Achieving a full swing as a senior player becomes more and more difficult the older one gets. Naturally, distance will wane over time but accuracy shouldn't and hitting the ball straight shouldn't be an issue if you've been playing the game for any length of time.
However, many senior players cite shortening distance as their main issue and dream of the times they used to be able to belt the ball over considerable ground.
This article is not going to turn you into the world's longest hitter but will help you maintain a full swing and help you maximize the greatest amount of power into your shot.
Winding Up For A Big Swing
Achieving greater distance has a lot to do with the fullness of the swing. Many players will check their swings too early before coming down on the ball. They do this by fighting the bend of the elbow. If you're a right-hander that bend is in the right arm and vice-versa for a left-hander.
By preventing the elbow from bending naturally as you draw back on your shot is preventing
you from taking a full wind-up and hence, by the time the club has made impact with the ball, the power generated won't be as great as it would have been if the elbow bend wasn't resisted.
The secret is to make sure your arms are flexible during the pre-swing period and to let the elbow bend naturally.
Overcoming Inflexibility
For older players, it's not so much resisting the elbow bend which affects their ability to get distance but it's more a matter of waning flexibility and diminishing power.
The older one gets the more the tendency is to hunch over. This only serves to restrict your turning ability thus affecting your power. Instead, practice standing straighter. Bending the knees ever so slightly, make sure your back is straight and you are bending forward until your club is in the contact position with the ball.
Practice this until you are comfortable with it and then take it to the practice range. The idea with this technique is to allow those older players who don't quite possess the flexibility anymore, to be able to take a full swing at the ball without compromising their accuracy. The club will swing in a more vertical motion because of the straighter stance.
Yes, it may feel awkward at first but remember, it's really only a minor adjustment in terms of the way you stand over the ball and shouldn't present any problems in it's correct execution.
