Slow Swing Speed- Why?

[virtuocity]

Went for swing analysis and my swing speed with a driver is 80mph, very slow

Hoping forum users could come up with a list of reasons why a golfer's swing speed would be sloooooow.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

You could be old, have poor flexibility, have poor technique, have one arm... there are hundreds of reasons.

 

[bluewolf]

Losing speed through the impact zone due to putting the power on too early in the downswing?

 

[need_my_wedge]

You could be old, have poor flexibility, have poor technique, have one arm... there are hundreds of reasons.

exactly......


Perhaps holding the club too tight, causes your body to tense up which reduces the power you can inject into the swing. Seek out one of those professional chappies at your club or near by and they will be better placed to help you improve it....

 

[duncan mackie]

Went for swing analysis and my swing speed with a driver is 80mph, very slow

Hoping forum users could come up with a list of reasons why a golfer's swing speed would be sloooooow.

you need to be really clear it's club head speed not swing speed.......

the forum can tell you what it could be from width of arc to release, but a professional will be able to tell you what you can do, and how to work on it.

 

[golfdub]

surely it likely too be with the hips ? or you have a really heavy driver

what was you mid irons like ?

 

[Foxholer]

Also worth doing a reality check - how far do you hit the Driver ; and 7 iron?

 

[CMAC]

you need to be really clear it's club head speed not swing speed.......

.

whats the difference?

 

[duncan mackie]

whats the difference?

some (many) associate quick swing movements with a fast club head speed - you can have fast hips with fast hands and still have a slow club head speed at impact.

 

[Blue in Munich]

some (many) associate quick swing movements with a fast club head speed - you can have fast hips with fast hands and still have a slow club head speed at impact.

And conversely many pros like Ernie Els, Fred Couples or Sam Snead look to swing quite slowly or smoothly but absolutely rip through the hitting area creating tremendous clubhead speed.

 

[Khamelion]

I found that with my 6 iron when I tried to knock the skin of the ball I lost control and thinned the ball, on trackman it went 190, with a swing speed of 97mph, but on my next swing I slowed right down, only 85mph, but had better control the smash was a lot better and although I was 12mps slower the ball went further.

So having a slow swing speed is not necessarily a bad thing, it's how you hit the ball and work it, as above a slow controlled shot with a good smash will have just as much affect as a fast uncontrolled shot.

As someone wrote above how far are you hitting your driver, how old are you? How flexible are you? how well do you strike the ball?

 

[virtuocity]

As someone wrote above how far are you hitting your driver, how old are you? How flexible are you? how well do you strike the ball?

According to the simulator today, I was hitting between 170 and 220 yards but generally under 200 with the driver.

I'm the right side of 30 and not the most flexible and new to the game (Edited post to ask whether I can still call myself a newbie- started playing for real in August last year!)

The recordings were interesting:

-Slow club head speed
-Good squaring of clubface generally (or open, promoting draw)
-Club path good (hitting from the inside, but need to sort out bad chicken wing)
-Spin rate WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY too high!!!!
-Impact angle WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too high

So as well as looking at changing my driver swing a bit, the instructor also advised me to look at the ball I use (currently Callaway Hex Black) and said that the 12 degree driver can't be helping matters either.

Sub-questions:

What would happen if I didn't change my swing at all i.e. slow speed, but went for a 9/10 degree driver and a ball with minimal spin and maximum distance. How much extra distance could I generate when I utilise equipment? Bear in mind I'm hitting a very high drive at an average of around 180 yards.

 

[Bratty]

What would happen if I didn't change my swing at all i.e. slow speed, but went for a 9/10 degree driver and a ball with minimal spin and maximum distance. How much extra distance could I generate when I utilise equipment? Bear in mind I'm hitting a very high drive at an average of around 180 yards.

