By Shelby Smith^*

Play golf better than you ever imagined possible!

This article features golf swing techniques to achieve greater power, for all golf shots, but especially the Driver. The techniques apply to all golfers, young and old, boys and girls, men and women. But emphasis is on helping "Seniors” achieve greater power and distance and ball-striking consistency. The series of articles are titled “Seniors Enhanced Golf,” and includes physical and mental attributes good for Seniors.

As a Golf Teaching Professional and 68 year-old Senior, I can truly relate to the quest for greater power as we grow older. In recent years I have developed special 5-day golf schools for the world-wide Elderhostel Continuing Education & Travel Groups that have been conducted in the Spring at Whispering Pines the past 4 years. Also, Senior Center Clinics, Retirement Community Classes, Health & Fitness Clubs and YMCA’s in Atlanta and Myrtle Beach all have had most attendees wanting increased power and distance from their golf swings. And we do it!

Since 2006, I've been the Swing Coach for local Professional Long Driver Tom Garber, 3-time finalist in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship in Mesquite, NV. Tom’s numbers are impressive: 136-140 mph clubspeed and 200 mph ball-speed with longest drive in competition at 393 yards. And Tom’s game is solid 2-hdcp, with a very smooth “classic” swing that his peers at the Finals in Mesquite describe as a “pure swinger.”

As a Lead Coach for the First Tee Program the past 6 years (ages 7-17), I have seen many children enjoy the fun of hitting the long drive nice distances down the fairway. Some youngsters weighing only 70-80 pounds at 4-5 ft heights, hit their drives over 180 yards. That’s an impressive distance-to-weight ratio of 2.4 times. Considering the longest men’s drives in professional competition of 340 – 400 yards, the Juniors pound-for-pound, hit it further than the men (200 lb. 6ft man @ 380 yards = 1.9 ratio.

Of course, strength and flexibility and swing arc/width make a big difference. But a well-balanced efficient leveraged golf swing makes the biggest ball-striking difference. Solid centeredness and squareness of clubface at impact, along with clubhead speed and best launch angle, hit with those powerful high-tech clubheads and graphite shafts, all contribute to best ball-striking results --- for young and old. Last years RE/MAX World Long Drive Finals 2nd Place Winner was 16 year-old 6’ 180 lb. Domenic Mazza from Concord, California, with a 404 yard drive in the quarter-finals clocked @ 140 mph clubhead speed, 213 mph ball-speed, 2,129 ball-spin, 11.3 degree launch angle. Absolutely, it’s the SWING THAT MOSTLY HELPS GOLFERS DO IT!

There are 4 motion contributors that produce a powerful golf swing. The body turns to produce rotation power. The body weight transfers in the backswing and downswing to a balanced finish. The arms swing from the shoulders, and the hands & wrists hinge/cock and uncock. These actions work together in-balance throughout the swing to produce the well-timed force at impact, applying approximately 1,400 lbs. of force at 112 mph clubhead speed for men’s PGA Tour Players.

So what can Senior Golfers in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, even 90’s expect for results? Answer: A well-balanced, compact “less is more” swing executing efficient techniques will make the greatest difference for Seniors. Very often with better understanding and improved swing technique, Seniors achieve greater power and ball-striking results than in their younger years.

For sure, “Golf IS . . . The Game of a Lifetime” that all can enjoy.

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Credits

Originally posted by ShelbySmith on 15 Sep 2011.
All contributors: ShelbySmith,

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