Gaining Distance Isn’t Just for the Young
One of the most common frustrations I hear is, "I'm getting older, so I must be losing distance." But what if I told you that age doesn't have to mean shorter drives? In fact, with the right approach to timing and technique, you can hit the ball further than ever, regardless of how many birthdays you've had.
The Real Secret: Timing and the Role of Hands and Arms
Most golfers assume that generating power is all about turning the body as hard as possible. But from my years of coaching, I see many players working hard with little to show for it. They swing with maximum effort, yet the results don't reflect all that energy. The missing piece is often timing, particularly how the hands and arms deliver speed into the club head.
A key mistake I see is the club face looking up to the sky through impact and pointing right of target at the ball. This open face leads to slices, weak shots and all sorts of compensation. Instead, focus less on the body turn and more on what your hands and arms are doing.
Drill: Toe Winning the Race
Let’s try something simple. Forget about turning your body for now. Make a little half backswing, and as you come through, imagine a race between the toe and heel of the club as they return to the ball. You want the toe to win. That means the club face is rotating correctly, closing through impact.
The sensation you’re after is the club face looking down behind you after you’ve hit the ball, not up to the sky. Start with these half swings, focusing on getting the toe to win. Not only will you hear a different sound at impact, but you’ll also see a stronger, more powerful ball flight.
Bring the Body Back In
Once you’ve mastered the feeling of the toe winning the race with your hands and arms, it’s time to add some body turn. Make a longer swing on the way back, turning your body as you would in a normal swing, but keep that feeling of the toe leading through impact.
The crucial part is to ensure your arms stay in front of your body as you turn through. If your arms lag too far behind, you’ll be forced to flip the club face or make awkward compensations. By keeping the arms in front and letting the body and arms work together, you’ll generate more power and consistency.
Why This Works For Every Club
This isn’t just a driver tip. The same principles apply to every club in the bag. Once you get the timing right with your hands, arms and body, you’ll see more distance and a better ball flight across your whole set. Plus, you can start to wave goodbye to that dreaded slice and perhaps even start to see a lovely little draw.
Age Is Just a Number – Your Best Golf Awaits
I know how it feels when the body doesn’t move quite like it used to. I’m turning 50 myself, but I’m still generating more speed with the right technique than I ever did grinding away with brute force. The focus should be on using the hands and forearms to generate speed and then learning to sync the body turn with that release, keeping the club face squaring up through impact.
Take Your Swing Further
If you’re frustrated by years of working on swing positions without seeing real change, you’re not alone. After over 30 years of coaching, I’ve helped thousands of golfers transform their game. For the first time, I’ve created my own Find Your Golf Swing Master Class, a series of 18 videos designed to help you control the club face, understand your swing path and deliver power that matches your body. You can find out more and get an early access code for extra savings at my YouTube channel.
If you’re looking for more tailored help, I offer online lessons through Skillest where we can analyse your swing and work together to unlock your best golf.
Ready to Start Hitting Further?
Age doesn’t have to mean less distance. By mastering the timing of your hands and arms, letting the toe of the club win the race and learning to turn your body without leaving your arms behind, you’ll see more power, a straighter ball flight and, most importantly, more enjoyment on the course.
Watch the Full YouTube Video Here
For a full walkthrough of these drills and concepts, watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxCODQ0lmc
