Golf School

This months tip was a request from Frank Di Vito of Charlotte, NC who wants to know how seniors can generate a little more clubhead speed in order to get more distance.

Well, Frank, there are two things a senior can do to attain more distance.  

Step 1 takes about 10 minutes per day.  In order to make a fuller turn on the backswing a senior golfer needs to increase his/her flexibility.  As you get older a sedentary lifestyle will allow the big muscles in the torso to shorten and therefore restrict the backswing.  By doing these simple exercises you can lengthen the muscles and therefore increase your shoulder turn which will definitely generate more clubhead speed.

Exercise 1.

Put a club, preferably a driver, across your shoulders and slowly turn your body as you would on your backswing.  Remember to stay bent over while maintaining the correct spine angle and then turn through as you would on your follow-through.

Continue this process back and forth for about 5 minutes slowly extending the range of motion as your muscles stretch.

Now, put the club in the small of your back, and repeat the process, again for about 5 minutes.

Warning - Before doing any of these excursuses, please consult your physician.

Step 2 of the solution is fairly simple.  Simply allow your back foot to point out at about 45 degrees at address.  

This foot position will allow you to make a slightly bigger turn.  

Add this to your new-found flexibility, and the long lost distance should return.

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