Does the 80% swing exist?

[Pretzel]

What is the point of swinging at any power level if you can't control it?

Hence the reason I don't swing at 100%. I'm just saying that I view 100% as me putting, quite literally, 100% into the swing. Others view it as swinging as hard as you can while maintaining control. Two difference definitions of a 100% swing.

[Gary L]

Hence the reason I don't swing at 100%. I'm just saying that I view 100% as me putting, quite literally, 100% into the swing. Others view it as swinging as hard as you can while maintaining control. Two difference definitions of a 100% swing.

That's my take on 100%. Swing as hard as you can,  100% while maintaining control?  what's that number--80%?

[chasm]

That's my take on 100%. Swing as hard as you can,  100% while maintaining control?  what's that number--80%?

Yes, this. One of the hardest things for me to re-learn (I'm not there yet, but it's coming) has been to dial it back and not try to muscle the ball away. Going for a repeatable rhythm, rather than trying to lash the cover off the ball, is what works. If I feel like I'm swinging hard with my driver the ball ends up in the trees. If I feel like I'm swinging at 80% I'm much more likely to be straight, and I'm longer, too. And the truth is, the actual (as opposed to perceived) swing speeds probably aren't much different.

[tomvk77]

For me my rhythm must be smooth if i'm swinging to fast i loose control and struggle to find the middle off the clubface. Than basically i can hit it everywhere but the most common is the pull hook.

[Spitfisher]

I did a swing overhaul 5 years ago, I was around a 12.5-13 handicap and was NOT getting better. On a cross country business plane trip I read an article that Sergio Garcia had written for one of the golf trade rags, seemed to make sense. I decide right then there to change my swing,bring it back to the outside slightly, with less back swing and allowing my hips to clear and a little more lag.  One attribute is my tempo slowed down,grip and forearms were more relaxed. As a result I felt like I was swinging at 3/4 throttle (80%), drives were straighter and all my irons were more accurate. getting on my left side was much easier.  It took me two years of 40+ rounds per year to get it finally together. I rarely practice at a range. there were a couple of times that I felt like walking off and other times I felt like it was really coming together. I had to brainwash myself not to aim down the left side of the fairway (previously when i lost it, it was way right) The first year my handicap went up 2 strokes to a 14+, second year it went down 11, but I really felt it was trending much lower. the 3rd year I was an 8, then a 5 and now due to my age I feel like I have bottomed out at 3.0ish.

Best thing I ever did.

[inthehole]

great advice !

[Divot Master]

From a mathematical standpoint, 100% would be absolute: as fast and hard as you can possibly swing regardless of the results.  No competent pro would ever send you there.

From a more practical standpoint, I would think 100% could be defined by as fast and hard as you can swing without losing balance or risking injury.  Obviously, a 100% swing with proper contact will yield maximum (100%) distance.  But only the rare few can maintain any kind of swing consistency at 100% effort.

For me, the holy grail is a smooth 80% swing effort that yields about 90% of the distance, with much greater consistency.  And yes, it is possible!  Just watch Fred Couples.

[avghack]

Most weekend warriors like myself get into trouble trying to swing too hard because we over stretch our backswing (my left wrist tends to cup). I think the key to the 80% shot is to have an 80% back swing but a full swing the rest of the way through. If you watch Phil for instance his famous lob wedge shots are all the same down swing and follow through, but he controls distance with his back swing. Its the same concept.

[galunga]

I think the 80% is mental. Makes you swing 'softer'. In essence if you go in a trackman and take that "80%" swing I think you will find that you are only 3-5 mph slower than your normal all out swing. That is of course if you do it right. It is easy to manipulate the numbers. I have done this and if I try to swing at an actual 80% I simply cannot do it without really messing up.

If you think about the number as a whole it is a HUGE difference. For ease of numbers sake if your driver SS is 100mph do you really think your 80% swing is 80mph??? not even close. It is probably 95-97mph. (no common core math junkies please.... I use real math )

[Parker0065]

I'm not sure what a "All Out" swing is? I picture someone falling all over themselves after impact. How hard can you swing and stay in perfect balance would be my own personal definition of "normal"!

This may be wrong to some but for myself I always strive to swing at the same speed or pace(club head speed will change with club length) . I change grip length if I want to hit shorter and I plan from the tee box on approach length to avoid putting myself into a weird distance. Doesn't always work out perfectly but it produces better results than just bashing it and leaving myself an uncomfortable distance.

When it comes to wedge play I do have a 1/2 and 3/4 swing that I practice religiously and if I need to adjust the distance I do it through adjusting the club length, not how hard I go at the ball. For myself I've found that I'm much more inconsistent trying to adjust swing speed over hitting a normal shot while gripping down.

[Jim260]

I just read Ben Hogan's book again. His advise is once you have gotten a good, repeatable swing, don't hold anything back, swing at 100+.

[Gary L]

I'm not sure what a "All Out" swing is? I picture someone falling all over themselves after impact. How hard can you swing and stay in perfect balance would be my own personal definition of "normal"!

This may be wrong to some but for myself I always strive to swing at the same speed or pace(club head speed will change with club length) . I change grip length if I want to hit shorter and I plan from the tee box on approach length to avoid putting myself into a weird distance. Doesn't always work out perfectly but it produces better results than just bashing it and leaving myself an uncomfortable distance.

When it comes to wedge play I do have a 1/2 and 3/4 swing that I practice religiously and if I need to adjust the distance I do it through adjusting the club length, not how hard I go at the ball. For myself I've found that I'm much more inconsistent trying to adjust swing speed over hitting a normal shot while gripping down.

I agree.  It's easier to tweak your grip before the swing, than tweak the moving parts of the swing itself.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

One man's 80% is another man's 100% is another man's 75% and so on. I think a better way to look at is to swing within yourself. Figure out what the biggest swing you can make while still getting consistently good results and call that your full swing. ...

Well said, EJ.

Golf tips I've read through the years suggest that you get the best overall shots by using anywhere from 75-80% of your raw power.

It all depends on how much "jump" you can control.

Sometimes I can get more power if I raise my left heel on the backswing, or consciously cock my wrists near the top. But, I also miss a lot of shots if I do this. Simpler is better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker0065:

I'm not sure what a "All Out" swing is? I picture someone falling all over themselves after impact. How hard can you swing and stay in perfect balance would be my own personal definition of "normal"! ...

When it comes to wedge play I do have a 1/2 and 3/4 swing that I practice religiously and if I need to adjust the distance I do it through adjusting the club length ...

Half and 3/4 swings work best if hit with normal tempo. When I miss these, it's because I tried to kill the ball.

[JP golf]

I'm becoming a huge fan of the 80% swing (call it what you want it doesn't have to be 80%)  I call it my 3/4 swing...  my lead arm gets parallel with the ground on the backswing and I swing through where my trailing arm is parallel with the ground...  I have a smooth tempo with this swing letting gravity start the downswing.  Now I've got this down with my wedges, 9, 8 iron and I've seen a huge improvement in my wedge game because I'm hitting more consistent yardages.  Example...  using this method and letting my arms fall to start the swing, my 9 goes 120 yrd.  Now I don't have the same spin because I don't have the same clubhead speed but I don't need spin all the time.  Now, I can take that same swing and choke down to take a couple yards off, I can swing a little harder to add a couple yards...   It's been fun learning

One thing that helped me is that I played a round in pouring down rain...  I couldn't swing hard because I was scared the club was going to fall right out my hand----   I hit every single shot that day with the swing I mentioned above... yes I lose some yardage but it can be more accurate..

To each his own... find what works for you- experiment.