4 major golf swing power leaks, according to a Hall of Fame teacher

1. Disconnected Lead Arm

One of the biggest power leaks, Adams says, demonstrating with one of his students, is when a golfer’s lead arm becomes disconnected from their pivot through the ball. When that happens, it’s easy for your arms to lose speed; when your lead arm is connected to your torso on the downswing, you can use your body to power them through.

“Now, you’re plugged in and can use the ground for power,” Adams says.

2. Overswinging

A big backswing turn is important, of course, but it’s important not to fake your backswing turn. Swinging too long and allowing your trail hands to come off the club slightly is a major power leak that will cost you yards.

3. Sliding

The way you use the ground is imperative to hitting longer drives. Adams says every golfer uses the ground in three ways: The glide across it, they turn on it, and they launch up off of it. Finding the right combination between those three will help you hit longer drives.

Often, Adams says golfers will lose power when they shift too much — or slide — so their lead hip moves past their lead foot.

“Moving your pressure to the ball of your left foot loads your verticals,” Adams says. “If you move outside of it, you can’t load them.”

4. Not enough shift

But like we were saying, it’s a balance, and while sliding too much is bad, so is not shifting your weight. A slight weight shift will drop the club in the slot and, combined with your other moves, will plug all those power leaks for longer drives.

“If I spin from right heel to left heel, the club gets outside,” Adams says.