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Special for SeniorsSpeed, Power, and Distance Driver Seniors ⏱ 6 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Distance for Seniors, Relaxed Swing: Paul Wilson

Are you losing distance and struggling to get it back? Paul Wilson speaks to senior golfers: he explains why swinging harder costs you even more yards and offers a simple tip for swinging looser—and therefore faster.

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Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemDriver Speed for Seniors: Glenn HaynesAussie Golf Pros · Seniors9 minSame problemA Gradual Warm-Up Before Playing: Mike MalaskaMike Malaska · Seniors7 minFrom the same proLearning the waggle: Paul WilsonPaul Wilson · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Paul Wilson sees it in his students: it’s often around 73 years old that people start losing distance. Because we get a little weaker, we hit harder, with our hands and arms, and you tense up. The result: where age would normally cause you to lose about ten yards, you end up losing 30. The sure sign: at the finish, your wrists and arms are locked, and the club points toward the sky. Even a solidly struck drive like this won’t go past 180 yards, because it relies on muscle alone.

Gold You need to swing more loosely, not harder.. A club that is released freely and quickly cannot stop mid-air: it rotates around the body at a 90° angle to it, whereas a blocked swing becomes vertical and moves out of the swing plane. The key is: to watch the clubhead out of the corner of your eye after impact, perpendicular to the line, instead of letting it go over your head. He recommends practicing swings using only this reference point until it feels natural, and then applying it when hitting the ball. Just like children who hit the ball far without using much force, “You don’t have to be strong to be relaxed”, and you can still hit the ball far even at 80 or 90 years old.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Practice your swings without a ball, keeping your arms and wrists relaxed.
  2. After impact, let the club swing around you without holding it back.
  3. Look for the clubhead out of the corner of your eye, perpendicular to the line.
  4. Repeat until this step becomes second nature.
  5. Play each shot with the same relaxed feel.
  6. Film your finish to make sure the club isn't pointing toward the sky anymore.

Key Takeaways

As we get older, we swing harder, tense up, and lose even more distance.
Sign of a locked-up swing: at the finish, the club points toward the sky.
A relaxed swing is faster than a tense swing.
Tip: Keep an eye on the clubhead out of the corner of your eye after impact.
You don’t have to be strong to swing loose.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Swinging harder to make up for lost strength.
  • Locking your arms and wrists at the finish, with the club pointing toward the sky.
  • Swinging mainly with your hands and arms.
  • Cutting the swing short instead of letting the club keep going.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Practice swings watching the clubhead out of the corner of your eye
  2. Shots hit with the driver that all have the same loose finish
  3. Video of the finish to compare before and after

Your Questions

Why do older adults lose so much distance?

According to Paul Wilson, aging causes you to lose a little strength, but if you compensate by swinging harder and tensing up, you lose much more: 30 yards instead of about 10.

How can you tell if your swing is locked up?

At the finish of the movement, the club points toward the sky, and your arms and wrists are straight. Film yourself or watch your partners.

What cue should you use to relax?

Keep an eye on the clubhead out of the corner of your eye after impact, perpendicular to the line, rather than losing sight of it above your head.

Do you have to be strong to hit the ball far?

No. Just like children, you can hit the ball far without using much force by staying relaxed: a fluid swing is faster than a stiff one.

Learn More

All “Senior Special” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Speed, Power, and Distance” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Viktor Hovland's Ball Striking: Height and TriggerOn the driving range, Hovland explains how he gained speed, how he gets the ball higher or lower with his 7-iron, and what trigger sets off his swing. Bryson DeChambeau's Drive: Unweight, Load, PushTo drive the ball far, DeChambeau doesn't try to swing faster; instead, he puts more power into the club: he shifts his weight, plants his feet firmly on the ground, and then pushes through the swing. Xander Schauffele's Stress-Free Driver Pre-Shot RoutineSchauffele's driver pre-shot routine: aiming point, square shoulders, anti-tension waggle; to hit it farther, keep your left shoulder high and your heel off the ground. Paul WilsonAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Paul Wilson). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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