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Do You Have a Power Leak?

Everyone wants to hit it further and losing power can be very frustrating.  Your irons do not fly as far, or they all go about the same distance.  The driver is just not rolling out very far and the holes just play too long. Urghh!! The number one power leak is the early hit or casting the clubhead from the top in transition. Here are your keys to improve the early hit:

SET UP:

  1. Stronger grip – A weak grip promotes an open clubface, and an open clubface is the biggest cause of an early release.
  2. Ball position – Playing the ball too far back puts the body ahead of the ball and will promote swaying, and in turn casting.
  3. Aim – More often than not, most players tend to be closed to the target line at address. Example: for a right-handed player, if you aim too far right, there is a good chance you will swing the club on a path that is out to in or over the top, again casting.

BACKSWING:

  1. Keep the clubface facing the ball early in the takeaway. Rolling the clubface open will cause an early release.
  2. Keep the clubhead more in front of your torso early in the takeaway. When your club goes too far inside, the arms get too far behind you and in turn cast.
  3. The trickiest move in golf happens when your club is about ¾ of the way back. As your arms and club are finishing the backswing, the lower body will have already begun to move toward the target. This critical motion is what I call “the magic move”.

DOWNSWING:

  1. In the transition, because the lower body (hips, legs, feet) have already started before your arms finish the backswing, it’s a very simple athletic movement, like every other sport. You are using the ground for the proper sequencing of the swing.
  2. Keep your eyes quiet to avoid the head moving forward with the body. In other words, keep your head behind the ball.
  3. Lastly, avoid trying to guide the clubhead and face to the ball. Think of the speed through the ball or out in front – LET IT GO!

Reminder – please get your clubs fitted for your properly by a trained club fitter.  If your clubs are too heavy, stiff, or long, there is a good chance you are releasing the club too soon.

Buck Mayers is the Director of Instruction at Escondido Golf and Lake Club in Horseshoe Bay, Texas www.buckmayersgolf.com.