Hitting from Behind the Ball to Maximize Drive Distance

A retired United States Air Force officer, Charles Polomsky earned the Meritorious Service Medal while piloting aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III. An avid golfer, Charles Polomsky competed in Division 1 golf while attending the USAF Academy.

On courses with lengthy greens, a successful day on the links is often determined by the ability to drive the ball maximum distance. The strike and angle of attack are two major factors that define power and accuracy.

While it is clear that connecting with the middle of the club generates the most power, it is just as important to determine the right moment to swing the club. Ideally, this is past the lowest point and on the upswing. One way to check if you are hitting at the correct angle is to place the club’s headcover on the grass, about 18 inches in front of the teed-up ball, along the target line.

Beginning the shot with the spine tilted slightly back and away from the ball, drive your weight into the ball as the driver comes down from a cocked position. As you swing through and connect, the club should rise and just miss the headcover. If the clubface hits the cover, that is a sure sign that the angle of attack is too low and you need to drill on hitting from behind the golf ball.

The Kansas City Royals 3 All-Time Hits Leaders

The recipient of a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Charles Polomsky is a retired United States Air Force C-17 pilot who accumulated more than 2,900 flight hours throughout his 20-year career. A fan of baseball, Charles Polomsky counts the Kansas City Royals as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

The Royals have played in MLB since 1969 and have had six players record at least 1,500 hits with the team. Below are its three leaders in that category:

1. George Brett - Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, Brett played his entire 21-year career with the Royals and accumulated a franchise-best 3,154 hits, which also ranks 18th in MLB history. The 13-time All-Star also won American League MVP in 1980.

2. Frank White - A native of Greenville, Mississippi, White played 18 seasons with the Royals from 1973 to 1990, during which time he registered 2,006 hits. A five-time All-Star, he also had 160 home runs and 886 runs batted in (RBI).

3. Amos Otis - Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 1965 MLB Amateur Draft, Otis played for Kansas City from 1970 to 1983. A five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, he recorded 1,977 hits, 193 home runs, and 992 RBI with the team.

A Look at the 2019 A/TA Convention, Symposium, and Exposition

As a member of the United States Air Force for over 20 years, Charles Polomsky served as a C-17 pilot, compiling over 2,900 flight hours, including nearly 400 combat hours. He also boasts over 650 hours as a flight instructor. Now retired, Charles Polomsky continues to support the air mobility capability of the US military as a member of the Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA).

With a membership body comprising active and retired military personnel as well as civilian and corporate military supporters, A/TA promotes and advances military-related aerospace research and technology. The organization's various activities include its annual A/TA Convention, Symposium, and Air Mobility Technology Exposition.

In 2019, the A/TA Convention, Symposium, and Exposition took place October 23-26 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida. The four-day event featured nearly two dozen seminars covering a variety of topics, including flight demands in polar environments, conditioned-based maintenance, and the future of space mobility. Convention programming also included presentations from Col. Gail Halverson, the famed "Berlin Candy Bomber," and Lt. Col. Kathy LaSauce, the US military's first female aircraft maintenance officer and Aerial Port Squadron commander.

Outside of the seminars and presentations, attendees at the 2019 A/TA Convention had the opportunity to take part in networking breakfasts, the A/TA Hall of Fame Banquet, and other social activities. Dozens of exhibiting companies were also on hand to introduce attendees to the latest aviation products and technologies. A/TA members and supporters are now looking ahead to the 2020 A/TA Convention, which will be held October 29-November 1 in Nashville, Tennessee.