Here is the honest diagnosis for every golfer who keeps losing distance no matter how hard they swing.
The problem is not speed. It is the foot.
That sounds too simple to be true. The implications are not simple at all. Because when the right foot rolls onto the outside during the backswing, the glutes cannot fire. And the glutes are the biggest, most powerful muscles in the whole body. They are the ones that generate the power.
No amount of swinging harder fixes a power source that has been switched off. The only fix is starting from the ground up.
At Berman Golf, the tee drill described here is one of the simplest ways to make that shift happen, and Dr. Berman says this one move can add a minimum of 10 more yards.
Why Speed Is Not How You Gain Distance
Here is the mindset that has to change first.
Most senior golfers assume the way to get distance back is to swing faster. That is not where the distance comes from. The distance comes from activating the right muscles at the right time, and the biggest one is not being used.
This Bad Habit Kills Your Distance
Here is what almost every golfer is doing right now.
On the way to the top of the backswing, the weight rolls onto the outside of the right foot. It may be subtle. It may even feel like an exaggeration. But it is happening.
From a biomechanical standpoint, when the foot rolls to the outside, it is physically impossible to activate the glutes. The power source is off before the downswing ever begins.
Why Your Power Never Reaches the Ball
Here is a simple way to see why this does not make sense.
Nobody would think about standing on the outside of their feet to see how high they can jump. It would not work. What works is feeling the feet on the ground and then trying to jump as high as possible. That is how all the big power muscles get activated.
The golf swing is no different. Start from the ground up.
The Tee Drill That Solves Everything
Here is the exact setup. All it requires is a tee.
Put the head of the tee right underneath the arch of the right foot.
As you go into the backswing, think about increasing the pressure on that tee. Pressing into it keeps the foot from rolling to the outside. The foot stays grounded. Now the foot can use the ground. Now the foot is connected to the ground, and the power can start to come all the way up.
This Knee Position Creates Easy Power
Here is the next piece.
Keep the right knee bent. As you go into the backswing, keep pressing into the head of the tee, and do not straighten the right knee.
The glutes cannot fire when the foot rolls to the outside. They also cannot fire when the right knee straightens. So the checklist is short: pressure on the tee, and bend in the right knee.
The Move That Sends Power to the Ball
Here is the pro tip that ties it together. The core must be activated.
Pull the belly button into the spine. Think of it like trying to put on a tight pair of pants.
Now look at what is happening. The foot is connected to the ground. The knee is bent, so the glute can fire. The core is activated. That means the power the glute is generating can be transferred through the body, through the arms, through the hands, down the club shaft, into the clubhead, and into the golf ball.
Take away any one of those pieces and the chain breaks.
Still Losing Distance After More Lessons?
Here is the question worth asking.
If traditional golf lessons actually worked, there would be no distance loss and no reaching for the ibuprofen when making the turn heading into the back nine. It is time for a different approach. It is time for an activated approach.
Effortless Power Finally Shows Up
Here is the drill in action.
Tee a ball up. Set up normally, and then place the tee under the arch of the right foot. Go to the top of the backswing and make sure of three things. Smash the tee. Maintain the bend in the right knee. Keep the belly button pulled in tight.
Then grip it and let it rip.
Get a Free Swing Analysis
Want to know whether the right foot is rolling to the outside in the backswing right now?
Set the camera or phone up at two angles. One from the front, face on. One from behind, down the line. Film in slow motion. Swing.
Send both videos to gaindistance.com and Dr. Berman will give a free swing analysis. The first one is on him.
See exactly what the camera shows, not what the brain thinks is happening. The pressure on the right foot and the bend in the right knee at the top of the backswing are two of the clearest things visible in slow motion, and two of the most commonly missed from the inside.
Want a Step-by-Step Blueprint?
If this resonates and the advice out there feels designed for 25-year-old tour pros, there is a simple blueprint built specifically for senior golfers.
It breaks down:
How the aging body changes
Which muscles actually produce power
How to gain distance without swinging harder
How to improve consistency while reducing aches and pains
It is written at a fifth-grade reading level with clear visuals and practical drills that can start immediately.
A FREE digital copy is available at: 👉 gaindistance.comÂ
No gimmicks. Just clarity on how the body should move to play better golf for years to come.
Bringing It All Together
The foot rolls to the outside. The glutes shut off. The distance disappears. Fix the foot and the power source turns back on.
Put the head of a tee under the arch of the right foot. Press into it going back. Keep the right knee bent. Pull the belly button into the spine. Then let the power travel from the ground, through the glute and core, through the arms and club, and into the ball.
At Berman Golf, the focus is biomechanics first. Not cookie cutter swings. The goal is teaching the body how it should move, especially as it ages, so power can be generated safely and repeated under pressure.
The in-house and online coaching programs are built specifically for senior golfers who want more distance and better consistency without beating up their bodies.
For anyone tired of advice designed for tour pros and ready for a blueprint built for their body, help is available.
Because when the foot stays grounded and the glutes finally fire, swinging harder is not something to think about anymore. The power just shows up.
And when the power shows up, the game gets soooooo much easier!
If you enjoyed what you read and want to see it in action, watch the video below where Dr. Berman demonstrates the full tee drill!
