I notice when I play with good golfers they have the ability to step on it when they want to. I similarly realize, I don't have an extra gear. If I try, I feel myself getting tighter and as a result, much more effort and no better result (or similarly, maybe more speed but not centered).
What works for you as a way to kick it into high gear?
What works for me as a way to kick it into high gear? Truthfully, I think it comes down to your definition of success when kicking it into high gear. When I think back on the times I tried to get some extra distance off the tee, I would say that actually getting some significantly more distance and hitting the fairway is probably around one in ten tries. I am to the point where I value playing from the fairway more than anything else.
Here is a typical experience for me. Wednesday league play. ABCD Scramble this week. I’m the A player. I’m playing one tee box farther than my teammates. So, I’m trying to get the ball out there. We only used 4 of my drives because I only hit the fairway 4 times. Not much help. We shot 2 under.
Next day playing in a different group, different course. Probably a little tighter course, and about 200 yards shorter. playing my own ball. I told myself to use the 2.8 swing all day. I shot 4 over with one double bogey on the #1 handicap hole, five bogeys ( two of those were 3-putts), and 3 birdies. The double bogey was the only time I tried to go longer off the tee, and I also 3-putted after finally getting on the green.
I will be 71 years old this October. My average drive carries about 205 and I average total distance is 227. I am probably longer off the tee with my 2.8 drill swing than most of the guys I play with. So, I have reached the point where I am ok with accepting the distance I get with the 2.8 drill swing. A lot of that satisfaction comes from also getting about one club of extra distance from my irons with the 2.8 drill swing. So, it is like I am getting 15 extra yards off the tee without trying to hit the driver farther.
Getting back to your question. When I try to hit the driver farther, I make sure I get a full shoulder and torso rotation (shirt buttons up) and increased wrist hinge. On the one out of ten times I do that successfully I can get about 30 to 40 more total yards. But 9 out of 10 times that just means I’m further in the rough, trees, back yard pools, and sometimes front yard flower beds, LOL. I should note, that I am more successful applying the power accumulators with my irons, and this adds to my ability to be satisfied with 225 yards down the fairway.
Wow, sorry for the long answer.