Swing Speed - Holy Cow!

[surefire]

I didn't say deaf people I said tone deaf...a huge difference.
But we have digressed........

I know we have digressed, so I'll stop after this, but can you just explain your statement?

My understanding is if you're tone deaf, you can't hear differences in pitch and if you're deaf you can't hear anything (including differences in pitch).

I would be interested to hear another explanation, as it's certainly not an area I'm an expert in, just an analogy I thought was good, but perhaps wasn't.

 

[timgolfy]

This whole debate about power over distance is irrelevant. There are power hitters and there are more accurate golfers at the end of the day you need it all to come together to get the desired result.

Exactly. So why do most people only practice the "accuracy" part and not the "power" part?

 

[sweatysock41]

Because most of us accept that we are not going to hit it as far as Bubba.

But if we practise the correct technique we will increase our accuracy and in turn that improved technique will increase distance.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

See previous posts on here and the arctile in this months GM mag about how its much more important to be accurate than long.

Would you rather be
1. an accurate player, with a 290 yard drive
2. an accurate player, with a 220 yard drive?

I suppose it depends on what the ultimate aims are. I see old folk on my course tapping the ball 150 yards up the fairway. Two more shots and onto the green. A put or two = 9 handicap. Will they ever be scratch? No.

If you can drive the ball accurately 290yds then good luck to you but that isn't where to start. You will gain distance by improving technique, but you won't improve technique by gaining distance.

Those old folk you talk about probably don't want to reach scratch but I wouldn't mind betting a number of them were pretty close when they were younger.

 

[Yerman]

This isn't religion -belief has nothing to do with it, and its not what the golfer looks like its how fast their muscles can move. It can be improved with training like tuning a car but if you were born a prius you cannot turn it into a Vayron. All men are NOT born equal.

So what car is J.B. Holmes?

Imprezza - Fast, ugly and the starter-motor need attention

JB Holmes, fast? Don't think so!!! JB Holmes would be a Lada diesel. It'll go a long way but, God, it takes ages to get there.

Oh he's fast, it's the getting him to start is the problem.

 

[timgolfy]

Is that not like saying that marathon runners will become good sprinters just by running marathons? At some point we need to do some sprint training if we are ever to hit it far.

(at least in my newbie opinion).

 

[brendy]

This isn't religion -belief has nothing to do with it, and its not what the golfer looks like its how fast their muscles can move. It can be improved with training like tuning a car but if you were born a prius you cannot turn it into a Vayron. All men are NOT born equal.

So what car is J.B. Holmes?

Imprezza - Fast, ugly and the starter-motor need attention

I resemble that accusation!

 

[HRC99]

If I take an extra shot than you to get to the green but my last shot is not far and easyer to get to the pin, I may well then 1 put it. You are not wrong it what you say, its just not how I would go about it. I want to know I can hit the ball straight and I will pick up my pace as I go. I have infact had to take pace off my shots to make sure they go where I want.

I don't doubt at all that accuracy is more important than distance (within reason).

Pros are pros because they hit the ball far (fast clubhead speed) and hit the ball accurately. Most amateur golfers constantly practice hitting the ball accurately, but how often do they practice hitting the ball far?

I believe too much emphasis is placed on accuracy too early on. What's the point in being accurate if your 5 iron is going 150 yards?

The saying "drive for show, putt for dough" has real weight of fact behind it.

I'd refer you to Jezz Ellwood's excellent article in the current issue of GM. Makes interesting reading about the success of "long" hitters.

 

[jammag]

I think you are very naive if you think power will get you to scratch or if you think complete accuracy will do as well. We have par 3 4 5 (sometimes 6) at most courses. there is no advantage to being long on a par 3 but if you can hit straight then having power will do you good on a par 5, and vice versa for the accuracy hitters.

I think you are best getting your techniques right first like a lot of the pros have done so you know its going to go then they add in the power to go that extra 20 yards or so.

So to your original point yeah its good trying to aim to be like a pro in terms of swing speed but if you cant place it the same as them then its blooming useless unless you like playing your way out of trouble.

 

[surefire]

As a rule, accuracy is also easier to train in most people.

You can have terrible mechanics and hit a banana slice every time, but if you know where it's going, you can be accurate and play with it (providing there is enough space out left to aim and let the ball come back).

To hit the ball far, you generally need to have good mechanics, and be in a suitable physical condition (You can probably be fat, but you need range of motion, strength and power) which requires lots of effort.

