When I was in high school, I tried to compete in track and field events. Learning the rudiments of throwing a disc was a lot like learning the golf swing. In neither of which was he good.

One of my teammates looked more like he should be in the pole vault than in the discus ring. Yet there we were because in a small high school, opportunities for failure abound.

It didn’t seem fair that we were competing against the state record holder who had also earned a spot on the Illinois All-State football team as a first-team tackle.

Seeing my skinny young teammate finish for his discus throw, I didn’t expect it to be stiff competition for his burly competitor.

At 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, it appeared to be a futile competition against the 6-foot-5, 265-pound state champion.

However, when distances were measured, it was a surprise to see that the agile athlete was able to launch his puck within a few feet of the champions’ best shot.

What was your secret?

In the same way, Rory McIlroy is only 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds and yet his average drive at the US Open was 310 yards.

How do you transfer so much power off the tee?

The answer is the same for both. It’s the same secret a whip handler knows. To get the most out of it, you need to know the correct sequence and time to use ‘the kinetic chain’.

The knowledge and skill of this kinetic chain allows the initial power output to be relatively small compared to the last intense crack of energy delivered.

Energy is constantly transferred through the golfer’s body in a series of joining body parts controlled by fascia and muscles. This energy is efficiently channeled or wastefully dissipated depending on the available movement and control of each of its links.

Using this kinetic chain is the key to hitting the golf ball for a long time. In fact, the one thing all long ball hitters have in common is their ability to store energy and increase that energy through a specific swing sequence.

Technology now allows us to measure the rotational speeds of each segment of the body as it moves through the golf swing. What these measurements have revealed is that using the correct sequence allows energy to be transferred to each successive segment progressively.

For example, during a golfers backswing, ground forces are initially transferred through the feet to the legs, torso arms, and clubhead. This energy storage is possible thanks to the elasticity of the body’s fascia (fa sha).

In transition, that stored energy is transferred back through rotational speed starting at the hips, building through the torso, gaining more momentum through the arms, toward the clubhead, and through the golf ball.

In fact, according to Dr. Greg Rose of the Titleist Performance Institute, measurements using 3D analysis show that the rotational speed of the average amateur golfer is 300 to 350 degrees per second. Most Pro Tour players hover around 500 to 550 degrees per second.

In comparison, little Rory McIlroy moves his hips at an average of 720 degrees per second! With that amount of energy transferred to your torso, your arms don’t need as much power as they need to be stable to deliver maximum power on impact.

So how can we learn this secret? One way is to find a TPI certified golf fitness instructor who is also certified in the use of 3D swing analysis. He or she can help you identify those areas where you are losing power and then develop a plan to help you perfect your golf swing and …

Have a great game!