Distance determines your ‘potential’ in the game of golf.

According to Hank Haney, if you only hit it 150 yards off the tee, you’ll never be a single digit handicap player. Distance is always relative to the standard of play you want to accomplish over time. 

The more competitive you want to be, the more distance you will need.

“Nobody hits the golf ball too far.”

The single most important factor to distance is swinging faster, not harder.

On average, for every 1 mph of additional clubhead speed will give you 2.5 yards of distance.

Haney believes every golfer has the potential for at least an additional 4 mph within them.

There are still golfers who believe they swing too fast. Haney doesn’t believe this problem exists. Average clubhead speed for male golfers is about 86 mph. He contrasts this with the average (min) clubhead speed on the PGA tour at 105 mph.

The biggest issue amateurs have is swinging too hard and having a rigid, stiff swing.

The key is to swing much faster, but in a relaxed manner.  This means to relax your grip, your arms and shoulders. Concentrate on making a loud ‘swish’ with each swing.

John Jacobs coined the phrase, “the golf swing is nothing more than two turns and a swish.” You turn back, you turn through and you make a swish.”

One way to swing it faster is to get a wider arc in your swing. This requires you to make a slightly bigger turn with your feet out a little more so you can get your hips to turn. One way that golfers shorten their arc is because they don’t hinge their wrists enough.

-> Learn about golf practice, finessing shots, gaining swing speed and more (the right way)

Going Low