Power has been the topic of late, as we’ve talked about how power in the golf swing is clubhead speed. Increasing clubhead speed is a combination of both your swing mechanics and body, which is where golf fitness exercises can help.

A quick review of the definition of power provides a very important principle we must always keep in mind in all of our power-developing golf fitness exercises -- speed.

Yes, speed is a very important component of increasing the power in your body and golf swing. Remember, according to Vladimir Zatsiorsky, a professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Penn State, power is the ability of the body to create the greatest amount of force in the shortest amount of time possible.

Power is not developing force over a long period of time but rather in a short amount of time. If we take this little nugget of information, plus our principle of cross-specific training, we can incorporate them into our golf fitness training. We know the exercises within the power-development section of our program must be executed at a high rate of speed.

What does this accomplish? Over time, it simply trains our bodies to generate more force in the shortest amount of time possible. The end result will be a body with stronger muscles, which will allow you to generate more power (i.e. clubhead speed) in your golf swing and thus increase your potential to drive tee shots 300-plus yards.

It’s a pretty simple concept once you break it all down, but let’s make sure we all understand how to implement speed into our golf fitness exercises. In previous examples, such as our Seated Russian Twist or Medicine Ball Side-to-Side Exercise, speed of movement is a very important component of these exercises.

Increasing clubhead speed is a combination of both your swing mechanics and body.

First and foremost, it is important to learn the correct technique of each exercise. Once this is accomplished increasing the speed of the exercise is vital to getting the most benefit out of each one. Executing the rotation as fast as possible, while still maintaining the correct technique of course, is how you implement speed into these exercises.

For example, with the Side-to-Side Medicine Ball Rotation, I want to rotate back and forth maintaining the “athletic position.” I want to execute the exercise as fast as possible, which elicits the development of power in the muscles of my core over time. If you find yourself losing your technique as the speed of the exercise gets faster, slow it down a little and increase the speed in increments as your body adapts to the changes.

So that’s one new thing to keep in mind -- power is equated with speed, and the way to increase the power in your body, at least as it pertains to your golf swing, is through power training executed at a high rate of speed.

Sean M. Cochran is the personal strength and conditioning coach for 2006 Masters winner Phil Mickelson. He is co-owner of BioForceGolf.com and the author of several books, including most recently, Your Body & Your Swing. Cochran, who has worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres as well as working individually with players like Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, started working with professional golfers, most notably Mickelson (who won the 2004 and 2006 Masters, and the 2005 PGA Championship), in 2002. Recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities in golf-specific strength training, he has spoken at numerous seminars and clinics around the country. BioForceGolf.com was founded in late 2004 to respond to the need of the amateur golfer for quality information on golf-specific-strength training. The site provides subscribers the highest quality information in the areas of golf training, nutrition, and general instruction.