My Swing Speed Journey

Just shows you how we are all different.
I was scoring 80+ on a tight course.
I slowed my swing down, gained more control, hit more fairways and was soon back to shooting around level par.

For some, its not all about distance.
I totally agree. Although in my case I am less accurate when I try to slow down and control the swing. I think is because my body doesnt know a lot of ways to get maximun speed so I have less chance of screwing up.

That being said, tight and short courses are not my favourite, I am not very good on those.
 
Started the swing speed training today, going to do a mon/wed/fri each week. I always hit 3 drivers then do the routine and finish with 3 drives.
First drive cold was 100mph was a little surprised at that was expecting a few mph slower and finished on 106mph so happy with the first session. Plan is to consistently hit 110mph for next season.
 
Started the swing speed training today, going to do a mon/wed/fri each week. I always hit 3 drivers then do the routine and finish with 3 drives.
First drive cold was 100mph was a little surprised at that was expecting a few mph slower and finished on 106mph so happy with the first session. Plan is to consistently hit 110mph for next season.
Good luck.
I got the sticks and prgr for Christmas, but so far all I have really done is eat, drink and watch darts 😅
I'm hopeful of getting my speed beyond 100mph and knocking some shots my off 15 hdcp
 
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You said "I got the sticks and prgr for Christmas, but so far all I have really done is eat, drink and watch darts."
I found that both funny and totally understandable at the same time.
😅😅Yeah true enough. I did get to the range today though ! But just poured a drink and settled down for an evening of darts 😬😅
 
Good luck.
I got the sticks and prgr for Christmas, but so far all I have really done is eat, drink and watch darts 😅
I'm hopeful of getting my speed beyond 100mph and knocking some shots my off 15 hdcp
My swing speed has never been 100mph or even close.
My lowest h/cap was 2
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
 
My swing speed has never been 100mph or even close.
My lowest h/cap was 2
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
No sure I agree with this. I used to be of the opinion drive for show putt for dough but not anymore distance is the most important thing in my opinion and obviously it has to be controlled.
In the past two weeks I’ve shot -4 when winter greens have been on and winter greens can be very tricky to putt on but that extra 40/50 yards a hole shorter all of a sudden makes golf very easy.
I very much believe if I can gain 40/50 yards this winter off the tee I’ll easily be a plus golfer next year.
 
My swing speed has never been 100mph or even close.
My lowest h/cap was 2
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
What was it?
The training is about 30 mins 3 x a week so no real hardship. You can't really swing faster without improving technique so I'm looking forward to trying. I've hovered around 11 to 15 for years so it's time to try something new.
 
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My swing speed has never been 100mph or even close.
My lowest h/cap was 2
There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I both agree and disagree.

The problem with your anecdote is that although you were clearly good, if you could have swung 110mph would you have been into + handicap territory? Obviously that's not answerable.

Is increasing speed and distance the only way to lower your score, absolutely not, especially the higher your current handicap is currently. However, why limit the opportunities you have to get better? That's a personal question, someone may be happy to get to break 100, someone else wants to be single figure, and yet someone else wants to be absolute the best they possibly can. Everyone is playing this game for fun, so there is no "correct way" to enjoy yourself, but if your enjoyment comes from the last category then speed is a part of that, the data speaks for itself. Most people if forced to take on a tour player for their life savings but given the choice of a long drive contest or chipping and putting contest would have more hope with the latter.
 
I actually lost distance to improve my scores.
I was around 300 yards on a good drive but a bit wayward. Because I played on an open links course with wispy rough, I got away with the odd wayward drive, but when I moved to a narrow parkland course, wayward drives would cost heavily which is hard to do off 5.
I reduced my swing speed, increased my control and fairways hit and got down to 2 fairly quickly.

As I've said before, by all means, try and increase your swing speed, but not if it means sacrificing accuracy, especially if you play tight courses.

And to those who say that to hit it longer, you must improve your technique which means you will hit is straighter....I don't buy it.
The people I've seen trying to swing faster just lash at the ball out of control, off balance and nowhere near the sweet spot.
Just my opinion of course.
 
I actually lost distance to improve my scores.
I was around 300 yards on a good drive but a bit wayward. Because I played on an open links course with wispy rough, I got away with the odd wayward drive, but when I moved to a narrow parkland course, wayward drives would cost heavily which is hard to do off 5.
I reduced my swing speed, increased my control and fairways hit and got down to 2 fairly quickly.

As I've said before, by all means, try and increase your swing speed, but not if it means sacrificing accuracy, especially if you play tight courses.

