How do you increase swing speed??

[kleraudio]

Just wondering about this, I read a thread where a guy had a ss of 105 and hit 280-290 with roll...

How do you increase your swing speed from there?? When i try to increase swing speed, I pull the ball cuz I use my arms,,,

Any tips on increasing ss while keeping good form?

[cody west]

make your arch bigger.

its like a pengelum (def not spelled right but you all know what i mean) if you swing a rock in your hands it will only go about 65-70 mph maybe, but if you put that rock on a 2 foot long string and swing it might go 85-90 mph. then if you put the same rock on a 45 3/4 inch shaft it will go over 100 mph.

dont swing harder. take the same swing but make your arch bigger by extending your arms more on the backswing and downswing.

also if you unload your wrists faster and get a little more whip you can gain swing speed.

im about 5' 7'' and my ss is about 121 so its definantly not about size. its all about arch

[TempoIsKey]

There's a great article in the new "Golf Digest" about "V-Gap". The author says there is a correlation on the angle of the shaft when your arms are parallel to the ground on the back swing and the down swing. Basically, if youre getting your wrists going early in the backswing vs later, you're loosing distance. On the backswing, Bubba Watson's shaft is just barely past parallel when his arms are parallel to the ground and he crushes it. I probably explained that poorly so just read the article if you got the magazsine.

[Zeph]

First I'd get the swing to work properly. Hitting the sweet spot and moving the body in the right way. Hitting hard won't help anything if you don't have the fundamentals to hit it long to begin with. Club speed is gained by lag and a good swing. From there you can of course crank it up, but with the fundamentals in place you can drive it 280. At that stage you are probably closer to single hcp.

[right handed phil mickelson]

SWING FASTER.


But if you're on plane, then you can swing as fast as you want to. Take a club and swing it round and around in your hand (twirl it). Then take it and loop it up, and twirl it down (messed up circle). You can twirl the club so much faster in one circle than you can with the loop.

[whetstone]

Make sure your hips are turning.

[Shindig]

The wider swing, combined with proper acceleration is the key. I've increased my distance lately, and I don't think I'm striking the ball any better than I was a year ago: I'm just striking it more intelligently.

The common problems you describe from when you try to increase swing speed sound like you're trying to increase velocity on its own.

In addition to swing mechanics, you might want to look into one of the threads on fitness, and consider a stretching and strengthening routine, if you don't already have one.

[coach_rambo]

There's a great article in the new "Golf Digest" about "V-Gap". The author says there is a correlation on the angle of the shaft when your arms are parallel to the ground on the back swing and the down swing. Basically, if youre getting your wrists going early in the backswing vs later, you're loosing distance. On the backswing, Bubba Watson's shaft is just barely past parallel when his arms are parallel to the ground and he crushes it. I probably explained that poorly so just read the article if you got the magazsine.

Loved that article. It makes a lot of sense. I'm sure it would take a lot of practice on the range but the benefits would be tremendous to the average golfer.

[iacas]

The wider swing, combined with proper

Wider only really works on the backswing. The fastest swings go wide to narrow (that stupid "V" factor - why does everything that McLean contributes have to be X, Y, V, Z, A, P, whatever...?).

"Wide" has to be hands, not the clubhead. Keep the left arm wide. Hence the "Swing Extender" I posted about in another thread.

[Stacey_E]

I can't help but laugh at and agree with Iacas's x,y,v...comment.

Regardless of your own personal approach to pumping up distance, my advice is this. When I really need extra yards, and for me that means 260 instead of 240, I grip the club extra loose in my fingers. Then I focus on releasing all the tension from my upper body. I may not get the extra yardage I want every time. But for me, to really pump up a drive with my muscles makes me miss either high and right with a hold off move, or low and left with an over the top/hook move.

[kleraudio]

I wasnt talking about that though, I was talking about getting extra distance, consistently, like your yardages all change permanently.

I imagine it all has to do with clubhead speed..... Not sure though...

