Players like the idea of keeping their arms close to their bodies during the swing. That might work for a putt or a delicate short shot around the green, but it’s not so great when you want to create as much power as possible.
Try this: Take your normal driver setup and bring the club halfway back. Let go with your trail hand and reach out and grab the shaft. If that’s pretty easy for you to do, then you need more width.
Set up again, and this time focus on creating more stretch with your arms and the club. Again, stop halfway back and reach for the shaft with your trail hand. If this takes more “reach” or effort, you’re officially in the speed-production business.
Make this stretch concept a part of your backswing on your real shots and when your arms get back in front of your body at impact, the ball won’t know what hit it.
Bernie Najar is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md.
