Coil for more power video

Golf Monthly Top 25 coach Gary Smith explains how optimising your coil for more power can result in you gaining valuable yards off the tee.

coil for power
Andrew Jones Portugal October 2014 Picture Credit: Mark Newcombe / visionsingolf.com
(Image credit: Mark Newcombe / visionsingolf.co)

Golf Monthly Top 25 coach Gary Smith explains how optimising your coil for more power can result in you gaining valuable yards off the tee.

Optimising your coil for more power can result in you gaining valuable yards off the tee, leaving you shorter irons into greens.

Try these tips if your swing lacks power and you often find your driver goes the same distance as your 3-wood.

A technically sound swing will also be a powerful one. If you lack yardage, especially off the tee, the first thing to check is the quality of your coil.

The way you work your body through the swing will determine how powerful your drives are. To groove a more effective rotation, place the shaft of your driver across your chest as shown.

Now turn as you would during the backswing until the shaft is at right angles to the target. The resistance between your upper body and your hips is what creates speed through the downswing.

So make sure the left side of your chest turns over the ball and that your elbows do not fold and you’ll add crucial yards to your drives.

Read more top driving tips

Top tips

  • The most powerful swings are often the most technically sound swings.
  • If you consider yourself a short hitter, the first thing to check is how well you coil and uncoil throughout the swing.
  • The amount you work your body through the swing will determine how much energy is transferred into your drives.
  • Try placing the shaft of your driver across your chest to groove a more effective rotation.
  • Turn as you would during the backswing until the shaft is at right angles to the target.
  • The resistance between your upper body and your hips is what creates speed through the downswing.
  • Ensure that the left half of your chest turns over and covers the ball, and that your elbows do not fold.
  • Combining all of the above movements should add crucial yards to your game.
Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.