Factors that influence the distance shots in golf

Professional golfer Nick Faldo writes that two factors influence the distance shots travel when he hits them with the same club: tempo and the length of the swing. He recommends keeping tempo consistent from shot to shot, adjusting the length of the swing to change distance. Use the clock-face system to create a reliable grasp of the correlation between the length of your backswing and the distance your ball travels.
Step 1
Mark your practice area with towels or piles of golf balls every 5 or 10 yards over a distance of 120 yards.
Step 2
Address the ball, imagining a vertical clock face with the ball positioned at 6 o'clock. Practice a backswing from 8 o'clock to a follow through at 4 o'clock. Measure your arrival at each clock position with your arms, not the club.
Step 3
Practice hitting balls using a 9 o'clock-to-3 o'clock swing. Measure the average distance with your preset markers after hitting 12 to 15 shots.
Step 4
Repeat the process using a 10 o'clock swing, 11 o'clock swing and full swing. Note the average distances for each backswing length after 12 to 15 shots.