Let The Shoulder Go For More Power

Looking for more power off the tee? You don’t have to swing harder to get it. Freddie Couples generates power with a nice fluid swing that seems effortless. Yet the ball travels great distances. To develop a swing like Freddie’s, you must eliminate the swing faults that sap power from your swing. Two of the most common swing faults that do this on the downswing are (1) coming over the top and (2) sliding the lower body aggressively toward the target.

To eliminate these swing flaws, you must draw your front shoulder away from your chin at the start of the downswing. This move pulls the arms and hands down on plane and lets the body unwind naturally toward the target.  Below are two drills that will help you perfect this move.

Shoulder Drill

 Take your address with your driver. Then, imagine a pole running from the instep of your back foot all the way up to your back shoulder. As you take the club back, try to touch the pole with your front shoulder, putting the shoulder behind the ball.

 As you start down, move your left shoulder latterly away from your chin and toward the target. You should feel as if you’re moving your front shoulder back to where it started at address. This draws the front shoulder away from your chin and positions the hands, arms, and club in the right position automatically.

Pull Back, Push Back Drill

Hold a 7-iron across your shoulder blades. Now take your normal address position. With your spine tilted away from the target, pull the club back with your back shoulder until the front shoulder is over your back knee. Then, as you change directions, push the club toward the target with your front shoulder.

Both drills create the feeling of the correct movement of your front shoulder separating from your chin.  Perfecting this move lets you eliminate two of the most common power-sapping swing faults on the downswing.