Golf Tip of the Day - How to Add Yards off the Tee

I’ve been watching the first PGA event of the season in Hawaii this weekend and am amazed at how far Robert Garrigus hits it. He is basically about my size…5’11, 190 pounds. I am a little bigger, and I think I am stronger, but he is the longest hitter on tour.

How does he do it? Its all in his lower body. His hips are practically square to the target at impact. If you note in his back swing that his club stays well short of parallel, it is even more amazing how far he hits it.

So, keep this thought in mind if you want more distance off the tee. You have to swing from the ground up to start the downswing. If you try to hit the ball with your arms, you will lose speed. I would even go so far as to say forget about trying to make a big shoulder turn and quit trying to get the club parallel to the ground your back swing. It’s not necessary.

What is necessary is to get yourself properly leveraged in the back swing. Your back leg should be used as a brace from which to push off in the down swing. Find that power from the ground up. Try to get as much hip rotation as possible in the downswing. If you have limited mobility in the hips, visit a trainer to learn what you can do to achieve more mobility.

If you are looking for a swing that suggests you don’t need a big back swing to achieve power, Robert Garrigus has it.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com