On The Tee with Hank Johnson

FIND YOUR MOST “EFFECTIVE” SPEED

Ever notice that when you hit a really great shot, the swing felt effortless. Then, you think to yourself, “Ahh, if I hit such a great shot without effort, imagine what would happen if I really “went after it”? The funny thing about golf is that the harder you try to hit the ball, the shorter it usually goes.
Recently, a couple of beginner students observed that they were surprised at how little effort they had to use to make a good golf swing. This goes contrary to human nature that the harder I try, the better I should get. One of them said, “I have to use virtually no strength”. A very good player and State Amateur Champion said to me “I have to feel like I’m using NO acceleration”.
Trying to swing less hard sounds simple to do but don’t be fooled. Here are some suggestions to help you:
1. Find your ideal speed. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being really slow and 10 being grease lightning, what would your ideal speed be? The next time you are out on the practice tee, take some time to swing at a speed of 1 and then at a speed of 10. Then progress through from 2 through 9 to find out which speed gives you the most consistent strike. This number will be different for each person. You will be surprised at how slow you feel you have to swing.
2. Focus on proper mechanics on the practice tee. In order to have effortless power, you must ensure that you have sound mechanics. Utilizing a video system will aid your efforts to change your mechanics and will also give you accurate feedback on your attempts at change. Don’t get discouraged when your efforts at correct mechanics do not yield immediate results. Keep persevering. Too often we quit too soon.
3. Go slow. When you are making swing changes, slower speeds will help you learn the correct movement quicker. Football and basketball teams do something similar called “walk throughs”. Athletes learn the plays at a walking pace and as they get more familiar, they can then increase the speed. When making swing changes, start slow and don’t worry about distance. As you get more proficient, you can work your swing speed back up to your ideal speed.
Swinging slower will give you the impression that you will not hit it out of your shadow. Stick with it. Over time you’ll be pleased with the results!