Alignment sticks could be a useful gizmo for coaching you to hit the ball tougher.
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Ah, clubhead velocity. It’s one thing that we discuss rather a lot on this column — and one thing that each golfer needs they’d extra of.
Not solely does velocity assist wow your taking part in companions, it additionally makes the sport simpler. With extra velocity comes larger distance and shorter golf equipment into greens. And with shorter golf equipment into greens comes extra birdies. It’s a easy components, however not at all times a simple one to place into observe.
Once we discuss including velocity it’s normally within the context of conditioning, whether or not or not it’s velocity coaching or within the fitness center. Nevertheless, there’s a approach so as to add extra velocity just by making our swings extra environment friendly — and it comes within the type of correct swing sequencing.
Enhance your velocity with alignment sticks
You’ve most likely heard the time period sequencing thrown round earlier than, however if you happen to don’t know the precise that means, right here’s a refresher. Sequencing is basically the order wherein every part of your physique strikes through the swing, and it’s important for hitting the ball solidly.
In the event you’ve ever seen a smooth-swinger like Fred {Couples} or Ernie Els appear to be they aren’t even attempting whereas producing huge hits, that’s correct sequencing in motion. When you may get all the pieces transferring within the appropriate sequence, you’ll be able to create tons of sleek energy.
The difficult factor with sequencing is that every part has to maneuver at a special velocity. The space your hips journey is completely different than that of your shoulders, and your shoulders completely different than your arms. This implies all of them need to work at completely different charges to unleash all their energy in the meanwhile of affect.
As GOLF Prime 100 Trainer Jonathan Yarwood explains within the video above, you need your hips to unload sooner than your arms through the downswing. With a bit of work, although, you’ll be able to simply appropriate the difficulty.
“Lots of people, their hips work too slowly or they work out of sync,” Yarwood says. “This alignment stick is a very goo factor if you happen to use it correctly.”
Take one alignment stick and thread it by your belt loop throughout your hips, after which take one other and stake it into the bottom just a few steps in entrance of your lead hip and a pair steps behind you. Make just a few observe swings and make be aware of when the 2 alignment sticks make contact.
“I can now really feel once I’m unwinding my hips,” Yarwood says.
For the correct sequencing, you need your hips to be about 45 levels open at affect. On the similar second, you need your ribcage solely about 30 levels open. This implies you want your hips to be unwinding a bit of bit sooner than your higher physique through the downswing.
Make some swings and be aware if you hear the clicking between the 2 alignment sticks. The objective must be for them to make contact earlier than you make contact with the ball.
“That’s getting your hips spinning and exploding on the proper time,” Yarwood says. “That’s going to create extra torque pressure, it’s going to extend your vertical pressure along with your driver, up your angle of assault. It does a plethora of issues.”
Add all of them collectively and also you’ll be hitting the ball longer — and extra stable — very quickly.