If you believe the marketing hype, about 200 yards!
It's a difficult one to answer, as there's a whole heap of factors to consider.
However, assuming the squaring of clubface and club path remains along with the swing speed, then I'm certain you'll gain yards. Half the battle for people is squaring and swing path, but problems can occur if you try to quicken your swingspeed, as it can throw those out.

 

[Khamelion]

There are lots of things you can try to improve club head speed, lessons are a good start, yoga or some sort of regular stretching, hit the gym to improve strength and gain some level of fitness, there are loads of web sites that offer free advice, you tube etc...

Ultimatley it'll come down to how determined you are to improve and how much time you can set aside to improve.

 

[MadAdey]

I think it is too easy to get hung up on swing speed. Yes the laws of physics say that the faster the club moves the further you should hit it, but that is not always the case as you may not be strike the ball the as sweet as when you swing slower. I know personally if I try and swing faster my ball tends not to go as far, as I do not get the sweet contact that I do when I swing at my optimum swing speed.

So swing within what is comfortable for you and enables you to get the club back on the ball correctly. Take lessons and practice and with time you will start to naturally generate more speed. If you are new to the game then you will be starting to develop a swing. If you are getting a good contact on the ball now, then that is a good start and a great foundation to build your swing on.

Let the speed and power naturally develop, do not try and force it to happen.

I was taught one thing from an early age and that was that a sweet strike will make the ball go further than a hard uncontrolled swing will.............:thup:

 

[Fader]

New option for you


You simply just hit like a girl!

Sounds like lauch angle and spin rate need to be worked on from the results you posted.

 

[Foxholer]

According to the simulator today, I was hitting between 170 and 220 yards but generally under 200 with the driver.

I'm the right side of 30 and not the most flexible and new to the game (Edited post to ask whether I can still call myself a newbie- started playing for real in August last year!)

The recordings were interesting:

-Slow club head speed
-Good squaring of clubface generally (or open, promoting draw)
-Club path good (hitting from the inside, but need to sort out bad chicken wing)
-Spin rate WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY too high!!!!
-Impact angle WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too high

So as well as looking at changing my driver swing a bit, the instructor also advised me to look at the ball I use (currently Callaway Hex Black) and said that the 12 degree driver can't be helping matters either.

Sub-questions:

What would happen if I didn't change my swing at all i.e. slow speed, but went for a 9/10 degree driver and a ball with minimal spin and maximum distance. How much extra distance could I generate when I utilise equipment? Bear in mind I'm hitting a very high drive at an average of around 180 yards.

I've seen quite a few guys with slow swing speeds actually gain considerably from high-lofted Drivers. At that speed, the serious amounts of spin and high launch angle actually helps distance. I don't believe either lowering the launch angle or the spin rate will make more than 5-8 yards or so, but it's certainly worth trying a low-spin ball - Pinnacle Golds? - as that costs very little.

Absolutely the best way to gain distance is to swing faster - a bit over 2 yards for each 1 mph added. 10mph and spin around 3000 rpm should gain about 30yards. Launch angle makes much less difference than club-head/ball speed. Quality of contact does make a huge difference though - that's probably the major reason for the quite wide range in your values.

My recommendation - hit it better and harder!

BTW. Did you actually get the numbers - Swing and Ball speeds, Launch Angle and Spin Rates? And Angle of Attack if avail too.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

My recommendation - hit it better and harder!

Simple as that eh?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Did rigormortis set in? Very surprising numbers. You could always film a swing and send it to Bob or post it here if you are brave enough. I'm sure if its a technique issue Bob will point you the right way

 

[Foxholer]

Simple as that eh?

Yep!

Doing it might not be so simple though!

Did rigormortis set in? Very surprising numbers. You could always film a swing and send it to Bob or post it here if you are brave enough. I'm sure if its a technique issue Bob will point you the right way

H'mm. I think Virt's an S&T-ish swinger!



It's not all bad though. I'm impressed with the comments about the in-to-out and the face at impact. That's not the norm for someone as new to the game.

What exactly was the meaning of 'Impact Angle' btw.