How to Calculate Golf Swing Speed

Golf swing speed is everything to some people. You should not, however, practice striking balls as hard as you can in light of this.

A harder swing can be detrimental to your game. Your swing speed directly impacts your shot distance. If you’re new to golf, you might need to learn your distance or how it might impact your swing.

Until recently, calculating a golfer’s swing speed required some effort. However, you may estimate your swing speed based on how far the ball travels.

Learning what my golf speed is now much simpler thanks to the development of slow-motion cameras and portable gadgets that detect swing speed. Nevertheless, if you want to spend less than hundreds of dollars on brand-new golf speed sensor equipment, we’ll tell you how to measure and improve your swing speed.

What’s the speed of my golf swing? If you’re unsure of your golf swing speed, use a launch monitor device at your neighborhood golf retail store to receive the most precise reading. Using your average distance and multiplying it by 2.3 will make it simple for you to determine your swing speed on your own.

To do this precisely, strike ten to twenty balls, only selecting those struck around the same distance. Don’t add up your best and worse shots. This will give you a fairly good estimate of your swing speed so you can start working on increasing it and your technique for a better round of golf.

Nothing will stop you from practicing and altering your swing technique, grip, and stance now that you know how simple it is to determine your average golf swing speed. Doing so will enable you to notice significant improvements in your game almost immediately.

Continue reading to find out how to calculate your typical golf swing speed and what you can do to raise it.

Why swing speed matters

Ball distance is more important to swing speed than ball control. For of this, you typically solely consider swing speed when using your driver and fairway woods. The ball will go a certain distance depending on your swing speed (assuming you make square contact with the ball).

According to math, the golf ball will move 2.3 yards for every mile per hour (MPH) of swing speed. You may know how far you can drive the ball by calculating and knowing your golf swing speed. Of course, this disregards aspects of the environment like temperature, humidity, and headwind.

In addition, the ball will roll farther when you swing more quickly. With every MPH increase, you may acquire an additional 0.7 yards of ball roll (again, under ideal circumstances). This means that for every MPH you can swing the club at, the ball will total three yards.

Do you need a machine to calculate golf swing speed?

I’ll respond to this query with an additional query. How precise do you wish to be? The unequivocal answer is yes; equipment or electronics are required to determine an exact swing speed. Sensors such as high-speed cameras, infrared systems, or other devices are needed to measure the swing speed accurately and consistently.

There is a mathematical way to determine your speed if you prefer generalizations to absolutes. First, let’s look at a few different approaches to obtaining a precise swing speed.

Distance to determine the speed

Visit your nearby course and start hitting some balls if you want to determine your swing speed on your own.

Before you begin, warm up to gauge your swing speed when you hit the balls. You need first to warm up to ask for an injury.

Aim for between ten and thirty balls to get a more precise reading. You’ll gauge your speed by measuring the distance the balls traveled after you’ve struck them. The average distance that the balls traveled is what you’re searching for here. This indicates that you should focus on finding your average distance rather than counting your best or worst shots.

The average distance will then be divided by 2.3 to determine your average swing speed. Miles per hour is used to express this. Thus, why do you double the distance by 2.3?

Generally speaking, a ball will move less than 2.5 yards for every mile per hour of club speed.

As you can see, calculating your average speed from the distance you go is simple.

You may estimate how quickly you swing by multiplying your total carry distance by 2.3, which is a straightforward calculation. If you know your ball speed, you can divide that value by 1.4.

Here are two instances:

Supposing your driver moved 240 yards. Your approximate swing speed with the driver is 104 miles per hour when you split 240 by 2.3.

If the 300 yards your driver traveled. Divide 300 by 2.3 to get the result. 130 miles per hour is around your swing speed with the driver!

Please remember that there is a + or – 7 factor and that these are generic numbers. The following sections will discuss several additional elements that affect driver carry distance.

Knowing your ball speed, you can utilize a second approach by dividing it by 1.4.

Here are two illustrations:

if your driver’s ball speed is 150. Your approximate swing speed with the driver is 107 miles per hour if you take 150 and split it by 1.4.

if your driver’s ball speed is 130. Your approximate swing speed with the driver is 92 miles per hour if you take 130 and split it by 1.4.

Do the following drill to acquire the best estimate you can:

At the driving range, take 20 balls, and driver each one of them.

Keep track of each shot’s approximate carry distance.

Add up all 20 shots, then divide the total by 20.

Divide the number by 2.3 right now.

To obtain the most accurate computation, you can extend any outliers in the count if there are a few on both ends.

