Find your Powerlinesm to Increase your Power Potential
It seems these days that every golfer at every level is seeking more distance and power. Golfers are adopting fitness regimens and purchasing new equipment all to increase their chances of hitting the golf ball further. It addition to fitness and state of the art equipment, we know that the best players in the world hit it further mainly because of their technique and physical ability. Through massive research with Carl Welty, Jim McLean has found one common denominator in every great player's swing that allows them to send the ball screaming down the fairway. This discovery is what Jim McLean calls the Powerline. Now, one of the best teachers in the world is going to help you find your Powerline in this article so that you to can increase your distance and power potential.
The golf swing is a circular motion, defined by the arc of the clubhead moving around the body; but there is one straight line that is essential to every good swing, the Powerline. The Powerline describes two key components of the swing: the delivery position and the release. If you can get both of these positions correct, you're almost certain to swing the clubhead on a more powerful arc that results in longer, straighter shots.
The ideal delivery position halfway down in the downswing will place the clubshaft parallel to both the ground and the target line. If you can get the club in this position it will be said to be on plane, which is imperative for solid ball striking. It is super important that the right elbow be in front of the right hip with the club parallel to the target line and the toe of the club pointed straight up. Avoid at all costs getting the elbow stuck behind the right hip, and do not let the butt end of the club point right or left of the target line. Make certain that butt end of the grip points parallel to the target line and the result will be long, straight shots.
From your Powerline delivery position through impact, your body must shift and rotate toward the target, turning your weight around your front leg. Push hard off the inside part of the right instep to create power like Tiger Woods does.
The power release occurs just before the club reaches the horizontal. Here, again the shaft is parallel to the target line. In the ideal release, the shaft will line up with the right arm, and stay extended to create width on the follow through. The wrists will be angled down, fully released and pointing toward the ground.
To improve your Powerline, begin with small swings, trying to find both the ideal delivery and release position. Start at the proper delivery position and swing through to the release position. Begin to hit small shots this way trying to hit piercing solid shots that only fly less than 100 yards with a 7 iron. Once you become consistent at these shots it will become easier to work it into your full swing and really increase your power potential.
Find your Safety Zonesm to Increase Accuracy and Consitency
The "Safety Zone" is the space between the shaft-plane and the Hogan plane. The shaft-plane is the angle of the clubshaft at address when it sits on the ground. The Hogan plane is the imaginary pane of glass that Ben Hogan wrote about in his great book The 5 Lessons. The Hogan plane is a line that goes from the ball, through the top of the shoulders at address. (See picture below) Ideally, we want the clubshaft to travel within this "Corridor of Success" during both the backswing and the downsing. Stay within this Safety Zone and your golf shots will improve dramatically.
