When it comes to the game of golf, swing speed has been and is a contentious subject. When it comes to aerodynamics, etc., if golf club designs, manufacturers continue to base their designs on the capacity to enhance swing speeds, and in recent years, swing speed devices have become essential accessories.
When it comes to the intricacies of the gold swing, swing speed is a crucial piece of information. Professional golfers are always looking for new strategies to quicken their swings, both in the gym and on the practice tee. Unfortunately, amateur golfers lack the time and resources that professionals do, but that doesn’t mean they can’t speed up their swings.
The technical aspects of golf swing speed will be examined in more detail below, along with the significance of increased swing speed and what it means for your golf game.
Table of Contents
What is swing speed?
The clubhead’s speed just before impact is referred to as the swing speed. The potential distance of a player is determined by their swing speed. More potential distance results from increased swing speed; 1 extra mile per hour of swing speed could result in up to 3 extra yards off the tee.
Watch this video to understand more about swing speed.
How is swing speed measured?
Many devices, like a launch monitor, swing speed radar, or golf/club swing sensor, can precisely detect swing speed. Professional athletes, coaches, and club fitters typically use trackman or Flight Scope launch monitors to quantify swing speed.
Due to the high cost of these launch monitors, amateur golfers are increasingly using club/swing sensors and swing speed radars to gauge their swing speed. Before launching monitors, players calculated their average swing speed using simple math. To get your average swing speed, divide your drive’s average carry distance by 2.3.
Although this approach has flaws, it is a wonderful technique to determine your typical swing speed.
- Practice with purpose with this lightweight and portable 3D Doppler radar launch monitor.
- Practice Anywhere- Use Mevo to improve on the range, on the course, and at your home with video and...
- 8 Data Parameters- Includes 8 full swing performance data parameters with direct spin measurements
Why is swing speed important?
Simply put, a more incredible swing speed results in a greater distance because swing speed and distance are closely associated. The dominance of powerful hitters like Dustin Johnson and Bryson Dechambeau proves that distance doesn’t guarantee lower scores but makes a significant difference on the course.
What does swing speed mean for your golf game?
It should be pretty obvious by this point that swing speed equals distance. When you hit the golf ball out of the center of the clubface, the father you can hit it depends on how quickly you swing the club.
In golf, a measure known as the smash factor can be used to evaluate the quality of a strike. The amount of energy transferred from the clubhead to the ball at impact is determined by the smash factor, which is the relationship between swing speed and ball speed.
Click here to read more about Smash Factor.
An important consideration when buying golf equipment is swing speed. You must use the right golf ball and shaft for your swing speed to get consistent performance across the board.
Read our article on various golf shaft types to determine which one you should use based on your typical driver swing speed.
It is imperative to emphasize the significance of swing speed, but it’s also crucial to realize that speed alone is meaningless without control, rhythm, and precision. The best illustration of how swing speed is pointless if your smash factor is low is provided by long-drive pros.
How to train swing speed?
Golfers can speed up their swings in various ways; in the sections below, we’ll examine each method in more detail and contrast it with others.
Swing changes
Most of the time, a slight swing adjustment can be used to unleash more swing speed. Rory McIlroy possesses one of the best hip rotations in golf, who uses this skill to propel his long drives. Increasing your hip or shoulder turn could make it easier for you to swing the club faster.
While attempting to change your swing, enlist the aid of an experienced coach. They can help you alter your swing to increase swing speeds while keeping accuracy, and they can also ensure you don’t develop any harmful habits.
Physical training
The physical component of a professional golfer’s training regimen is crucial today. Gains in swing speed are one of the many objectives of golf training.
When the PGA Tour began after events were postponed due to Covid – 19, Bryson Dechambeau caused quite a sensation by flaunting his new body. With his newfound strength supporting him, Dechambeau is swinging the club faster than ever and currently leads the PGA Tour in driving distance.
You don’t need to train like Bryson to swing the club more quickly, but little time spent in the gym to increase your flexibility, mobility, and core strength will greatly improve your golf game. To access the TPI library and learn more about exercises tailored to golf, go here.
Swing speed training aids
Five years ago, SuperSpeed’s Overspeed training aid for golfers completely rocked the golfing industry. Golfers of all skill levels use the SuperSpeed method, and the results that players experience while practicing with it speak for themselves.
SuperSpeed is an essential piece of equipment if you’re serious about quickening your swing.
Club fitting
You may choose from a wide variety of drivers on the market, but you must ensure that the club you use is ideal. That is a crucial step because if you pick the incorrect club, you can be in hardship.
A good club can improve accuracy in addition to speed and distance.
Professional golfers frequently swap over the drivers’ shafts until they feel comfortable doing so.
Focus on rotation
Your swing speed would be greatly impacted by how your upper body rotated about your bottom body. Your hips rotate just half as much as your upper body, or 45 degrees, when your back faces the target at the top.
These angles’ differences will produce the necessary torque and, as a result, power your swing. So, you can significantly boost your swinging speed by adjusting your body rotation to its ideal state!
Use your wrist as a lever
While you swing your golf club, visualize your wrists as levers. As you pull back to remove the club, your wrists will bend.
Your wrists must remain bent up to impact for the best golf swing. You won’t waste any more energy casting the club by maintaining them hinged in this position and not relaxing the angle in your wrists, putting all your energy into increasing speed.
Moreover, your wrist levers might provide the impact of a last-second energy boost.
Hit it free
Beginners in golf typically believe that swinging harder will make them faster, but while this is occasionally true, in most cases, it just leads to tension, which reduces the clubhead speed.
The added drawback is that you risk putting the speed in the wrong direction, which would reduce precision. Maintaining a flexible, free-flowing physique is the most important thing to remember.
Put some lag
Lag is the angle formed during the downswing between the shaft and your forearm. It might transform a fluid swing into actual power! Hence, you can rush the ball more at a larger angle.
The swing speed can now be increased after releasing the angle in the elbow and the pitch in the wrist!
Mindset
People trying to swing harder is one of the common swing mistakes. If you want to increase speed, the idea is to swing more quickly rather than harder. Turning more forcefully may result in tension and incorrect speed placement.
The idea is to keep your body relaxed and free to swing. Consider golfers like Fred Couples or Ernie Els as the key. While both seem to swing effortlessly, they can reach tremendous swing speeds.
Take the course with the attitude of playing with what you have on hand. Golf swing speed-up exercises, including club fitting, speed training, mechanics improvement, and physical preparation, must be done off the course.
You can’t anticipate that trying to swing harder will automatically increase your speed if you don’t do anything off the course. Use all of the alternatives mentioned above. You will have the assurance that your game is improving and that you are adhering to a plan that will eventually allow you to increase your swing speed and produce longer drivers and shorter irons for approach shots.
Swing speed chart
Based on typical driver swing speeds, the chart below provides recommendations for the shaft flex and golf ball a player should use.
| Swing Speed (mph) | Shaft Flex | Golf Ball Compression |
| Under 75 | Ladies flex (L) | Low |
| 75 – 85 | Senior flex (A) | Low |
| 85 – 95 | Regular (R) | Mid |
| 95 – 110 | Stiff (S) | High |
| 110 + | Extra stiff (X) | High |
Final thoughts
One aspect of the golf swing puzzle is swing speed. The length of your shots will increase with faster swing speeds, but the remainder of your golf swing must be coordinated to ensure long, precise strokes with both your woods and irons.
Swing speed can be increased in the gym, with the use of technology, and by modifying your swing. No matter what method you use, make sure to follow a PGA or TPI-qualified professional’s instructions to achieve the best results.
