Club head speed

What's the best way to increase club head speed to get greater distance? Whenever I've tried to do this, it doesn't feel as though I'm in control of my swing and although I can sometimes increase my distance, it doesn't seem by much, considering the extra effort I'm putting in.

Acepepper,

How far do you hit an average drive? Not like the killer pure shot but average.

Newbe's about 190-210. A weekend golfer hits about 230-240 yards. (This may be generous!) A better weekend golfer around 250. Tour average this year was about 285 -290.

GolfBald

Golfbald,

I suppose I'd be in the 210- 220 area.

Acepepper,

Can you upload a video of your swing to the video section? It will make it eaier to tell where your power leaks are and a set of drills to help you get it out there a bit further.

GolfBald

GolfBald,

If I can figure out how to do it, I'll certainly give it a try.

Thanks.

Acepepper,

Pgapro might need to help with this one, I don't have any access or privleges in that section right now. Haven't uploaded since the forum was updated.

Golfbald

Acepepper,

Swinging harder is not the way to increase clubhead speed. You have to swing:

a. In balance, both on the backswing and throughswing. Swinging harder distrupts your natural rythmn.

b. You must learn to release the club. Arm swing alone will not get the ball out there. It is highly over rated in my opinion. The release is the last thing to happen before impact. A proper release in my swing anyway feels like the rest of the body has slowed to a stop and the wrists extend through the shot. I know this is not really what happens but that is the feeling I get.
I am working on a new drill from something one of my newbies said to me today. It's called "spank the arse". Take a good setup position with no club in hand, leaving the left hand in place, rotate the right side up to the top, the right arm should be at a 90* - 90* position, and down extending the right arm then slapping the left hand on the through swing. The lady in the group said "it feels like I'm spanking some arse". I guess she has kids! Her turn and top position became much better after the drill.

c. Folding the arms across the chest on the backswing and unfolding them on the through swing. Most golfers who lack distance let the arms work independent of the body. The powerleak mainly occurs on the throughswing letting the arms out race the body turn. The body must turn first and the arms unfold into the ball. Both things happen together.

Check your swing in a mirror and see if any of these conditions are in your swing. If something is unclear please let me know.

Please report any progress,

GolfBald

__________________
The guy in the white hat!

In order to increase clubhead your arms must feel like they are rope.

A wise golfer stated that in order to control your golf swing there must be some wrecklessness.

In order to gain distance and improve accuracy you must let go, instead of steering the club into the ball.

You can upload photos/videos here.

Use the "Upload Photos" link. This is a little misleading and will be changed soon. You can upload either photos or videos.

If you have any problems uploading please let me know.

The HARDER you THROW the clubhead the farther the ball will go.

It is an UNINHIBITED THROW of the clubhead.

The farther Jack Nicklaus wants to hit it, the harder he throws the clubhead.

If you continue to clear your hips and drive the right elbow, you can throw the clubhead as hard as you like.

I think this may be my problem. I play quite straight and accurately most of the time and my swing may be a bit conservative. Maybe loosening up a bit and trusting in my swing, may give me that bit more distance that I'm after.

Thanks for all the replies.

Although I do agree with what everone has said above, I think they are missing what I believe is the most important factor in generating club head speed - flexability. The more you can "wind" or "coil" your body in the backswing, the more speed you can build up before impact of the ball. I am about 6'2' and only weigh about 160 - 170 lbs, but I drive the ball on average 280 - 310 yards. It is not because of my strength, but because of my great flexibility. This is something I work on everyday for several years now and I am to the point now where I can turn my shoulders to where I can facing the complete opposite direction mt feet are pointing in. I realize that that much coil in your swing is not usefull, but having that much flexability makes the full coil easier to perform. Like Jordy said above,

You have to let your body swing your arms - without flexability you have to do the work with your arms which does not produce the desired effects in your swing.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall