If you think of your golf swing as a complete circle, then the radius, as you know from your geometry lessons, is the halfway point from the edge of your circle to the center point. In a golf swing. Your arms and the club comprise the radius, with your shoulders as roughly the center point of that circle. Maintaining a consistent radius throughout your swing is important for hitting solid golf shots.
Your Swing Radius
Your swing radius is established by the length of your arms as you hold the club and address the ball. If you can avoid bending your elbows or wrists too much, you can maintain a nice consistent radius, which will usually result in solid contact between the club head and the ball.
Understanding Centripetal Force
Two forces are at work in a golf swing: centrifugal force, which is the force of something moving away from the center of a circle, and centripetal force, which is the force of something moving toward the center. Your back swing is all about centrifugal force, but your downswing is where you can maximize the centripetal force of your swing and bring more speed and power to your shot. If you can shorten your radius on the downswing, your club head will move faster, and that means more force on the ball.
It's All in the Wrists
To really unleash a faster club head and a shorter radius on the downswing, keep your wrists locked as they are at the top of your back swing for as long as you can on the downswing. This will shorten the radius, and if can release your hands at the last second, the force they will unleash will crush your shot. Releasing too early will lengthen your radius and slow everything down, and you may find yourself trying to "muscle" your shot. The next time you watch the big hitters on the PGA Tour, watch how fast their downswing is and try to keep an eye on their wrists and the last-second turn or torque that knocks the ball way down the fairway.
Watch Your Radius
Many pro shops and golf equipment stores have swing analysis available to customers. You can line up before a camera, take your swing and break it all down in slow motion video playback. While that can be helpful, especially if there's a pro there who can spot ways to improve your swing, you don't need a lot of fancy equipment. Get a friend to tape your swing or even set up a camera on a tripod. Watch your arm angles and the position of the club during your swing and see for yourself if you're incorporating too much elbow and wrist action and whether you're pulling hard at the end to boost your swing's centripetal force. Seeing your own swing from that angle will give you something to think about the next time you swing.
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