The Lord of Golf Factor "POWER"

     Opinions on power vary greatly. Technique can be an overriding factor as to the best source of power for any given swing style. If we disregard swing style and just look at power itself, there's little room for opinion.
     Golfers are fascinated with power and drool over the prospect of being able to drive the ball further. It would seem unthinkable that when I ask person after person to show me the most powerful position in the golf swing and nobody seems to know what that is. I ask them to swing the club in slow motion several times and try to find the most powerful position. After they show me this position, I move them into the true power position and ask "From which of these positions could you destroy anything that was put in front of you?" This is when opinions end and power becomes clear.
     The position of the hands and the angle of the club shaft are the key factors relating to power. Specifically the position and angle on the down swing as the hands pass the waist high mark. The distance the hands are from the target line and the distance the hands are from the hip along the body line form the Power Factor. Optimizing the sum of these distances can make you feel like a diesel semi in a world of Yugo's.
     With a golf club in your hands, fully cocked, reach for this waist high position. Tilt the hand angle until the handle points down the body line. From this position you do not want to pull the club or club handle forward.
If you make an effort to keep the hands deep as you turn, the arms will want to drop the club into the ball as you turn. With power to spare and the ease to nearly automatically get the club to the ball, would it seem reasonable to change your swing objective from swinging at the ball to swinging into or as close as possible to this position and then let the rest happen, while you take responsibility for turning? This concept is the basis for turning golf swing mechanics into a true athletic motion. I like to think of this command over power as an opportunity to use less effort and take greater control over your game.
  For a more popular approach, you can elect to point the handle more toward the target line than the body line, the power is still there to be had. You will have to use more arms and you will not be able to put as much body weight into your shots. Your turn will be required to provide power while getting out of the way of the swing, something most of us like to call "clearing"

Figure 1, top left. Figure 2 top right or middle. Figure 3, lower.

Fig.1 With this popular hand angle, I'll want to get my hip moving early and turn in a way that does not interfere with the path of the club.

Fig.2 With this hand angle, momentum is carrying the club nearly straight down, forcing me to have to push the club out to the ball with my right side. The right leg is ready to help push the right shoulder in the direction of the arrow, creating a deep wide turn that keeps me behind the ball and allows me to drive my body weight thru the ball. I don't try to get anyone to achieve this position. I may step someone through this position so they will better understand what I want when I ask them to swing more like this.

Fig.3 Shows the depth I would like to achieve on the downswing regardless of hand angle. In all the pictures the shoulders remain near fully turned. It's not a function of timing that holds the shoulders in this position. Reaching for depth automatically holds the shoulders back and restricts the hip turn as well. Protecting the yellow turning lane as long as possible allows me to make a big, free, powerful turn when it counts.

Most of my students find their comfort zone somewhere between these two hand angles. Important- The quest for extension often results in too much tension. Try to remain limber and free during the back swing and gradually extend on the down swing.

Closely related topics:

See one of my favorites *It Looks Easy*

See Shoulders and the Take away

See Golf Hand Eye Coordination