At Totally Driven we have recently assessed a number of golfers looking for more distance in their golf games. It’s been a bit of a suprise to us that we rarely get asked about accuracy from the folks looking for distance.
We firmly believe that as more distance is developed the player will develop more accuracy as well. In our Power Improvement Programs we usually start with the basics first by looking at grip, set-up, swing plane etc. We are finding that many of the players looking for distance are hitting fades or slices with an out to in swing path.
It’s not just about swinging harder or faster. We have to get the player swinging more from the inside if they are slicing. We also need to have the clubface square at impact. How do we accomplish this and increase distance for our players? That’s the toughest part. We need to evaluate where to start first and what the progression will be for each player. Some need to develop more speed using Tour Tempo and then some of the swing flaws naturally go away. Others we need to work with on fundamentals first.
Titleist Performance Testing
This is where our in depth analysis comes into play during our Distance/Power Assessments. We look at the player’s equipment, power sources in their legs, core and thorax, physical issues regarding mobility, stability, balance as well as the golf swing. With the golf swing we dig into sequencing, X-factor, weight shift, grip, swing plane, peak speeds and more. I really believe we are breaking new ground here, although we have folks like Kelvin Miyahira, Titleist Performance Institute, Jason Jaynes, K-Vest, John Novosel Sr and John Novosel Jr that are great sources of information for us. We are doing alot more with players than would be received from typical golf lessons. In fact, sometimes we partner with teaching professionals by focusing on strictly power elements with the player while leaving golf instruction and fundamentals to their pro.
So far, everything we’ve experienced or researched has shown us that power and accuracy are not exclusive of each other.
Andy Thompson/Lynn Anderson
Totally Driven
Tags: Totally Driven, Titleist Performance Institute, x factor, golf lessons, golf instruction, kelvin miyahira, Tour Tempo, teaching pro, John Novosel Sr
