Written by Jim McLean for Golf Digest

One of the fundamentals I’ve taught over the years is that all better players make a wider backswing than downswing. In other words, if you were facing the golfer, the arc of the club coming down would be inside the arc going back. I’ve recently done some research on this topic with one of my lead instructors, Michael Hunt, and we’ve identified the power source produced by this move from backswing to downswing.

We call it the V-Gap, which measures the angle of the shaft at halfway down compared to where it was at halfway back — in both cases measured when the left arm is parallel to the ground. Picture those two shaft angles forming a “V” (above). Our V-Gap study of tour players proves the correlation between the gap and power. I’ll show you how to increase your V-Gap and maximize your distance.

CHECK YOUR ‘V’ (PHOTO ABOVE): Wrist hinge is a big factor in the V-Gap, which compares the shaft at halfway down to halfway back.

HINGE SLOWLY

The takeaway is critical because it establishes tempo, width and the proper sequence of movements in the swing. Historically, the game’s longest hitters, like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, have delayed the wrist hinge in the takeaway. This promotes freedom of motion in the backswing and creates a wide move off the ball and a longer swing arc.

Shorter hitters tend to set their wrists early in the takeaway and make a much narrower backswing, where the right elbow bends too soon and the club gets vertical very quickly.

NO: Hinging the wrists from the start decreases width in the backswing. The V-Gap and power will be limited.

SPLIT GRIP FOR A WIDE START: This drill will give you the correct feeling of a long right arm in the takeaway. Set your right hand on the grip farther down than normal — like you’re gripping a hockey stick. Then swing the club into the takeaway, feeling the width you create. You should get the sensation of reaching to your right. Your right arm should be extended but not completely straight; you want it to feel long but supple, not rigid. Width in the takeaway translates into a powerful position at the top, setting up a huge V-Gap coming down.