Your projected driver swing speed is as follows!

Factors that impact total carry distance

Several factors can affect a driver’s overall carry distance. Spin rate, launch angle, and center face contact are a few of these.

If these are slightly altered, the difference may be 20 yards. For this reason, while the numbers above can give you a general notion, they may not be entirely correct.

Please allow me to explain how these variables affect the overall carry distance.

Spin rate

Total RPMs on a shot are used to compute spin rate. RPMs with the driver will typically be in the 2000–5000 range.

For most swing speeds, the optimal skin rate ranges from 2000 to 3000. When your skin rate rises above 3000, you will lose ground quickly.

Have you ever made the shot that goes up in the air and balloons? Most likely, your skin rate was excessive.

Launch angle

Your golf ball will depart the club face at this angle. Typically, it is a little lower than a loft with your driver and a little higher than your irons.

Most golfers hit the driver on the upswing with a little extra loft. However, the finest players compress the ball and lessen the loft when using irons.

The ball’s carry distance will only be maximized if the launch angle is raised. When you’re too high, you lose ground. This is where it affects the calculation.

Center face hits

You will achieve the greatest distance when you hit the ball in the center of the club face when using a driver. The total distance suffers whenever a golfer starts moving away from the middle of the face. The club head speed stays the same, but the top distance will suffer.

Using a launch monitor while practicing at the range might provide you with useful information to enhance your swing! For our suggestions on launch monitors, see the list below!

Measure swing speed using radar

One of the most reliable techniques for calculating the actual swing speed is radar. Also, it is among the most expensive. Most people need help to justify the cost of buying a radar setup for home usage that measures swing speed.

Yet, they most likely have a radar speed testing facility if your neighborhood pro store or range sells customized clubs. It could cost money to use it, but it’s less expensive than purchasing the equipment on your own.

You will utilize a clip on the club that the radar gadget reads while using a radar testing setup. After a few swings, you can obtain immediate, accurate feedback within 0.01%. You could calculate your swing speed for your entire bag by attaching the clip to various clubs if you wanted to.

Measure swing speed using a golf simulator

Your golf swing speed will be recorded if you own a golf simulator. The accuracy can vary depending on the sort of simulator you use. For instance, a golf simulator studio like those produced by SkyTrak or OptiShot 2 will use infrared sensors to gauge the club’s head speed as it makes contact with the ball. You’ll be quite precise with your swing speed.

Other models, such as the mobile PhiGolf devices or Rapsodo simulators, use the clips on the clubs to calculate speed, trajectory, and other data points. Their data reports could be more precise since they read from the grip of the club rather than the shaft or club head. But, it is still more accurate than speculating, and you can use these less expensive devices to obtain a respectable speed average for your driver.

Increasing your swing speed

Swing speed can be increased without having to swing harder. Doing so frequently results in a breakdown in mechanics, which reduces your swing speed. Changing how you strike the ball and making form adjustments are two typical ways to quicken your swing.

Consider expanding your stance at the address as an alternative to swinging harder. Then, make a more forceful swing. When you proceed through the shot in this position, you’ll discover that you have to keep your head to the right rather than swing laterally toward the target during the downswing, which can harm distance. The clubhead accelerates as you swing through the middle of your body, making clean contact with the ball as it slices through the air. This is a fantastic strategy to add yards to your game right away.

The ideal answer is getting a lesson from a pro if you’re new to golf and already upset with your lack of improvement or your swing speed. A nearby public or private golf course and a retail golf establishment typically offer golf teacher services.

You may easily increase your drive’s length by forty yards with the correct tutor or by practicing independently. Swing speed is crucial when calculating distance. Regular practice will be crucial if you want to improve as a golfer.

Generating speed

Understanding the precise source of your swing’s power will help you raise the speed at which you swing.

Make sure to concentrate on properly locking your wrists, body rotation, and lag when working on your swing speed.

Pay attention to how your wrists are positioned as you grasp the club. When you hit the ground, your wrists should still be in a hinge position. Energy can be lost if you release your wrists improperly. The hit from your wrists should give you a last-second energy surge. Because of this, you must maintain your wrists in a hinged position as long as you can.

Rotation is further crucial. The upper body rotates in opposition to the lower body when playing golf. The hips should only spin at a 45-degree angle if your upper body turns at a 90-degree angle. The disparities between these angles produce power and torque.

Lag will give you your true strength and speed. During the downswing, the angle between your forearm and the shaft is called lag. With more lag, you’ll get more whip through the ball. To maximize the pace of your swing at contact, you should release the angle in your elbow before releasing the wrist hinge.

