PGA Tour star Tony Finau knows a thing or two about swinging fast. As one of the longest and most powerful drivers of the ball on tour, Finau consistently finds himself near the top of the ball speed and driving distance charts. However, he says amateurs hoping to emulate his power can follow one simple piece of advice - get wide.

"The bigger you can make your arc, the farther the golf ball is gonna go," Finau said. "If amateurs can just picture a nice wide takeaway and really just try to make the club move as far away from the golf ball as possible and then from there, you’re gonna be able to generate the maximum amount of speed that your body can generate."

Finau explained that taking the club on a wider path back and through impacts speed in a few key ways. First, it allows the clubhead to travel farther, picking up more velocity. A wider swing also helps shallow out the attack angle on downswing for greater accuracy. Perhaps most importantly, the wider swing promotes lag in the downswing.

To work on width, Finau stresses starting the takeaway by moving the hands and club as far away from the body as possible. "Put a big emphasis on, on a nice wide long takeaway," he said. "Try to get that golf club as far as far away from the golf ball as you can on the back swing."

Amateur golfers looking for more distance would be wise to heed Finau's advice. Focusing solely on power often leads to an overly vertical swing. But by emphasizing width during the takeaway and backswing, golfers can add speed safely and consistently by letting their natural strengths take over. For those hoping to bomb it like a Tour pro, getting wide is the first step.

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How has Tony Finau's training evolved since he first started hitting the ball 300 yards at age 13?

Early Development: Finau learned to play golf from his father, who taught him the fundamentals of the game. His father used body mechanics from other sports, such as boxing, to explain the swing mechanics. This early training helped Finau develop a strong foundation for his swing.

Mechanics and Practice: Finau focused on refining his swing mechanics to ensure the ball was going where he wanted it to. He noticed that many PGA pros were missing fairways, so he invested time in practicing at different distances to improve his accuracy.

Banded Workouts: Finau uses banded workouts to strengthen his muscles. He prefers bands over free weights because they allow him to work out without the risk of injury. He also uses bands to expand his muscles while strengthening them

Recovery and Training: Finau emphasizes the importance of recovery during and after tournaments. He uses compression therapy, such as NormaTec boots, and the Hypervolt to maintain his muscles and prevent injuries. He also works with a trainer to maintain his fitness level and has developed a program that includes exercises from various trainers he follows.

Slice-Proofing: Finau used to hit a slice off the tee but worked with his teacher, Boyd Summerhays, to correct this issue. He changed his grip and swing mechanics to reduce the slice, which allowed him to hit the ball more solidly and control its direction.

Offseason Training: In recent years, Finau has focused on regaining his baseline ball speed and distance. He has worked on strengthening his lower body through training with the Utah Jazz and has seen improvements in his ball speed and distance.

Swing Speed Advice: Finau advises golfers looking to add speed to focus on creating a wider arc in their swing. He emphasizes the importance of taking the club back far and wide away from the body on the backswing to generate maximum speed

References: https://golf.com/instruction/driving/tony-finau-advice-swing-speed-play-smart/

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