There’s nothing a golfer lusts for like distance. Sure, a well-rounded golf game requires more than just smashing your tee shots. But still, no one can deny the primal rush one gets from ripping a 300 yard drive. How can golfers get more of this additive drug called distance? Here are two key elements help you rip your tee shot.

First, set up correctly. It’s easy to look at the golf swing and think that distance and power come from swinging the arms and hands. But, counter-intuitively, a powerful golf swing with great distance, comes from the ground up. As we pointed out in an earlier blog, the swing works like a whip. The heavier base (in this case, the legs and torso) work to propel the lighter part (the hands) for greater power. With a whip, the energy of the heavier parts move the tip of the whip with such speed that it breaks the sound barrier with a loud crack! Once you do this in the golf swing, with a proper weight shift and a relaxed grip, you’ll be cracking great drives. With a relaxed, supple motion, you’ll be amazed how far you can blast the ball.

But all the power of the body is lost if the hands down work effectively. This means finding the right position at the top of the backswing. This, again, is counter-intuitive. Many people assume that winding up more will give them more power during the release. This is only true up to a certain point. The key is maintaining a flat wrist at the top of the backswing, which allows for a controlled transfer of momentum to the ball. It also keeps the clubface square to the line of flight throughout the swing. This provides more reliable distance, as well as greater accuracy. For more on the flat wrist, check out our training aid, the Pause-n-Throw, which will help you find the power position – a crucial element for better distance.