Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Every golfer should strive to hit the ball further. If you can squeeze a few extra yards out of each swing, it only makes the game easier.
One of the key indicators of power in the swing is clubhead speed. The faster the clubhead speed, the more potential you have to hit it long. So if you want to hit the ball longer, you need to get that clubhead speed as high as possible.
But while that holds some truth, it’s not the end all be all. In fact, for most amateurs, you can add distance to your drives without even swinging faster — you just have to be smart about your approach.
“I’ve been having a lot of questions about how to hit long drives,” says four-time DP World Tour winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat. “They try to hit it harder. But I don’t think it’s the right way for a beginner.”
Instead of swinging wildly at the ball with the goal of maxing out your clubhead speed, try focusing on solid contact. Swing smooth, have good tempo and try to hit the ball as close to the sweet spot as possible. If you can hit the ball in the center of the face, it’ll increase your smash factor, making your drives longer without changing anything else about your swing.
“The ball will get good spin and a solid strike,” Aphibarnrat says. “You’ll get a full amount of distance. That’s my little trick. Keep working on it and you’ll play better golf.”
It’s not always about how hard you swing — making solid contact is equally important. If you can find the sweet spot more consistently, you’ll find that hitting the ball longer is easier than ever.