Harder/Faster swing=Longer drive?

The biggest misconception Amateurs make are a faster swing equals longer drives. To be able to hit the ball far one does need to have a decently high club speed. However, swinging faster makes it very hard to square your hands/club face in time. Usually, swinging fast will cause a "slice" or "push" (third position in image to the left). When people learn that fast swings can cause a slice, they usually try and flip their wrists to hopefully square their club face, which ends up with a "pull" or "hook"(first position in the image to the left). Instead of trying to flip your wrists why don't you just swing a little bit slower with a more square/solid contact, resulting in a straighter and long drive. Try that the next time you're on the driving range.

Match Backswing and Follow Through

For better balance and better ball striking, match your back-swing with your follow through.

Example: Pro golfer, Paul Casey, positions his hands and club parallel to the ground at waist height in position 2 in his back-swing. Notice on the follow through, Paul Casey's hands and club are also parallel to the ground in position 5.

Obviously you aren't supposed to completely mirror the back-swing with the follow through. But look at Paul Casey's shoulder turn in position 3 in comparison to position 6. The club and hands aren't similar, but his back is clearly visible do to shoulder and hip turn.

The small things the average golfer can focus on such as, replicating the back-swing with the follow through, will definitely improve the game, and they will see huge drops in the score.

Try this the next time your at the driving range, or just grab a club and examine your swing in the mirror for a quick minute. GOOD LUCK!