How to Hit a Golf Ball Far: Advance Your Game With These Tips
Wondering how to hit a golf ball far? Read on for advanced tips on how to increase your distance and get the long game you want. Keep in mind that these tips are for golfers who have been playing for awhile–if you’re new to the game, check out our article on how to hit a golf ball for beginners.
Create More Torque
“Torque,” or resistance between your upper and lower body, is an important factor for swing speed. To produce more torque on your swing, you need to wait to move your arms downward until after your hips have shifted forward and turned. To make this movement easier and more second-nature, work on your flexibility with regular exercise such as yoga or basic stretching. The better your flexibility, the more natural it will feel to swing with torque.
Lead with Your Hips
A common mistake people make that slows down their swing is just using their arms and shoulders to swing, when they should be using their whole body. Putting the force of your body into your swing increases its power and will send your ball much further than if you are just hitting it with the power of your arms.
To get the strength of your entire body behind your swing, you need to lead with your hips. When you lead your swing with your hips, it creates a whip action in your arms and considerably increases the speed and power of the swing. To do this, think about beginning your downswing with your hips and following them through with your upper body. This might feel awkward at first, and you will feel like impact with the ball is delayed, but the more you do it, the better it will feel.
Master Center Contact
Hitting your golf ball with the center of your club face goes a long way in making your ball, well, go a long way. Mastering center contact is all about tilting your body’s center of mass towards the ball. To do this, stand with your weight evenly balanced and bend your legs so that your weight is slightly forward in the balls of your feet. Avoid putting too much weight on your heels.
If you are not sure where on the club face you’re hitting, spray the club with impact chalk before hitting a ball, and it will leave a mark showing exactly where you made contact with the ball. This will show you where you’re hitting the ball and help you correct it.
Change Your Golf Ball
The golf ball you’re using may be holding you back. If you want to hit your golf ball further, try switching to a golf ball made specifically for distance. There are plenty of balls that use special design and technology created to increase the distance that a golf ball will fly. Try one of the below golf balls and see how it impacts your distance.
Golf Balls Built for Distance
Callaway Warbird
The Callaway Warbird is a two-piece golf ball that increases distance and height. Its HEX aerodynamics in the cover work to reduce drag for enhanced distance and hang time. Note that this ball launches high, so if you struggle with keeping your flight down, it may not be the ball for you.
Bridgestone E12 Contact
This soft-feel, three-piece golf ball is designed to give you long distance with minimal sidespin. The Contact dimples on the cover allow for improved energy transfer upon impact.
Titleist Velocity
This two-piece golf ball is Titleist’s longest-range ball. The cover construction adds some softness to the firm core, and the dimple pattern gives this ball high flight and a more consistent trajectory. This ball has a firm feel which can be difficult for newer players, but it gives great distance and low spin.
Pinnacle Rush
Pinnacle is well known for making great-value distance balls. The Rush is a two-piece distance ball with a high-energy core that gives you higher speed no matter what club you use. This ball offers high flight, enhances speed, and a good feel.
Bonus Tip: How to Hit a Golf Ball Straight
Line it Up
Make sure that your ball and club head are aligned with your target. To do this, you can lie your club down on the grass pointing towards your target. Stand with your feet perpendicular to where your club is lying, then hit your ball from there.
Get Your Stance Right
Having the proper stance is essential for hitting a golf ball straight. Your legs should be shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly bent and your feet parallel. As you swing, bend at the waist and keep your back straight.
Consistent Speed
Make sure that as you swing, your speed is consistent throughout. If your speed is consistent as you follow through the entire swing, you will create sidespin, and your ball will not fly straight.
