Golf Tips » April 2003: Clap your hands to better scores

One thing I work on constantly with students is getting them to have a good extension through the ball, keeping the clubhead on line to the target for as long as possible. This will produce more accuracy and more consistency in your ball striking.

In order to better understand the direct correlation of the arms and the body through the ball I want you to stand up and stretch your arms out in front of you as in picture #1.

Now, without moving your body, try to clap your hands together. You will see that you cannot as the right hand comes up short of the left.

There are two ways to make the hands reach each other.

You can bend your left arm, bringing the right hand closer and allowing the two hands to meet.

Or you can rotate your body so that the right shoulder and right hip come around level with the left shoulder and hip, allowing the two hands to meet.

You can see the direct correlation between keeping the left arm straight and rotating the body into a position that has the hips and shoulders facing the target.

Now put a club in your hands and try the same thing.

If you do not move your body through, the left arm will immediately break down.

If you allow your body to rotate, it is relatively simple to keep the left arm straight and create a good extension, which, as I said earlier, will produce those long straight shots you’ve been striving for.

So, the next time you go to the range, clap your hands a few times first, I’m sure you’ll love the results.