The golf swing is a circular motion, defined by the arc of the clubhead moving around the body. But there is one straight line found in every swing. And the line is essential to swing consistency and accuracy. That's your Power Line. Achieve the correct Power Line position and you're on your way to a high-voltage swing that produces longer, straighter shots and a lower golf handicap.

The two key elements of the Power Line are the delivery and release positions. They corner the Power Line. If you were to draw a line from the correct delivery position to the correct release position, it would be straight. Between the two positions, the clubhead follows a powerful arc through impact to the ideal release position, with the shaft of the club parallel to the target line. This indicates that the club is on plane—essential for solid ball striking.

How critical is your Power Line delivery and release positions? If you get the Power Line positions right, you're almost certain to swing the clubhead on a powerful arc, resulting in longer, straighter shots. From the proper delivery position, the clubhead can be released by the correct rotation of the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and torso in the proper sequence, maximizing power.

Power Delivery
How do you know when you've achieved the proper delivery position? Three signs tell you—your elbow, shaft, and clubhead.  From the front, the swing position looks like this: your right elbow is in front of your hip, the club is parallel to the ball's target line, and the toe of the club is pointed straight up.

Transition: The Secret Move
The secret to transitioning to the correct Power Line release position is uncocking your wrist downward. If your wrists don't cock properly, you can't maximize power. For a powerful swing, you must cock your wrists on the backswing and uncock them through impact, with the lower wrist flattening or bowing just before impact. We call this the full release position.

Two common mistakes inhibit the golfer from transitioning to the release position and short-circuit your power and consistency. Many amateurs try to hold the clubface square past impact, causing the left elbow to go up and away from the body, making the ball go high, right, and short. Other players stop the shoulders from following through, which lets the arm get ahead, causing weak hooks and pulls. The arms, club, and body must all work together.

Unfortunately, many recreational golfers try to recock their wrists early on through the follow through, causing the club to point to the sky—something I see all the time in my golf lessons. The clubhead should actually be below your hands just after impact. They remain slightly below the hands even in the correct Power Line release position.

Power Release
To achieve the correct release position, your arms, club, and body must work in unison. Three signs key this position: the shaft becomes parallel to the target line and should be positioned just under the hands, your right lower forearm should be level with your right hand and in the process of coming over it, and the toe of the club should point up toward the sky. In the correct release position, your arms are level enough to lay a club across them.

Power Drills
Try this drill to help set your delivery position. Take your normal setup position and grip. Turn back to the top of your swing. While at the top slide your right hand half way down the shaft toward the clubhead. Now let your arm drop, with just a little hip turn and shift toward the target. Then, slide your right hand back up to take the normal grip and you'll have your club in the perfect Power Line delivery position.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.