Golf Reviews
I recently ran across a golf instruction book on how to increase your distance off the tee. The book is called The 5 Keys to Distance and it’s written by world long drive champion and PGA pro Eric Jones. The info page shows him hitting the winning drive in the World Long Drive Championships and I’ll tell you it doesn’t even look like he is swinging hard, yet he still drove the ball 382 yards.
So I ordered the book, which also comes with videos. I was impressed!
The book is detailed, easy to read, and it put all the parts of the golf swing together in a way that made total sense. There is no fluff in this book. This guy really knows the golf swing. As I was reading The 5 Keys to Distance I actually got out of my chair to try the balance check. Sure enough, I was leaning over my toes. I hopped forward instead of straight up and down. I couldn’t wait to try that simple move on the golf course! When I did, I couldn’t believe the difference. I hit the ball clean and straight, right down the middle. Probably one of the best drives I’ve ever hit on the first tee. That change in balance alone was worth the price, which runs around $47.00.
So then I started working my way through the rest of the concepts. Jones summarizes each key concept in the acronym BLAST, which stands for Balance, Leverage, Arc, Speed, and Target. The drills that come with the book and the videos explain exactly how to maximize each concept for my own golf swing, which definitely has its own quirks.
It takes some work to figure out how to integrate these concepts into your swing. No doubt about that. But I am so tired of all these quick fixes and instant tips that promise results in 5 minutes. Anybody who knows anything about golf knows that it takes time and practice to make swing changes. But one of the benefits is that when I hit the range I have a definite plan of things to work on. I used to grab a bucket and hack away. I’d try to be smart and work my way through every club in my bag, but I never really felt like I was getting anywhere except keeping the rust off. With the drills in this book my practice is very focused. I’m spending about a week on each concept, working on the drills in 5-ball sets and rotating through each drill, just like the book recommends. I feel like I am learning a lot faster than I used to when I practice. And the results are showing up in my game.
The unexpected benefit is that I am hitting ALL my shots better. Not just the driver. When I put the balance part together with the leverage I actually started to compress the ball at impact – something I have been wishing I could do for years. I always thought I had to do something with my hands to get them forward at impact. But now I know that I have been rocking back on my right foot at the top of my swing, losing what Jones calls my “leverage” position, and taking my legs out of the swing. Now, when I stay with my weight on the inside part of my right foot, my lower body is leading the swing and I get more power with less effort.
If you want to pick up more distance off the tee, and if you want to play more consistent golf and hit better shots with all your clubs, you owe it to yourself to pick up The 5 Keys to Distance. If you click on any of the links they will take you to the info page where you can read about it and see the winning long drive.