 

[Alex1975]

@OP, can I ask, what stage of golf are you at? Have you been playing a long time?

 

[JustOne]

Pros are pros because they hit the ball far (fast clubhead speed) and hit the ball accurately. Most amateur golfers constantly practice hitting the ball accurately, but how often do they practice hitting the ball far?

I believe too much emphasis is placed on accuracy too early on. What's the point in being accurate if your 5 iron is going 150 yards?

Totally agree, you're 100% right. To be at the upper end of this game you need clubhead speed first, then learn to control it. You don't have to be the fastest on the planet but being able to put it out there at 300+yds certainly makes the game easier... if it's not 300yds into the trees!

 

[bobmac]

I didn't say deaf people I said tone deaf...a huge difference.
But we have digressed........

I know we have digressed, so I'll stop after this, but can you just explain your statement?

My understanding is if you're tone deaf, you can't hear differences in pitch and if you're deaf you can't hear anything (including differences in pitch).

I would be interested to hear another explanation, as it's certainly not an area I'm an expert in, just an analogy I thought was good, but perhaps wasn't.

Being tone deaf is similar to being colour blind.
You cannot tell the difference between 2 colours. In music you hear 2 notes and they sound the same.
I have taught both music and golf to kids and believe me, some kids have it and some dont.
But you must still give them the same attention and encouragement.

 

[HRC99]

Is that not like saying that marathon runners will become good sprinters just by running marathons? At some point we need to do some sprint training if we are ever to hit it far.

(at least in my newbie opinion).

In fact, that's what you're saying, not the rest of us. If 18 holes is a marathon, why learn to sprint first?

 

[surefire]

Pros are pros because they hit the ball far (fast clubhead speed) and hit the ball accurately. Most amateur golfers constantly practice hitting the ball accurately, but how often do they practice hitting the ball far?

I believe too much emphasis is placed on accuracy too early on. What's the point in being accurate if your 5 iron is going 150 yards?

Totally agree, you're 100% right. To be at the upper end of this game you need clubhead speed first, then learn to control it. You don't have to be the fastest on the planet but being able to put it out there at 300+yds certainly makes the game easier... if it's not 300yds into the trees!

If you think that is true, look at this list:

PGA Tour Stats

There are big names at both ends of the list, showing that there is more than 1 way to skin a cat!

 

[sweatysock41]

Not at all - sprinting technique is vastly different from a marathons technique.

The golf swing technique is basically the same for all the clubs. Slight variances yes, but if you get the technique correct you will optimise the results. Basically we are all limited by the energy we as individuals can generate, correct technique will maximise that energy transfer into the little white thing which we would all love to hit 300+ yards.

Get the technique right and generally the first result will be increased accuracy as you develop you will also notice purer ball striking and the resulting increase in distance.

 

[timgolfy]

As a rule, accuracy is also easier to train in most people.

You can have terrible mechanics and hit a banana slice every time, but if you know where it's going, you can be accurate and play with it (providing there is enough space out left to aim and let the ball come back).

To hit the ball far, you generally need to have good mechanics, and be in a suitable physical condition (You can probably be fat, but you need range of motion, strength and power) which requires lots of effort.

This sums up what I'm failed to convey.

 

[timgolfy]

Get the technique right and generally the first result will be increased accuracy as you develop you will also notice purer ball striking and the resulting increase in distance.

But if your clubhead speed is still 90mph the white thing won't be going far.

 

[surefire]

Being tone deaf is similar to being colour blind.
You cannot tell the difference between 2 colours. In music you hear 2 notes and they sound the same.
I have taught both music and golf to kids and believe me, some kids have it and some dont.
But you must still give them the same attention and encouragement.

Still confused

I get the colour blind bit, but if you're fully blind you also can't tell the difference between 2 colours.

I get the hearing 2 notes that sound the same too, but if you can't hear any notes, surely they all sound the same (silent)?

Back on topic:

Do you believe the kid where different because of nature, or because of other influences - nurture?

 

[sweatysock41]

Now we are getting into the realms of matching equipment to swing speed - a totally different subject.

It is the speed of the ball off the club that gives you distance - not the speed you swing the club.
It is the transfer of energy from your swing to the ball that is the key. e.g. say you had a swing speed of 100 mph but were only 70% efficient at transferring the energy to the ball then effectively you produce the same power as someone who swings at 70 mph but is 100% efficient at transferring the energy.