AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tee up a ball, and rip at it as hard as you can. Now repeat, and repeat, and repeat. That’s Mackenzie Hughes’ strategy for gaining distance as a seasoned PGA Tour pro, and also for you as a, well, less than PGA Tour player.
The 32-year-old two-time tour winner is one of four Canadians in the field at this week’s Masters, and I watched him spend half-an-hour on the most beautiful driving range in the world just whaling on his driver. I call it whaling on his driver, he calls it speed training.
“I’ve been doing it diligently since the end of last year,” Hughes said. “It’s just one of those things where I’m trying to increase my cruising ball speed. So last year on tour I averaged 170 (mph ball speed), and this year I’m averaging over 175. I’ve had 181 on the golf course, 180 a bunch of times, so that to me is making me better. If I get closer to the hole and keep it in play, stats say I’m a better player.”
But what about all the ads on television and our phones about gadgets, sticks, weights and other ways to spend our money to increase distance on the golf course?
“I used to do the speed sticks and try to train that way without a ball but I’ve found the most transfer comes from me trying to hit driver as hard as I can,” Hughes said. “I enjoy it, it’s kind of fun.”
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The Canadian is far from the only player on tour working to increase ball speed, but on this day at Augusta National, he was certainly the most theatric, leaving nothing in the tank as he repeatedly swung with maximum effort.
“I’ve had some strange looks and comments at times but I know it works and I believe in it,” he said. “Over the course of the year if you keep putting yourself 15 yards closer to the hole, you’re going to play better.”
So, is this something for us aging weekend hackers to try? “Yes for sure, you’re only getting shorter now,” Hughes said.
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