A Better Release for More Distance

This week’s video comes to you from the Grand Finals of the 2012 HowDidiDo National Matchplay Championships played in Vilamoura, Portugal.  It’s the perfect place to get away from the UK weather and play good golf courses in excellent condition.  In watching the first 2 days play a couple of things have been obvious.  Firstly, with almost no golf played by anyone back home it has taken time to find the rhythm of the golf swing.  Secondly, even the very low handicap players have found short game and putting a real test.  The quick firm greens have highlighted the rustiness brought on by a lack of play in the terrible weather back home.  If you get a chance to visit the driving range remember, don’t neglect your short game you will need it at the start of the season.

This week I have chosen to focus on the release of the club and how important it is in order to maximise your power and distance.  A good swing shape with a poor release will take yards off your tee shots whilst making your swing feel hard work and laden with effort.  A good release will help maximise your clubspeed, producing more distance for far less effort.  I like to think of this as being a more EFFICIENT swing.  An efficient release produces “EFFORTLESS POWER” not “POWERLESS EFFORT”.

Use the technique in the video during practice, starting with just half swing wedge shots to learn the shape.  It may feel strange at first but keep going and your confidence will grow.  When you feel you have hit 10 good shots, let the swing size increase until you’re hitting full wedge shots.  You can now start to work up through the bag, changing clubs every few swings.  Keep creating this mirror image release and you will hit the ball further.

Entries to the 2013 HowDidiDo National Matchplay will be available soon on the website and you may be here next year playing in the Finals.

As usual leave your comments or questions below and I will reply to as many as I can.