You should concentrate on increasing clubhead speed, hitting the ball flush with the clubface, hitting the ball at the best angle possible, and using the least amount of spin possible if you truly want to extend the distance of your strokes. Speeding up your swing will be the most efficient approach to extend the range of your strokes, so using the right body mechanics is crucial whenever you take a shot.

Related questions

What is the average amateur golf swing speed?

• The typical male golfer swings the driver at a speed of roughly 90 mph.
• Male golfers with low handicaps frequently have swing speeds of more over 100 mph.
• The typical swing speed on the PGA Tour is between 113 and 114 mph.

There is a direct connection between how far you hit the ball and your handicap, which also applies to the professional game. Long-hitting professionals make more money and win more tournaments than their shorter-hitting counterparts. This is especially true in today’s game, where long hitters like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson can outmuscle their fellow competitors and the golf courses they play on.

How fast is a tour player’s average golf swing speed?

After the conclusion of the 2019–2020 PGA TOUR season, the circuit average is 114.1 mph, and players average 296.4 yards per drive, translating to a driving efficiency of 2.60 yards per drive. This is far better than the typical 14–15 handicap golfer, who averages 2.29 yards per drive. This makes sense if you think about it because experts routinely hit the ball in the sweet spot.

For GolfWRX, Tom Stickney conducted some impact testing. After roughly 10 shots, the striking pattern of a professional golfer looked like this.

Compare that to the 15-handicap golfer he tested’s impact dispersion after just 5 shots.

As you can see, striking the ball consistently solid will help get you more distance out of your club head speed and improve your driving efficiency. If the average amateur had the same 2.60 yards/mph driving efficiency as the average PGA TOUR player, he would average 243 yards/drive instead of only 214 yards/drive.

That means the average amateur could pick up over 25 yards simply from more consistent strikes.

Am I using the right size clubs?

My golf clubs seem a little lengthy. Although the length of your clubs can increase your distance, they can also compromise your swing’s accuracy and control. Be fitted for clubs by a professional if you’re unsure you’re using the correct length of clubs.

You will need to test out several different kinds of clubs before getting fitted for the proper size clubs. In many golf retail establishments, there is also a launch monitor, which can measure your swing speed precisely. The purchase of the new clubs often includes the cost of this service.

Will a golf simulator measure swing speed?

Your swing speed and distance are measured by certain golf simulators in addition to other crucial metrics. These systems are frequently only available to professional golfers because to their high cost.

Still, manufacturers are now manufacturing more cheap variants that allow you to use a golf simulator in the comfort of your own home. However, the precision of a system’s swing speed sensors tends to differ from model to model. Of course, more expensive models will have cutting-edge technology.

Remember that these systems can take up a lot of space, so before you jump in and buy a system, study the manufacturer’s specification sheet to find out about the space requirements for golf simulators. Many models need a room that is at least ten by ten feet in size and have a ceiling clearance of at least eight feet. If there is enough room, you can swing freely for a more accurate swing speed reading.

What does a stiff shaft do for golf?

A standard flex club is designed for golfers who hit an average distance at around one hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty yards, while a more flexible shaft is a better choice for the golfer who swings too hard. If you have a longer than average distance, an extra-stiff shaft with minimal flex will be your best option. Extra stiff shafts are usually designed for golfers who hit further than one hundred and seventy-five yards.

Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

That depends on how quickly you swing. There’s a significant probability that a stiff shaft will shorten the distance you hit the ball if you have a slow swing speed. Low backspin is the most likely cause in this situation, which can significantly shorten carry distance.

A stiff shaft may unlock the best backspin and launch conditions for your specific swing characteristics if your swing speed is high (100+ MPH).

It all comes down to finding the perfect apex for your swing—the highest point the ball can travel—in the end.

Too soft a shaft could inflate vertically, preventing you from covering the greatest possible horizontal distance. However, a shaft that is excessively stiff is unlikely to produce adequate backspin, which will result in a low ball flight and insufficient carry distance.

Your objective is to determine the ideal level of backspin for your specific swing seed. Generally speaking, less backspin is needed to reach your swing’s ideal apex the faster you swing.

Final thoughts

How fast am I swinging? Most beginners don’t comprehend the value of a faster swing speed or how it might lengthen a shot immediately. Furthermore, they must know the link between improved range and good body mechanics. Remember to visit your local golf course and play many balls to assess your swing speed on your own. To calculate your swing speed, divide the average distance by 2.3. Has your swing speed been evaluated on a launch monitor for a more precise reading?