And to those who say that to hit it longer, you must improve your technique which means you will hit is straighter....I don't buy it.
The people I've seen trying to swing faster just lash at the ball out of control, off balance and nowhere near the sweet spot.
Just my opinion of course.
According to Andrew Rice optimal strike at 100mph gives a carry of 242 yds so if you were driving total distance of around 300 yds on a good drive it's likely you were swinging at least 100 mph.
 
I actually lost distance to improve my scores.
I was around 300 yards on a good drive but a bit wayward. Because I played on an open links course with wispy rough, I got away with the odd wayward drive, but when I moved to a narrow parkland course, wayward drives would cost heavily which is hard to do off 5.
I reduced my swing speed, increased my control and fairways hit and got down to 2 fairly quickly.

As I've said before, by all means, try and increase your swing speed, but not if it means sacrificing accuracy, especially if you play tight courses.

And to those who say that to hit it longer, you must improve your technique which means you will hit is straighter....I don't buy it.
The people I've seen trying to swing faster just lash at the ball out of control, off balance and nowhere near the sweet spot.
Just my opinion of course.
I'm not lashing at the ball, the whole idea is training without the ball and increasing your swing speed overall. I agree that lashing at the ball with a driver will end badly.
I don't think your were hitting 300 yard drives with under 100mph
300 yards is way above average too meaning a 400 yard par 4 is drive and a wedge.
For me on average I'm probably hitting a mid to long iron for my 2nd. There is a direct correlation between handicap and swing speed/driver distance
Do you know what your actual speed was ?
 
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I actually lost distance to improve my scores.
I was around 300 yards on a good drive but a bit wayward. Because I played on an open links course with wispy rough, I got away with the odd wayward drive, but when I moved to a narrow parkland course, wayward drives would cost heavily which is hard to do off 5.
I reduced my swing speed, increased my control and fairways hit and got down to 2 fairly quickly.

As I've said before, by all means, try and increase your swing speed, but not if it means sacrificing accuracy, especially if you play tight courses.

And to those who say that to hit it longer, you must improve your technique which means you will hit is straighter....I don't buy it.
The people I've seen trying to swing faster just lash at the ball out of control, off balance and nowhere near the sweet spot.
Just my opinion of course.

I think an overlooked point here is that you were hitting drives 300 yards that's well above average, so you had the option to dial it back. If your max drive was 220, would you do the same? Having speed doesn't mean you have to always go all out on every shot, it gives you options like the one you took.
 
The distance was for carry without wind, but if you were getting 300 yds it is still likely you had a swing speed of at least 100mph with optimal strike ie not wild at all
If I'm down wind I could carry it 240 and 60 yards of run

I don't think your were hitting 300 yard drives with under 100mph
See above.
And please note I said
I was around 300 yards on a good drive
Not every drive.

Having speed doesn't mean you have to always go all out on every shot, it gives you options like the one you took.
Correct.
I reduced my swing speed to improve my accuracy to improve my fairways hit and to lower my scores.
 
If I'm down wind I could carry it 240 and 60 yards of run


See above.
And please note I said

Not every drive.


Correct.
I reduced my swing speed to improve my accuracy to improve my fairways hit and to lower my scores.
Without actual numbers it's all just feel, which as we know in golf things are usually not what feels like..
Also 100mph isn't fast by any stretch, above average yes but fast is the guys who hit north of 110.
 
Without actual numbers it's all just feel, which as we know in golf things are usually not what feels like..
Also 100mph isn't fast by any stretch, above average yes but fast is the guys who hit north of 110.
My swing speed was measured at 95mph at a push but probably nearer 90 normally.
My point was when I reduced it, my accuracy improved and my scores/handicap came down.
 
My swing speed was measured at 95mph at a push but probably nearer 90 normally.
My point was when I reduced it, my accuracy improved and my scores/handicap came down.
When I reduced my speed, my scores are way worse and I even have less accuracy. I have gone the route of focusing on putting and short game for a long time... and it didnt work (for me). This happen even with tight and short courses, I prefer to keep high speed and use less club than to reduce speed with a longer club.

I know for experience that to recommend anyone with bad accuracy to reduce swing speed can do more harm than good. I think it depends on the type of golfer, where are his ineficciencies and what level does he want to achieve.

(The opposite is also incorrect: to recommend anyone to improve accuracy by improving speed)

And to those who say that to hit it longer, you must improve your technique which means you will hit is straighter....I don't buy it.
I totally agree with this. I think it's the other way around; sometimes when you improve speed you also inconsciously improve your technique because there is no other way to move the club that fast.
 
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