[allin]

I wasnt talking about that though, I was talking about getting extra distance, consistently, like your yardages all change permanently.

I kind of agree with Stacy-E however. Clubhead and ball speed start with a better swing. The best players maximize their distance because they swing hard but relaxed. This means they have a good swing and their relaxation allows them to get the most out of it. If you try to emphasize one part of swing mechanics your ability to execute things rapidly in the correct manner is inhibited. Articles like the v factor are interesting but usually miss the point. These factors are really indicators of other things the golfer is doing right not the cause of their results. A long unhurried (relaxed) backswing by a flexible individual allows a large v factor to be created, short quick tense swings prevents creation of a v factor. Certainly spin, impact angles etc are factors as well, but a good swing and a solid strike always works.

[becksfan2185]

A non-swing related tip...

Flexibility and core strength are huge as well. The modern pro golfer is sterotypically super flexible and has a strong core, allowing for a really full turn and generating lots of club speed. Most of these guys get their shoulder-turn past 90* on the backswing, getting tons of tension and coil.

This strength/flexibility allows them to swing fast while swinging easy. That's what I've been working on lately.

[ryohazuki222]

Wider only really works on the backswing. The fastest swings go wide to narrow (that stupid "V" factor - why does everything that McLean contributes have to be X, Y, V, Z, A, P, whatever...?).

tried the v gap thing with my driver and it was pretty fun stuff. but are you 'supposed' to do the same thing throughout all your bag... down to irons?

[Krosh]

tried the v gap thing with my driver and it was pretty fun stuff. but are you 'supposed' to do the same thing throughout all your bag... down to irons?

Did it work for you? As in increased distance? Also, anyone got a good article explaining the v gap?

[ryohazuki222]

worked without any doubt for me with the driver. it was just one day... i'll try again tomorrow. it felt great though.... it was a VERY satisfying thwack following.

on my nemisis hole for example.... (damn you hole #10!) I can count on my fingers the number of times I've been within 150 for the approach. It seems that no matter how amazingly I'd crush the ball in whatever conditions a GOOD drive would leave me 145-160 out. I had just a little backwind helping out... tried the v-gap thing (about the 5th-6th time) and absolutely killed the ball. I was 110-105 yards on the approach from the middle of the fairway. Google earth has me at a 280-290 with a downwind drive. There's also some elevation change to help the carry. but its been raining all week and roll is uphill so i was at a real disadvantage in that regard.

really hoping it passes the test of time....

[ryohazuki222]

the article is in http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2009/10/toc .... "widen your v-gap"

to put it breifly to get an understanding:

1)take your normal backswing and FREEZE when your arms are parallel to the ground. take note of the angle between the shaft and forearm.

2)take your normal swing... this time FREEZE on the downswing when your arms are at parallel. take note of that angle.

the article says something along the lines of him "proving" that their is a correlation between that "v-gap" and power. explaining in much better detail how to figure out your v-gap... and how to widen it... and things to watch out for.

admittedly i skipped over the article completely and probably wouldnt have read it if it wasnt for this thread.

im in the same boat as the OP. My brother and i drive the same-ish. he carries much further.. i roll mine up a little further normally... but always close on good drives.

but im about 2 clubs ahead of him when it comes to irons.

[Happy Dragon]

Flexibility + Strength + Athleticism= Distance. Flexibility and strength are attributes you can work on. If you lack athleticism, you're not going to develop it. Sorry, some of us have it and some don't, but 2 out of 3 isn't bad.

I played other sports growing up. Growing up and playing casually, I relied on my athleticism and coordination to strike the ball halfway decent. When I started to work on my golf game after I stopped playing other sports competitively, I naturally had the ability to swing the club 100MPH. With improved technique and practice, I now swing the club at 110+MPH at only 5'9" 165 pounds, but I lift and stretch like a mofo. I also do yoga. The instructor is super hot; it just so happens to help my golf game.

Sorry to report, there's no quick tip. You have to work at it. The things you can control are strength and flexibility.