Who swings as fast on the course as on the driving range?

[Lihu]

The topic about not making a full swing inside 150 yards got some people thinking about "flighting" shots as well as some posts about not swinging at full potential to improve accuracy. I know that if I'm inside 150 yards, I rarely hit with a full all out swing, and if so, there's usually a tree involved.

So, at the driving range I've talked to various people, and many of them state that they only swing with 80% the effort they put at the range on the course for the full distance of their clubs. This seems reasonable., but what if that's only a "feel" for them, and in reality they swing more than that or less?

Poll time. What's your number?

Edited October 21, 2017 by Lihu

[Pretzel]

100%, but I'd specify that it's because I try to practice how I play. I don't try to swing harder or softer on the range or course for standard shots. For in between yardages on the course I might swing harder or softer with a club than on the range, or a bit harder on a drive if it needs to carry, but otherwise I'd say I swing at similar efforts.

[phillyk]

I'll specify that, like @Pretzel, I want to practice like I play, but if I'm warming up I'll typically make overly fast swings without hitting a ball just to loosen up more. But when I hit a ball, it's the same shots I'd be doing on the course. 

[NCGolfer]

@Pretzel & @phillyk for sure. I’ve seen and felt it first hand.

[Patch]

I am thinking 75% for me. Maybe a little less. I have too much metal, and screws holding stuff  together to swing much faster.  I have to really be careful, especially with my left wrist. It's the same on the range. 

I know when I do give it something extra, the ball does not go that much further, and/or is further off line than normal. I attribute this to my swing being unbalanced at impact. 

It's my opinion that if more golfers would slow down their swing, they would save more strokes. The idea of a mere mortal, without the swing strength the pros have, trying to swing like the pros,  doesn't make much sense when trying to save strokes. However, I also get how fun hitting a long, great shot every so often is for some. To each his own in that department. 

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, Pretzel said:

100%, but I'd specify that it's because I try to practice how I play. I don't try to swing harder or softer on the range or course for standard shots. For in between yardages on the course I might swing harder or softer with a club than on the range, or a bit harder on a drive if it needs to carry, but otherwise I'd say I swing at similar efforts.

This

[dennyjones]

I guess I have never given it a thought.    I try to swing the same whether I'm practicing or playing. 

[CT207]

I went with 100% because I rarely visit a driving range.. maybe a few time in the winter months I'll go. I hate hitting off of the plastic mats it doesn't feel right plus, it's a PITA to get the green plastic that's burned into club soles off. My swing is fast, except for chip shots and obviously putting but, trying to swing slower just screws things up for me.

I practice on the golf course. Besides, it's actually what I'm going to playing on.. up hill / down hill lies, ball above or below the feet and all the other "quirky" lies a ball may be in. This past week I "parked" the wedges and  was practicing chipping with a 9 or 8 iron, the week before that I swapped the ZL Encore w/ Motore F3 regular for the F-6 w/ Ozik Black Tie stiff... other times I'll tinker with stances, grips and other stuff like that.

[Lihu]

I talked to one of my range buddies who taught for many years at Rancho Park, and he said "All out. That 'controlled swing' is complete BS. You should be putting everything you have into the swing. Once you try to control, you lose speed and direction."

I'll change my vote to 100% once I play a few rounds like this.

[Midpack]

On 10/21/2017 at 7:11 PM, dennyjones said:

I guess I have never given it a thought.    I try to swing the same whether I'm practicing or playing. 

Same here.

[klineka]

Like others, I try to make the range swings as close as possible to the course swings. 

The only exception to this is if I am working on a brand new priority piece I might slow it down for a couple swings and then slowly increase speed as I feel more comfortable with the new motion.

That being said, my "full swing" at both the range and the course is maybe 90% of how fast I can actually swing the club.

[Lihu]

1 minute ago, klineka said:

Like others, I try to make the range swings as close as possible to the course swings. 

The only exception to this is if I am working on a brand new priority piece I might slow it down for a couple swings and then slowly increase speed as I feel more comfortable with the new motion.

That being said, my "full swing" at both the range and the course is maybe 90% of how fast I can actually swing the club.

When you say "90% of how fast I can actually swing the club" do you mean with a ball and make reasonable contact or just swing in the air?

[klineka]

5 minutes ago, Lihu said:

When you say "90% of how fast I can actually swing the club" do you mean with a ball and make reasonable contact or just swing in the air?

I mean with the ball and make reasonable contact. On each club, I have about 5-10 more yards available if I really get after it/make a hard swing. Example. my 165-170 club on a flat lie, no wind, middle of the fairway is a 7 iron all day. Just a smooth normal 7 iron. That being said, I can get a 7 iron out to 180 maybe 185 if I swung right up to as hard as I can without losing balance.

Same with a PW. Smooth normal PW is 135, but I can really get after it and get one 145 if necessary.

Edited October 25, 2017 by klineka

[Lihu]

Just now, klineka said:

I mean with the ball and make reasonable contact. On each club, I have about 5-10 more yards available if I really get after it/make a hard swing. Example. my 165-170 club on a flat lie, no wind, middle of the fairway is a 7 iron all day. Just a smooth normal 7 iron. That being said, I can get a 7 iron out to 180 maybe 185 if I swung right up to as hard as I can without losing balance.

Makes sense, then maybe 90% is better after all?

I can also swing about 10% faster without getting too sore the next day, but might want to take a day off if I do. If I swing 15% to 20% faster, I can barely walk the next day because my glutes, hips and lower back muscles get really sore. I'd have to put in icy hot and stretch all day to loosen them up for the following day. Basically, I control the speed by how fast I want to transition my hips and rotate them. Mostly by controlling my rotational speed through impact, and my muscles are probably not used to the added stress.

I can't get my 7i out much further than I already do. 10% more swing doesn't get 10% more distance. Far from it. When I swing faster the ball just goes a lot higher proportional to the speed that I hit it. I can change the distance by delofting it, but on a normal shot the 7i would just continue on a higher trajectory and probably just spin more.

[klineka]

I chose 100% because the driving range swing is 100% of the same speed swing I have on the course. That 100% that I have on both the driving range and the course is not 100% of how fast I can swing overall.

[Lihu]

3 minutes ago, klineka said:

I chose 100% because the driving range swing is 100% of the same speed swing I have on the course. That 100% that I have on both the driving range and the course is not 100% of how fast I can swing overall.

This is pretty much what I assumed from your previous post.

 

That kind of brings up another point. I'm also wondering about if people generally do some "over speed" training? Do many people swing faster on some strikes just to "strengthen" the muscles in the swing?

[NM Golf]

I swing the same both places because I try to practice and play the same. I can't say I never swing full out because on a rare occasion I have to hit something hard and I will go at it 100%, mind you this would be with a club no shorter than a 7 iron. It's all about distance. I can hit a wedge and a 9 iron the same distance, just with a slightly different swing. I might need to do that 

3 hours ago, Lihu said:

That kind of brings up another point. I'm also wondering about if people generally do some "over speed" training? Do many people swing faster on some strikes just to "strengthen" the muscles in the swing?

I can't see how this would help me, and it might cause problems, but I am no expert.

[Lihu]

2 hours ago, NM Golf said:

I swing the same both places because I try to practice and play the same. I can't say I never swing full out because on a rare occasion I have to hit something hard and I will go at it 100%, mind you this would be with a club no shorter than a 7 iron. It's all about distance. I can hit a wedge and a 9 iron the same distance, just with a slightly different swing. I might need to do that 

I can't see how this would help me, and it might cause problems, but I am no expert.

In terms of injury or form?