Very Frustrated at Not Being Able to Increase Club Head Speed

It feels like I am restricted and just can't swing any faster, whatever I try I can not drive it with enough clubhead speed to carry more than 260. My average is probably 240yards.

I know it's going to be hard to help me without seeing my swing but maybe someone will have an idea for me to try.

When I swing fast everything goes out the window and if I don't shank it I will hit it off the toe, and even if I do catch it sweet it feels like I am just not able to hit it any further.

I think my tempo is suited to something like Ernie Els tempo.

But the confusing thing is, is that I can hit my 9 iron 150... But my 5 iron only about 185-190.

This can't be right, it seems as it the longer the shaft the worse I get, but this is not an issue with the quality of the strike...

I think I am just going to now concentrate on doing torso excercises and working on my flexibility... But like I said it really does feel like I'm at a brick wall.

:((

What is your normal swing speed?  Have you been on a launch monitor?  You can do all the flexibility drills in the world, but if you don't have the proper mechanics and swing speed, you aren't going to gain distance.

I used to have a much bigger backswing (club went beyond parallel at the top)... And in the last year, I've shortened it considerably, but didn't lose any distance off the tee or with my irons.  But improved my shot dispersion and accuracy significantly.  The point I'm trying to make is that swinging 'harder' or 'bigger' isn't always the answer.

I'd say focus on getting the proper mechanics and geometries.  Once you get those, then add speed.

I should really get a video up here but I think my swing mechanics are pretty good. I play off about 5 and can consistently play at this level..

I have not been on a launch monitor, I imagine my swing speed is around 105

Don't guess.  You could be drastically off.  And pretty much every facility that sells drivers has a launch monitor that you can jump on to get a baseline.  Here is a chart to consider.  If you are driving the ball 240 to 260... I'd say you are in the 100mph range with your swing speed.

thanks for that.

I just think it odd that I can get 130 out of my pw... 145-150 out of my 9iron then only 190 out of my 5iron...

Does this not seem to be linear like one would expect?

You probably not maintaining the proper angles into impact.  And as the club shaft lengthens - in order to hit the ball - you are losing flexion and in full extension (flipping) before the ball.

It's easier to hit a wedge and a 9-iron.

My increase in length per club is about 10-15 yards so it's nothing weird with hitting 190 with 5 iron if your 9 iron goes 140.

9: 140 yards

8:150

7:160

6:170

5:180

260 yards with carry is long, seeing from the table thats about 300 yards with roll. If you really hit that why do you complain about it? Are you gonna make hio in par 4? Most people don't come close to hit 300 yards even with single handicap.

try being outdriven by a 13 year old... I really can't continue to play unless I get this area sorted first.

You must understand, and if you don't, well your you and I'm me.

My drives get around 2 yards run by the way

Im fine with that, just wanted to point out that 260 yards isn't bad.

Just wondering what the rest of your club distances are ? I am hitting at or near those distances with the same clubs.

But I can't seem to get my Driver or 3W to go a proportional distance. Looking for ideas or suggestions.

Swing speed is fairly easy to increase, but do not expect success in that quarter to necessarily improve  hitting distance or anything else. What sometimes appears to be obvious answers to golf challenges is often far from being the case. As technique improves so does swing speed. I personally believe such to be the best way to go.

But let's look at the simple issue of muscle speed:

Can one's muscles be trained to move faster than their present level? Yes of course. I believe the best way to go about this is 'overspeed training.' In other words in specific training geared to promote one's muscles to work faster than they have ever worked before.

If I work out with my training driver, which has a 130 gramme head instead of a golf driver head of around 200g., my s.s. increases from 135 m.p.h. to 152 m.p.h.  Swing such a light training driver flat out fifteen times (30 secs. rest between each swing) , three times a week, and one's s.s. with a golf driver should quickly rise.

Another very useful tool I use to increase swing speed is a gripped shaft (headless club) swung one hand at a time.  If one is right handed, if the gripped shaft is placed in the right hand then naturally one swings like a left hander with that hand.

My own s.s. increased from 113 m.p.h. to 135 m.p.h. within three months mainly down to using overspeed training.

Just been to the practice and went through a spell of striking the ball very well.

I was concentrating on keeping my left wrist straight at the top and relaxing my arms and shoulders more, and keeping them this way throughout the swing seems to work best, just relaxing them at the start is not good enough.

I was only hitting a 9-iron but I get the feeling now that this is the direction I should be heading.

Like I said, I couldn't hit every shot like this but when I did, it felt good..

So I think what I should do is establish this technique, practice until I can hit it every time... I was hitting the 9-iron 145-150 with a very easy relaxed swing.. So I need to increase speed within the constraints of this nice rhythm, everything needs to be the same apart from a faster rhythm, this should also, as I increase steadily, give me extra lag.

I think working on lag is not the way to go, just keep your shoulders and arms and wrists and grip light, and relaxed throughout the entire swing, let your body drive the swing and the lag will lag naturally.

This using the body more rather than arms is strange at first, it takes patience and willingness to hit bad shots without getting too down on yourself, just be patient and work at it, work at the practice, swing in the mirror at home, look at videos of pro swings. I think I am starting to get it, it's all sinking in !!!

What is the problem then? If you are hitting it 250 you are hitting it a good distance.

^^^^Exactly. And did you say you're playing to about a 5?  What's the problem?

I hit 9i 140, 5i 185, and driver 260 - 270, but then my driver is probably the best most consistent club in my bag..