This article was machine-translated from the Korean original. Read the Korean original
Today, I will show you how to build faster club speed. The key is understanding the downswing sequence. Many of you have likely heard the advice to "lead with the lower body," and while that isn't wrong, it becomes much easier if you understand what is actually happening inside your body.
01The visible motion is different from the reality.
On the surface, it appears as if the lower body moves first and the hands follow. However, this is merely the motion that is visible. Let me give you an example of chopping wood. When you pick up an axe with firewood in front of you, your hips move backward because you intend to hit it hard. You are not chopping wood to move your hips first; your lower body is simply reacting to the intention of hitting hard.
02If you throw it far, you'll find the answer.
There is a very simple way to verify this. Hold a ball in your hand and try throwing it comfortably for just 5 meters. Then, imagine you are throwing it 100 meters far away. You will then find yourself using your lower body significantly without even realizing it, even though I never told you to use your legs. It is the intention to throw far that makes you use your legs; it is not that you threw far because you tried to use your legs.
031 to 100, and 80
Let me show you a drill to help you feel this sensation with your body. Let's represent the address as the number 1 and the top of the backswing as the number 100. Take a slow backswing from 1 to 100, then return to 80. You don't hit the ball immediately from there—since someone who was originally going to 100 cannot generate speed at 80, your hands intend to hit hard back toward 100. At that moment, your lower body is already getting started.
The important thing to note is that you shouldn't actually go back to 100. You should only approach it with the intention of hitting harder and faster, and the goal is to feel your legs naturally start the moment that intention arises.
04Acceleration is on the right, not the left.
Many of you are likely aware that speed comes from the left to be fast, but I see it a bit differently. I believe acceleration should begin from the right. To take racing as an example, between someone who presses the accelerator after completing a corner and someone who starts winding the club right from the corner, the latter is far more efficient. The same applies to golf. Our "corner" is ultimately the impact, and if you apply force right before impact, your direction and timing are already off, resulting in a loss of power. Therefore, acceleration must begin at the top of the backswing so that the club head springs forward using inertia after undergoing deceleration.
05Right hand extension drill
Let me also teach you a practice method for perceiving power on the right side. I do not recommend actually hitting a ball with this; it is a drill designed solely to familiarize yourself with the swing feel. From your address position, extend your right hand and move the club slightly forward so that it is positioned in front of your left hand. From that state, take a slow backswing until you feel a distinct "thud" impact on your right palm. At that moment, firmly grip the club and pull it down into the downswing.
The important thing here is that you must grip the club the moment you feel the impact while going up, not after the backswing is complete. If you wait until you've gone all the way to grip it, the timing is broken and it becomes meaningless. You need to receive the momentum exactly as it went to pull the club in to bring it up more strongly.
06Organizing today
Do not try to force your lower body to engage first. If you simply intend to hit "harder and farther," your lower body will respond naturally. Try practicing the 1-100-80 drill and the right-hand extension drill I introduced today with practice swings first, and once you get the hang of it, try applying them to your actual swing. In the next column, I will explain the specific method for gathering this power into your right hip.
