The Top 3 Reasons You’re Losing Distance

When I ask players what they would like to improve in their game, number one, by far is adding distance to their game. So, I’d like to discuss how your body, not technique can affect your loss of distance. Three things you can work on in the gym to generate more distance are flexibility, stability, and strength.

Increasing flexibility will allow players to generate a deeper backswing giving them the ability to generate more force in the downswing adding MPH to their clubhead speed. So, what are the most important muscles stretch to create a bigger back swing? Start with the muscles that are involved in rotation which include your hips, back, and shoulders.

• 90/90 Hip Stretch – 60 second hold in each position.

• Open Books – Torso Rotation – 60 second hold on each side.

Increasing stability will allow a player to generate more force giving them a solid base of support to fire from. Paul Chek, my first fitness teacher and author of a great book on Golf Biomechanics always said you can’t fire a cannon from a canoe. So, building a solid lower body and core will give a player that stabile foundation to fire from.

• Isometric Hold Chop – 2 to 3 reps x 60 second each side

• Single Leg Shoulder Turn – 2 to 3 reps x 60 second each leg

Adding strength will help a player generate more power and increase distance. Golfers that don’t incorporate strength training into their life will slowly lose distance over time. This will happen since we lose about ½ pound of muscle every year starting around the age of 30 if we don’t do some form of strength training to maintain or increase our muscle mass. Routines that incorporate both upper, lower, and core strength training exercises will be most effective to counter that progressive loss muscle mass.

• Trap Bar Dead Lift – 8 to 12 reps x 2 to 3 sets

• Trap Bar Squat – 8 to 12 reps x 2 to 3 sets