“A stable base is vital for a long, fairway splitting bomb...”
SET UP
A stable base is vital for a long, fairway splitting bomb so set up slightly wider than you would for a normal iron shot. You want to get your weight turning onto your left side as fast as possible so a stance slightly wider than shoulder width will allow you to move energy without losing balance. TURN YOUR RIGHT SIDE I often see amateurs trying to get power through swinging their arms as fast as they can. This is not the most efficient way to transfer energy.
Concentrate on feeling your hips turning through the shot as this will help to get the lower body working.
Make a few practice swings turning the body as fast as you can feeling the club building up momentum and you should feel an increase in club head speed. SHOULDERS AND HIP SEPARATION The longest and best drivers such as Rory McIlroy get good separation between the shoulders and the hips in the swing. This has become known as the “X Factor” in the golf swing. In order to do this you need to have a good range of motion in your thoracic spine area. Here’s a simple exercise that will help you to develop a better range of motion.
Stand in golf posture with a club across your shoulders. What you are going to try to achieve here is the movement of your shoulders without moving your hips. Turn your shoulders to the right (as in a backswing) as far as you can so you feel a good stretch. Do the same the opposite way.
You may find this difficult at first but stick at it and you should see an increase in the range of motion. This will help to speed up your turn through the shot and will make it much more of a free movement.