Where does clubhead speed come from?

[Tifosinumerouno]

I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I have a theory. I know poet gets stored everywhere from the feet to the hands, but how does that correlate to more clubhead speed and thusly, more distance. While at the Byron Nelson this weekend, I noticed that most of the players I watched didn't really swing the club any faster than I do (tempo wise), yet their distances faaaaar surpass mine. For example, Corey Pavin was right in front of me, and hit a nine iron around 150 yards, effortlessly. That's a regular seven iron for me, and I'm around 6'4", 285 lbs, and fairly flexible. I started to notice that the only place they were faster than me was 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. I know Michael Breed and many others preach keeping a loose grip and creating more lag by "sharpening the angle between your club shaft and lead forearm at the top of the downswing. Obviously, the only way that's goin to help is by widening that angle at the bottom of the swing, using the wrist and fingers as if you're hitting a nail with a hammer. Am I way off kilter here, or does that sound about right?

[RossOliver]

I would focus more on ball speed - club head speed is less valuable than a high "smash factor", resulting from correct, efficient impact. For example, take a slow swinger of the club that has efficient impact and compare them to someone who swings much faster but has poorer impact. If we look at how smash factor transfers into ball speed, it's clear that you should focus on your impact to improve distance (improving the smash factor will also tend to give you a faster, more efficient swing overall anyway):

80mph swing with 1.45 smash factor = 116mph ball speed
90mph swing with 1.3 smash factor = 117mph ball speed

From this, you can see that improving impact effectively adds speed to your swing (well, the ball anyway!). Similarly, say you are actually swinging about as fast as a tour pro - the difference of impact efficiency can have dramatic effects on the overall speed and therefore distance:

90mph swing with 1.45 smash factor = 130.5mph ball speed

Hope that makes sense,

-Ross

[senorchipotle]

maybe you should strengthen your grip a little bit. i'm 6'5'' 230 and i can jump on a nine iron and hit it 160+ with no head wind, so you should definitely be able to hit it 150 easily. you've just got to use momentum and hit through the ball. it's not so much about speed as it is about rhythm and a good grip. with your height and weight, you should be effortlessly hammering the ball.

[delav]

It's got what plants crave.

On a more serious note... I think you are right in your assumptions for the most part. Developing a wide arc away from the ball, with a large shoulder turn and lag on the downswing will help create distance and power. Being able to maintain the torque generated in your legs and core as you load up behind the ball is a big part of what makes the tour players so graceful. Hogan uses the image of the body as a coil that is loaded and released, and I think many amateur players leak this power due to various flaws in mechanics.

[Tifosinumerouno]

LOL @ Brawndo! It's got electrolytes! Plants crave electrolytes!

[Zeph]

Swing speed is one part of the equiation, at handicap 28, you are nowhere near hitting the ball as well as tour professionals. Which is what you should work on before thinking about the club head speed. Hitting the ball with a descending stroke, handle forward at impact and finding the sweet spot is the most important factor to hitting the ball far. From there you can start building club head speed, but without good ball striking, you don't have a chance.

[double_j]

I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I have a theory. I know poet gets stored everywhere from the feet to the hands, but how does that correlate to more clubhead speed and thusly, more distance. While at the Byron Nelson this weekend, I noticed that most of the players I watched didn't really swing the club any faster than I do (tempo wise), yet their distances faaaaar surpass mine. For example, Corey Pavin was right in front of me, and hit a nine iron around 150 yards, effortlessly. That's a regular seven iron for me, and I'm around 6'4", 285 lbs, and fairly flexible. I started to notice that the only place they were faster than me was 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. I know Michael Breed and many others preach keeping a loose grip and creating more lag by "sharpening the angle between your club shaft and lead forearm at the top of the downswing. Obviously, the only way that's goin to help is by widening that angle at the bottom of the swing, using the wrist and fingers as if you're hitting a nail with a hammer. Am I way off kilter here, or does that sound about right?

Good advice above. It's not only about extension and arc, but also about hitting the sweet spot every time. I forget the rule of thumb but hitting something like one or two grooves high on your irons will cost you 7-10 yards. All else equal, us amateurs are better served taking a shorter swing to ensure consistenly good contact.

Also, note that your swing speed from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock is where all of the magic happens. that's when you should be releasing your lag to create the most power possible.

[allin]

I know this sounds like a ridiculous question, but I have a theory. I know poet gets stored everywhere from the feet to the hands, but how does that correlate to more clubhead speed and thusly, more distance. While at the Byron Nelson this weekend, I noticed that most of the players I watched didn't really swing the club any faster than I do (tempo wise), yet their distances faaaaar surpass mine. For example, Corey Pavin was right in front of me, and hit a nine iron around 150 yards, effortlessly. That's a regular seven iron for me, and I'm around 6'4", 285 lbs, and fairly flexible. I started to notice that the only place they were faster than me was 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. I know Michael Breed and many others preach keeping a loose grip and creating more lag by "sharpening the angle between your club shaft and lead forearm at the top of the downswing. Obviously, the only way that's goin to help is by widening that angle at the bottom of the swing, using the wrist and fingers as if you're hitting a nail with a hammer. Am I way off kilter here, or does that sound about right?

Resistance builds power, (stored kinetic energy) in addition to the things you mentioned. The best have an ability to use their legs, pull with your left side, big turns and use their arms to give a final burst . Delivering or conserving your power so you can transfer it to the ball is probably where you don't match up. You have arc and mass, no insult intended honest. Long hitters tap into all of it and have the coordination and timing to max it out.

[saevel25]

Thats why i love being 6'1" tall and weighting 225 lbs, i can just lay into a golf ball like it dissed my mother. But mostly its flexibility, to be able to coil around your muslces effectively is the key to distance. I use to use all my mass, when i was about 270 lbs, really lay into it with a lateral shift. I lost 45 lbs and i worked on gaining flexibility and more muscle, i haven't lost any yardage at all.

[sean_miller]

Obviously, the only way that's goin to help is by widening that angle at the bottom of the swing, using the wrist and fingers as if you're hitting a nail with a hammer. Am I way off kilter here, or does that sound about right?

Solid contact on the clubface while accelerating through the ball - all the rest is conjecture. Why do you need to hit a 9-iron greater than (or equal to) 150 yards? How many wedges do you feel like carrying?

[Leftygolfer]

Honestly, I think being big has very little to due to being able to create speed. There are just as many on tour who are 150 or 160 and super long as 200 pound guys or more. I am a relatively big person myself (6'1 190 used to be 245) and I am longer now than ever. I believe that being long is about having the right sequencing and a good move. You don't have to be super flexable or strong to be able to hit the ball a long ways. A good swing will create as much speed as your body can create. If you aren't hitting the ball very far and a young person, I'd say the reason you aren't hitting it farther is your swing and nothing else.