Zip It To Rip It!

I've been teaching a lot this year and I've noticed something about some senior golfers and some women that I think needs some discussion. These students come to a school and it's apparent that their swing lacks any kind of power. And it's usually not because they have a physical impairment that prevents them from putting some zip into their swing.

When I ask them about what they are trying to accomplish in their swing, I often hear them describe it as "smooth", or "steady", or even sometimes "slow". This kind of description is typical when I encounter a golfer who is trying to maintain the same pace throughout all phases of their swing so that they can hit the ball solid.

Let's review the four things that have to happen if a golfer wants to hit the ball relatively straight and relatively far.

1. Their club must approach the ball on the aiming line, and
2. While on the aiming line, strike the ball square to the target, and
3. Leave the point of impact still on the aiming line, accelerating,
4. And strike the ball on the sweet spot while doing the first three.

This is the principle of "On, On, & On, Square & Solid" espoused by Dr. Alistair Cochran in his excellent book Search For The Perfect Swing and it's one of my main Surgisms. But notice the emphasis I put today on the last word in point #3, Accelerating. This is the physics side of the equation. In order to hit the ball relatively far, your club must be accelerating through the ball at impact to transfer the maximum amount of energy you are capable of doing. I say "relatively" far because everyone has a maximum swing speed they are capable of generating.

If your swing seems to be a mono-speed swing and it lacks zip, here's both a test and a drill which should help. Take a mid-iron, or any other similar length club, reverse it and grab it just above the hosel. Take a few full speed swings and listen for where in your swing you hear the loudest "swoosh". If you are accelerating through impact, you'll hear it as your arms fully extend at impact. If you don't have any zip in your swing, you'll probably hear it just as you begin your downswing, if you hear anything at all. Keep swinging this way, trying to increase your arm swing to its maximum while staying within your physical limits.

So put some gusto into your swing. Zip it to rip it!

Keep it vertical!