Measuring Swing Speed

[ronaldkuntoro]

Is there anyway you can measure your swing speed without that expensive launch monitor or that less expensive swing radar gadget ?

Some golf shop attendant told me if you can hit an 8-iron for 150 yards, you better switch to stiff shaft. I don't feel comfortable with that answer since how far you hit has nothing to do with how fast you swing. You can swing fast but if you are out of rhytem, you will only get 120 yards from your 8-iron...

[iacas]

Some golf shop attendant told me if you can hit an 8-iron for 150 yards, you better switch to stiff shaft. I don't feel comfortable with that answer since how far you hit has nothing to do with how fast you swing. You can swing fast but if you are out of rhytem, you will only get 120 yards from your 8-iron...

I'm sure he was just giving you a general guideline, not a hard and fast rule. C'mon, now, apply some common sense...

Besides, I hit my 8-iron 140 and use stiff shafts (properly fitted at that).

[Rafcin]

Some golf shop attendant told me if you can hit an 8-iron for 150 yards, you better switch to stiff shaft. I don't feel comfortable with that answer since how far you hit has nothing to do with how fast you swing. You can swing fast but if you are out of rhytem, you will only get 120 yards from your 8-iron...

it's all ballistics... the swing speed influences ball initial velocity. Without it you can't get the distance, period. There is of course the launch angle and the spin on the ball. With higher intial swing speed you'll be negatively affected by the spin and vice-versa - with slower swing speed you'll increase your distance having more spin on the ball. Shaft change will affect the initial launch angle, which (depending on the other two factors) for everybody might have different effect.

So to summerize my point - stiffer shaft = longer shot ? false. Most likely. higher swing speed = longer shot? true. Most likely. Besides all these mathematical B.S. - the reason I'm playing stiff shaft is to be more consistant - softer shaft might have bigger dispersion of shots if your swing is not consistant enough ( and who's isn't ).

[jamesduncan]

yeah thats probably what he was trying to do, just give u a quick guideline (which btw is basically the rule of thumb)

i bought one of those cheaper radars just to see where things were at.

but you can do a session on a launch monitor even if youre not looking to buy.

some places will even let you use it as a credit towards a purchase for up to 3 months or so. hightly informative

[wachesawgolfer]

Gee, the golf attendant must know, right?

[jamesduncan]

its just basically common knowledge...

if he wants more detailed info, he can get on a launch monitor

not hard to comprehend..even for a golf attendant..crazy how that works huh?

[ronaldkuntoro]

I have a 1 second pause at the top and a medium tempo swing (kinda like LPGA swing, yeah I swing like a girl), it lands close to 145 yards with my 8-iron with regular flex shaft...

I haven't found any golf shop nearby with a launch monitor so far...

its just basically common knowledge...

[gas_can]

I have a 1 second pause at the top and a medium tempo swing (kinda like LPGA swing, yeah I swing like a girl), it lands close to 145 yards with my 8-iron with regular flex shaft...

ronaldkunturo,

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Rafcin]

...t lands close to 145 yards with my 8-iron with regular flex shaft...

my 8i is closer to 135... but it has a hole in one to show for

[jamesduncan]

I have a 1 second pause at the top and a medium tempo swing (kinda like LPGA swing, yeah I swing like a girl), it lands close to 145 yards with my 8-iron with regular flex shaft...

if your 8 is 145, youre most likely on a good shaft w/ the reg flex.

sure, this totally un scientific but if u really want to be fitted then youre totally right, swing speed can be misleading. but if youre not hitting it a long distance with the 8 (+150/155) then you might have trouble working the ball w/ stiff shafts. just wondering, why are you looking to switch, if at all?

[sep900]

Isn't VJ's speed stick a good way to estimate how fast your swing is?

[iacas]

Isn't VJ's speed stick a good way to estimate how fast your swing is?

I think it's only a good measure of how fast you swing the Speed Stik. It's heavier than a normal club (and longer), so you just use it to measure your progress (i.e. you get it and it says "90" then, after using it, you get to "95" or whatever).

[ronaldkuntoro]

What will happen when Tiger use regular Flex shaft? or long distance bomber like JB Holmes?

Will they hit farther, shorter or about the same?

[prutkows]

so this is kind of off topic.. and i apologize. but 8 iron 150? even 140? ive always had a big yardage gap between my 8 and 7 iron. i only hit my 8 iron 130 while i hit my 7 about 150. my 9 iron is about 120, wedge 110.

thats a bit pointless, but just to get back on topic, do those cheap moniter things work? my old teaching pro used to have one but i was 13 years old and i didnt pay much attention to anything except where the ball went.

[iacas]

What will happen when Tiger use regular Flex shaft? or long distance bomber like JB Holmes?

They'll hit it shorter and a whole lot more crooked. But if they can get the timing perfectly right (i.e. they get lucky one time in 50), it may go further.

so this is kind of off topic.. and i apologize. but 8 iron 150? even 140? ive always had a big yardage gap between my 8 and 7 iron. i only hit my 8 iron 130 while i hit my 7 about 150. my 9 iron is about 120, wedge 110.

If you hit your 8-iron 130 and your 7-iron 150, I'd look at two things:

1) are you being realistic? Hit a bunch of balls and go from there. 2) have the lofts checked on your 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons. I don't see much point in the "cheap monitor things" to measure swing speed. How far your ball travels with any iron you've had for awhile is a good measure of your swing speed, quality of contact, etc.

[A.J.]

The Speed Stik thing says I swing 125mph. That's probably right; I hit my 8 iron 165.

[allin]

Isn't VJ's speed stick a good way to estimate how fast your swing is?

Iaccas is right. Juan the inventor practices late in the day at the same course / range I do, he was a teaching pro around here for years. I asked him about speed accuracy. Someone who is strong but does not release the club well might have a higher speed on the speed stick. Someone who is not strong but already releases the club well might actually be lower. The club helps you improve your timing and swing plane, it may will stretch you out and strengthen a little also.

[prutkows]

They'll hit it shorter and a whole lot more crooked. But if they can get the timing perfectly right (i.e. they get lucky one time in 50), it may go further.

yeah i'm pretty sure my yardages are accurate. i went to a course yesterday and there really wasnt anybody playing so i took some time to practice. i usually carry about 20 balls in my bag just in case someone in my foursome needs a few extra balls so on each par 4/5 i dropped them all at the 150 yard marker and hit 7/8 irons into the green. there was no wind and i had some chalk to check where on the clubface i was hitting it. i only hit a few out near the toe but the rest were right around the sweet spot. i had my friends laser distance finder thing and all the 8 irons were between 128 and 133. 7 irons 149-152. i guess i should go get all my lofts checked while im at it. i have to get my clubs regripped soon too so doing it all together would probably be wise. thanks for the info.