Why can't I hit the ball far?

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If you are only playing a couple of times a year it's a wonder you can hit the driver at all. Your 3 iron is going as far as your driver more than likely because you make better contact of the ball with your 3 iron. It is probably flying higher in the air than your driver.

Have you tried your 3 wood? If you rarely play, you should leave your driver home. It is the toughest club to hit consistantly. The longer the shaft, the tougher to control.

Have fun.

As a junior golfer, the best bet is to get some lessons from a qualified professional. Don't start looking for tips until you understand what the problem is. The first thing is to ensure your mechanics are correct - the major cause for lack of distance.

Yes, my when I hit my driver, it has a low trajectory. I don't have a 3 wood, do you think I should get one? How can I learn to hit the driver better?

Ricky,
stretches will help but you need to start looking into a weight training program. Nothing major, but a simple total body workout will strengthen up those muscles so that you can take a rip at the ball and remain in balance. Equipment is not even needed, simple core strengthening exercises such as sit ups will help your game a ton. Most of all, SWING HARD. There is no way that you will hit the ball far unless you give it a rip. While playing a match on monday and driving two par 4's that are flat 350yrds, my opponent asked me how I hit the ball so far. Simple, you have to swing hard and hit the ball hard. Learn to make a good backswing that keeps you under control and in a good position at the top, if all goes good from there then let it all hang out a few times on the range and see what happens, gradually you will find your timing and hit ball long and straight. One more thing, remember that this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Taking this too serious at your age will lead to burnout, enjoy your summers of playing golf all day long because those days end when you get a job.

I'm not hitting the ball far with any clubs, so the driver isn't my only problem. What can I do to swing faster?

swing 3/4's and work on your impact
ball will fly straighter, further and with a more boring trajectory.
Distance without accuracy is about as useful as a one legged man at an ass kicking context.

Gree's got it bang on.

You need to make quality contact first - sweetspot hits make for great distance.

I'm currently not hitting my driver at all as I can't seem to keep it in the fairway (or even in play, sometimes).

175 in from the fairway is better than 125 in from the fescue or trees, amigo.

How different would it be to hit the driver and the 4 wood? I tried the 4 wood for the first time last night, well although I didn't manage to hit it very far (only about 155yd), I was able to hit it straight. I am thinking of trying the driver this weekend - should I hold off that or maybe just give it a couple of swing just so I can have a feel of it?

Bottom line, distance come from good technique and clubhead speed. i.e. hours of practice at the range. There is no shortcut for this.

I am not convinced that gym work will help.... especially not 'bulking up'. I would expect a small increase from improving core muscles (possible legs too) and flexability.

you just have to look at somebody like Cory Pavin, admittedly far from the biggest driver on tour, but he will still comfortable out drive most amatuers.

There are many misconceptions about strength training. One is that by lifting heavy weights you will "bulk up." Although muscle magazines would like you to believe this, the truth is that unless you're taking steroids your ability to bulk up is strictly genetically determined. 95% of people can train all they want and while they will get stronger, they won't bulk up a whole lot.

The second misconception is that strength training reduces flexiblity. In fact, the opposite is true. And also flexibility has a large genetic component. When Olympic athletes were tested for flexibility, the best turned out to be gymnasts and power lifters! You can understand that anyone without great innate flexibility can't get to be a world class gymnast, but power lifters? These are *very* muscular people.

Many golfers lose distance as they get older. While chronic conditions such as arthritis can be a factor, another is that unless one engages in strength training, one loses muscle as one ages--even if one is active. Loss of muscle means loss of strength *and* loss of flexibility.

I agree that a sound swing is more important than strength but strength still plays a role, both for a young kid wanting to get more distance and for an older golfer not wanting to lose it.

__________________
Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

To tell the truth I was taking an extreme point of view to make a point. There is a case for strength training and flexibility, however, the 1hr-1 1/2hr spent training could be used on the range to improve your technique.

