Training Methods for Players' Long Hits... "Follow These Steps"

Seoyoseop and Jeong Chanmin "Building Strength and Bin Swing"
Park Seonghyun and Yoo Haeran "New Products and Fitting Synergy"

A golfer's dream is a powerful long drive. It is the wish of both professionals and amateurs. "If I had to choose between distance and accuracy," said 'Long Drive Queen' Park Sung-hyun, "I would choose distance," adding, "Hitting long makes golf easier." This is because after a long drive, you can attack the green with a short club and secure a birdie. These are the long drive training tips that players known for their long drives on the tour share with weekend golfers.

Seo Yoseop recommended building strength and empty swings as long drive training methods.

Seo Yo-seop, who hits drives over 300 yards on the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour, credits strength gained through exercise for his long distance. Seo builds muscle through weight training and hiking. He emphasized, "It may sound clich?, but consistently exercising is the most helpful."

Along with strength training, Seo Yo-seop pointed to empty swings as a driving force for increasing distance. He advised not to try to increase distance while hitting the ball but to raise swing speed through empty swings. First, he practices empty swings with a heavier head or training tool than the driver. Then, he does empty swings with a shaft or stick lighter than the driver, and finally, empty swings with the driver itself. He explained, "If you repeat empty swings, you will feel your head speed increase."

'Long Drive King' Jung Chan-min also recommended the necessity of physical fitness and empty swings. Having sent the ball up to 370 meters, he said, "If you look at my body, it explains my long drives," adding, "Building physical strength and increasing swing speed through empty swings are necessary." He added, "I usually use the driver in tournaments," and "If you hit far, you can use short irons."

Im Hee-jung also said, "Exercise is essential to increase distance," adding, "You need to do a lot of upper body workouts as well."

Park Sung-hyun, who averages over 270 yards, recommended using clubs suited to the golfer. She believes that fitting the club is necessary to achieve one's distance. Park emphasized, "The head is important, but you have to choose the right shaft to match it," and "Fitting is the most important point for increasing distance."

Yu Hae-ran, who debuted on the U.S. stage this year, strongly recommended new equipment. She analyzed, "The newly released drivers reduce spin," adding, "If you choose a model that suits you, the synergy effect will be great." Park Sung-hyun also said, "There are many golf clubs that improve swing speed and ball speed," and "Since they are weapons that satisfy both distance and accuracy, amateur golfers now have a wider range of choices."