driving distance

I have found that it is not how hard you swing the driver but the technique and ability to let the club head whip the ball at the last minute. Is this true for most golfers? Thanks

this is very true, technique is very key and as you said, let the club whip last minute that is what is referred to as club head acceleration through impact or proper release. the swinging you refer to is developing a bunch of potential power by using the big muscles and postioning your self to deliver a powerfull release last second, that is with all clubs though, not just the driver. that is why pros look so effortless, because most of the time they are swinging with proper technique and not "swinging hard" as you say. it doesn't take much of an effort to move the big muscles so it looks effortless but they really release the club into the ball fast. i like to think of it as you can release as hard as you want as long as you do it last second and at the proper time but the downswing is all about positioning for proper release. i think the reason people swing so hard form the top is because of the "accelerating * distance = speed, so they try to accelrate from the top over a great ditance thinking it will give good speed, and that might be ideal for robots, but humans can't use explosive power for very long. so they end up accelerating at the top and decerating through impact when you should develop all the power and speed you can with the big muscles and then right before impact you then explode with your small muscles (forearm/hands) all you can and accelrate through impact