speed you generate in the down swing. Holding too tight is common with most golfers and helps to slow the club head down through the ball. If this is the problem then the grip is not held in the fingers but rather too much in the palm of the hands.

Fix
Holding the club in the fingers of the hands ensures that the club will be in control of without letting go, or getting floppy. Make sure you can hold the club with your grip in the same position before you swing until the finish position.

Only then will you be able to swing the club with maximum speed through the ball and achieve a power golf swing.

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