In the young, size and strength are directly link, as you get old this is not neccesarily the case. Good technique learnt, early in your golfing carreer, will aid you to hit the ball longer as you get older.

I just think,as an amatuer you are better off spending time at the range, if you want to hit the ball more further and more consistently.

I agree that for most amateurs, the impediment to distance is form, not strength. That's certainly the case for me. I *do* strength training, and I'm pretty strong, but I drive the ball 250 yards at best, and 220-230 is more common. And the OP is a teenager who said he doesn't play that often, so without doubt there is plenty of room for him to improve his form, just as there is for me.

But as a general thing, I believe strength training is a good idea for golfers, because it *does* promote flexibility. Done intelligently, one can get good results from a 30 minute workout just once or twice a week, so it doesn't have to eat up a lot of time.

__________________
Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

Here's what I do - and this is not really related to strength and clubhead speed, but more to quality of impact.

When at the range, I start out using something like the PW, swinging only half swings, trying to get clean crisp contact and good direction ... I don't care about distance at this point. I hit maybe 5-10 balls, until it feels like it's not a strained swing at all.

Then I grab something like the 8i and do the same. Usually it takes fewer balls to get a good feeling going.

Then the 6i and finally maybe the 4 or 3i.

I adjust stance, posture and ball position slightly as I go, but I stay with a smooth half swing.

Then I grab my 5w and do the same - perhaps even gripping down ever so slightly.

Then the 3w, and finally the driver.

It's pretty much the same 'wedge-swing' for all clubs and for sure I get very little distance from it.

But it DOES give me good rhythm and good contact.

Then I go back to the PW and changes the length of my backswing and ONLY the length. I try to swing the same smooth swing at the same tempo. Perhaps a 3/4 swing.

I step through the clubs in the same manner as above.

When I'm done with the driver, I go back to the PW and the full swing, still keeping the tempo and timing.

Once again up through the clubs.

In the end, the driver is carrying some 210-220yds and the swing is still a relaxed wedge-like swing. No stress, no strain, no trying to thrust the ball anywhere - just letting the swing mechanics and the club do the business.

I find it a good drill - not for distance in itself, but definately for contact and mechanics, and you can't really gain anything by attacking the ball if your mechanics are off - it will just throw off your swingplane and timing.

On the course, I'm using a 10.5deg clone of the TaylorMade R7 (actually a very nice clone-club) and the Wilson 'Jack' Distance ball (cures the worst slicing or hooking and goes well). I hit somewhere around 250yds (230m) without to much effort, keeping it fairly well in the short stuff.

I used to swing a 9deg Wilson Deep Red 365cc driver, but found that I had too much trouble getting the ball airborne to really get a decent carry.

If you're don't have a high clubhead speed, take care not to have a driver with too little loft.

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//Mox
2008 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff. (about to be replaced by MP-600 10,5* UST Proforce V2 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 3w 15* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red 5w 18* Graphalloy Fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

A few points:

1) Muscles can only do 3 things. They can get bigger, they can get smaller, or they can stay the same size. The only way you get 'muscle bound' is by ignoring simple stretches. Now, as ubizmo has pointed out, some of the people who require great strength also require great flexibility. But don't be fooled - they stretch like crazy. And stretching won't make your muscles bigger - otherwise yoga masters would be the the biggest people in the world.

2) 1-1.5 hours spent weight training is far too long. Want to blow your mind? Buy the 10 minute Workout for Golfers by Pete Sisco. You'll never do three sets of twelve reps again.

3) Finally, I'll back the popular opinion. Good form and sweetspot hits create a LOT of distance. Try a three-quarter swing. I bet your distance isn't too far behind your full swing.


The best thing I ever did for myself (and my swing) was to buy a Swing Speed Radar. The first thing you learn is that a 'Gorilla Swing' is slow - that you can produce the same speed by swinging easy. The other thing you learn is what your driver swing speed really is. It's easier to reshaft properly when you know what you need.

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True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.