This article is not about math.  This is about the golf swing and how the best golfers use multiplication to create effortless power while the less skilled golfers try to use addition to generate power.

Addition of Power

When I say less skilled players use addition in order to generate power, I mean that power is mainly seen as something that is provided by the hands and arms.  This thinking is only natural because most golfers think of the golf swing as trying to hit the ball or trying to help the ball into the air.  The most natural reaction to this thinking is to only use the arms and hands. Using just the hands and arms is a very inefficient way to generate power.

The use of the hands and arms only is what I define as “adding” force to the swing.  This “addition” of force happens as the club gets near the ball.  Addition is seen as a jerky stroke that uses much effort that results in poor golf shots.  The focus is mainly on the ball and not the swing.  In order to become a better golfer, the focus should be mainly on the swing.

Multiplication of Power

Professional golfers and skilled golfers use multiplication to generate power.  Golfers who use multiplication to generate power have smooth, rhythmic, and balanced swings.  Multiplication of power is an efficient building and releasing of tension while using your rhythm and swinging in balance.

Creating tension efficiently is accomplished by using resistance to build tension.  This starts in the back swing with the upper body coiling around a resisting lower body.  The down swing does not just release the power built up in the back swing.  In fact, more power is built up during the down swing.

Multiplication of power in the down swing starts from the ground up.  The lower body provides a solid platform to support the upper right arm and the upper body to efficiently build and release tension.  The resist of the right hand also provides efficient tension.  As the upper right arm is snapping down with abandon, the upper body efficiently builds and releases tension.  This tension is felt in the left side and across the upper back.  The multiplication of power in the down swing, starting with the upper right arm and moving to the upper body, happens in a very short period of time.

This multiplication of power results in the arms, hands, and club being whipped down and towards the target.  The difficult part is to resist ADDING power as the hands are being whipped towards the target.  The less skilled golfer will try to add power as the club approaches the ball, while the skilled golfer surrenders to the multiplication of power and does not try to add power at the ball.  The skilled golfer actually releases the power when the club is snapped down on the right side of the body.

In order to create the multiplication of power and surrender to the multiplication of power, the focus must be on the swing motion and not the ball.  To hit the ball straighter and farther, multiplication is better than addition.