A-Z of Power
ABC | DEF | GHI | JKL | MNO | PQR | STU | VWXYZ
M is for MPH
Speed equals distance.
Ever wondered which tour pro has the fastest swing speed or exactly how speed equates to distance? The brains behind Trackman did, too. So they worked it out (below), while we’ve added each player’s final 2014 position on the PGA Tour’s distance ranking in brackets (where applicable).
What it all means
Trackman also calculated how swing speed equates to distance. Every additional mph gives you three yards of distance. The average male golfer’s swing speed is 93.4mph; the average male tour pro’s is 113mph, while the average for LPGA pro’s is 94mph.
N is for Nicolas Colsaerts
The Belgian Bomber owns the record for the European Tour’s longest driver ever… and this is how he did it.
Back in September, Nicolas Colsaerts set a new record for the longest drive ever on the European Tour. He bunted one down the 18th at Celtic Manor which came to rest 447 yards away from the tee… leaving him a gap wedge second into the 613-yard par 5. He says: “I think it’s timing. I’m always amazed when I look at some guys. They’re swinging so fast, with furious action. But if you look at me, it looks very relaxed, a lot smoother. I realised I shouldn’t watch other long hitters because they’re going to hurt my rhythm.” To get more insight into how the Belgian Bomber brutalises courses, we spoke to his coach, Michel Vanmeerbeek.
Long-term planning
Distance is not something you can add to your game late in your career. It is something that needs to be organised right from the start. If you start by developing a flowing technique that allows you to hit it long, then you can add in control at a later date. If you start with a technique that is based around control, then it is very difficult to suddenly add extra yards. People debate whether it is a game of control or of distance, I always consider it a game of distance.
Give your swing freedom
A lot of people say his swing looks “really free” when they see it for the first time and I can see why. Nicolas looks like he plays with a lot of freedom, because he allows the club to travel pretty much uncontrolled to the top of the backswing. This is intentional. The only things I want him to think about are using his arms as a power source and his legs for support.
Grip strength
If you have a neutral grip, then it is very hard to be a long hitter, because it is very hard to develop the lag you need on the downswing. Because of this, Nicolas has adopted what I would call a strong grip.
A wide arc
To load the power you need to drive the ball 300-plus yards you need to combine a wide arc with a strong central axis. Nicolas does this by making as wide a takeaway as he can while keeping his body very centred. This move builds a lot of distance between the body and the clubhead in the backswing, allowing Nicolas to create a lot of stored power without looking like he’s putting in much effort.
Get more lag
I have never been a big believer in developing power via body or shoulder turns. For me, the greater the difference between the angle of the club and your left arm, the more lag you create. And the more lag you create the more potential power you have. Nicolas creates lots of lag in his swing and this means he is able to generate an incredible amount of power that allows him to really make the club snap when he releases it at the bottom of his arc.
O is for Optimum conditions
How much further will your ball go on a sunny day?
We all know that your ball doesn’t go as far on a freezing cold winter morning as it does in the middle of summer, but how much difference do the conditions actually make? Former USGA technical director Frank Thomas has said the difference is about two yards of carry for every five degrees (celsius) change in temperature. Going by Thomas’ maths, a drive that carries 250 yards on a 25-degree summer day will only carry 240 yards on a five-degree winter morning.
Dean Snell, who’s designed balls for Titleist and TaylorMade, told us: “When the ball gets colder, it can lose a few miles per hour in speed, which can mean a loss of distance,” he said. “The optimum temperature range is 21 to 32 degrees. At five-degree temps the ball can slow down and be shorter by five to 10 yards.” Keeping your ball warm on cold days can help, so don’t tee it up any sooner than necessary, and don’t leave your bag in your boot on cold nights before a round…