The Key to Longer Golf Drives Is Not In Your Head

Want to hit longer drives? I know I do.

I played a round of golf the other day with a guy who, with what seemed like no effort at all, consistently hit his drive 280+ yards straight down the middle of each fairway. In contrast, I was hitting pretty straight as well, but never more than 150-160 yards. No matter how I tried to focus and concentrate my thoughts, envision the long, straight drive, picture the perfect swing and follow through, the results of my efforts fell far short of my expectations. I was getting frustrated.

At the turn we each grabbed a hot dog and drink and headed back out towards the back nine, I decide to ask him for some advice.

“What the heck am I doing wrong? I know I can hit my drive further than I’m hitting today. Something’s just “off.”

My companion took another sip of his soda and asked, “You really want to know? I don’t want to give you advice you don’t want to hear.”

It’s never a good idea to start passing out advice to your fellow golfers during a round, especially unsolicited. But I really wanted to hear what he had to say.

“Well, from what I can see, you’re just not swinging your hips enough. You’re all arms. Focus on getting your hips leading first and then your shoulders get into the downswing, and I think that will help. The key to longer golf drives is not in your head, it’s in your hips!” He finished his hotdog and headed towards the blue tees at the tenth hole.

I paid special attention to exactly what his hips were doing in relation to his shoulders during his next swing. He was right. His shoulders led the takeaway, but it was his hips that moved first and pulled his arms and the club down and through the swing. His whole body was “coiling” back and then releasing, causing the ball to just fly off the club and sail straight and true! Of course, I already knew what he told me was true. I’ve taken enough lessons and read enough articles to understand the concept, but this guy had the move down solid, and just watching him in action—suddenly it was as if “a light came on!”

The next nine holes were not much better than the first. I still hit straight, but still not much further than I had been hitting. That’s ok. The golf course is NOT the place to start trying out new techniques. Better to leave that to the practice range—

I’ve searched youtube for a short video that pretty much sums up this lesson. I’ve added it at the bottom of this post.

And I am starting an exercise routine that includes some yoga moves for hip flexibility.

Kathy Ekdahl, golfgurls.com golf fitness expert has some great rotation exercises we’ve posted on youtube. If you’re struggling making those longer drives, check it out.

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For straighter, longer drives – get your hips into the action:

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