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How to Apply Force Earlier in the Golf Swing
Generating ground reaction force early in the swing is one of the superpowers we often see in the longest hitters in the world.
Our assessment with Michael Brennan, one of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, offered a clear example of this. He pushes aggressively against the ground early in the downswing, causing his vertical force to peak well before the shaft reaches vertical and giving it more time to contribute to clubhead speed.
Whenever we share these examples, golfers understandably want to know how they can learn to do the same.
As Dr. Greg Rose explains in the video above, many amateurs apply force to against the ground later than professionals. We want to help golfers use their legs and trunk to help apply force to the club earlier, giving them more opportunity to accelerate it before impact.
We use tools like medicine balls or jump drills to help develop that feel, but we also need to be able to take it to the turf. The Pelvic Punch drill variation that Greg demonstrates here offers another way to explore it with a club in your hands.
Start with an 8-iron and rehearse your downswing, stopping when the shaft is parallel to the ground. From that position, try to hit the ball as quickly and powerfully as you can without taking the club back up first.
Removing the option to take a backswing encourages you to find speed from that stopped position. The intent is to feel yourself push against the ground and use your lower body to help accelerate the club. Once you’re comfortable, repeat from a higher starting position with the shaft at roughly 45 degrees.
We’ll use different exercises or feels depending on the golfer. Pelvic Punch is one option for learning how the whole body can help apply force to the club earlier, then carrying that sensation into a full swing.
We can help golfers generate more speed by building their physical capacity and helping them use that capacity more effectively. Building capacity is training, a focus of our Fitness Level 3 and Power Level 3 courses. Learning to apply it is coaching, a focus of Golf Level 3. Pelvic Punch is one example of how a drill can help golfers get more out of the capacity they already have.