Drive for show and putt for dough maybe sound advice, but if you ask the average weekend golfer whether they would like to putt like Brad Faxon, or regularly belt the ball like Tiger, most would opt for Tiger’s power off the tee.

It is this fascination with power in golf that prompt’s me to write this article, and provide a golf tip.

A couple of facts first, that were discovered two or three years ago, by the teaching profession in the USA. These were, that by using the golf swing, test robotic arm generating a clubhead speed of 100 mph, the golf ball, on average, would go around 265 yards.

However, if the clubface is opened by 2 degrees only, then the distance reached was only 225 yards, with the same clubhead speed. Again by opening up the face to 4 degrees, the distance covered was only 185 yards.

This shows that distance is not just about power, and clubhead speed, but also hitting the ball squarely with a nice golf swing. This may sound like common sense, however many golfers are trying to hit the ball with the incorrect golf swing.

So, what is the secret of achieving maximum power? My golf tip is this:-

Speed, can be increased, by setting the wrists into a cocked position early, and on the downswing keeping the wrists cocked for as late as possible, and then swishing through the ball. This is similar to flicking your wrists, when using a badminton, squash, or tennis racket.

Power, comes from having as full and flexible a body turn as possible, plus creating a wide arc. The powerful muscles of the legs will also help.

To generate maximum power, it is essential that the start of the downswing be calm and unhurried. This enables the golfer to build up speed, so that the golf club is still accelerating when it reaches the ball. Finally, ensure that the arms are fully extended through to a high finish.

A key point to note is that the hands control the position of the clubface, keeping it square at impact.

Golfers, who are inclined to hit at the ball with their hands rather than a nice even tempo golf swing through the ball, find that they lose a lot of power, and hence distance.

To take the test, you first need to know how to understand the diagram of a chessboard in algebraic notation. If you are an experienced chess player who is familiar with chess notation, you can skip this paragraph and move to the paragraph where I describe the test. In algebraic chess notation, each row of the chess board is assigned a number from 1 to 8, beginning with the white side. Each column is described with a letter from a to h, going from left to right from the white side. Each square is described by a letter/number combination according to the intersection of the column and row that both contain that square. The lowermost square, farthest to the left is h8. (If you are sitting on the “white’s” side of the board). As you will see from the diagram on my website that I mentioned above, the uppermost square, farthest to the right a1.

I’ve posted a visual diagram of a chess board illustrating the algebraic notation method on my chess game strategies site. Scroll to the bottom, and click on the resources link to access the diagram.

Now allow me to describe the test:

This test requires some sort of timer or clock, a chessboard, one white knight, and one black queen.

Place the white knight on square b1. Place the black queen on square d4. The knight has to move all the way around the board, visiting the following squares in this order: c1, e1, f1, h1, a2, c2, e2, g2, h2, and so on until you reach g8 (you won’t be able to visit h8 because it is controlled by the black queen). During the test you cannot take the black queen, and you cannot put the knight en prise at any point.

It is acceptable to visit the squares in the list out of order, but only if you are using them to get from c1 to e1, for example. However, these squares must be visited again at the correct time in the order listed above. Only do the test once, and time yourself. Anyone who can complete the test in ten minutes or less on their first try reveals, according to Levitt, “real chess talent.”

This test may seem simple at first glance, but it will surely require intense concentration, a spacial knowledge of the chess board, and the will to keep going. Some people even give up after the first stage, because it takes nine steps.

If you go to my chess tactics site, scroll to the bottom, and click on the resources link, you can access the solution to this test, as well as results, in seconds, of some very accomplished chess players. Michael Adams, a world title contender, took 330 seconds (5.5 minutes). Many other GMs in the list required up to seven.”

Take a break from your computer and try it!

If it takes you longer than 10 minutes, don’t despair… this test requires that you are able to think strategically about the chess board, not simply memorize moves.

1.Expect the worst. Go into the event expecting that the start will not be easy. Know that you will bump into people, others will bump into you, but 99% of the time it is all by accident. Also know that the chaos at the beginning will not last for the entire swim, it will break up quickly as different speed swimmers separate.

2. Don’t panic. Keep your breathing from getting short. Stay as relaxed as you can while everyone else tries to get pole position. Don’t let others being frantic affect your state of mind.

3. Stay to the outside. Many will try to stay to the inside, as close to in line with the first buoy as they can get. Don’t follow the pack. Start outside and work your way in as you approach buoy #1. You many not get perfectly clean water, but you will save yourself from much of the madness.

4. Run until the water level is at your knees. This will maximize your time on land without being slowed by running through water.

5. Use shorter strokes to get through the chop. If you are swimming in the ocean and it is a choppy day, this technique helps tremendously. Once you get to some smoother water, go back to long strokes to maximize efficiency and conserve energy.