Down-cock it like Sergio

At 5'10" and only 160 lbs, it doesn't make sense that Sergio Garcia can hit it that far!!!  The PGA Tour is packed with players who are 6'+, 200 lbs and use their size to muscle the ball out there great distances.  So why is it that someone of Sergio's body type can hit the ball so far averaging 292 yards off the tee?  Well, it has a lot to do with... patience.

A the top of Sergio's athletic golf swing, he is in a slightly laid-off position, reminiscent of another golfer who was also slight in stature, but hit the golf ball a long distance - Ben Hogan.  The benefit of a laid off position at the top is that it allows the club to drop into a shallow path as you start your downswing IF you have patience.  Most average players don't wait for the club to drop into the slot and instead cast the golf club and swing from the top.  Sergio, Hogan, Fowler, Player and Trevino all have a tremendous amount of patience in that they allow the club to drop significantly from the top of their backswing into the slot.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Sergio Garcia's unique and powerful swing[/caption]

The danger of creating that much lag and that much drop is that it might be difficult to time the release of the golf club as it is a little stuck behind.  Sergio solves this problem by unwinding his entire body through the impact area, creating a body controlled release rather than a handsy or wristy release.  A body controlled action is a repeatable action and allows Sergio to deliver the club consistently to the back of the ball in the same way almost ever time with maximum speed.

So be patient and allow the club to drop into the slot - you will hit the ball farther!

Lee Tamburano