Speed at Impact

I am 45 yrs old. Physically I am fairly fit. Flexibility is reasonable.
Problem is that when I measure my swing speed with a whiffle ball or no ball, I swing the driver around 118 mph without falling off balance.

When I get on the course though or am practicing, the presence of the ball causes some kind of tension etc and greatly reduces my swing speed. A good drive only flies about 250-260 in the air.

What can I do to relax until half way down then speed up? I feel like all my energy is expended as I am starting down...

Tom

I have suffered with this problem a few years ago, my pro sent me to the driving range with two things to work on.

Firstly at address make sure my grip was feather light and again at the top feel for a light grip.

Second, practice swinging to the top and checking where my hands stop, then remembering that feeling. My fault was I would swing just to the top on my practice swing then overswinging on the actual swing.

Swing speed is related to two things, resisting the release until the last minute and grip pressure, once you grip tightens the mussels up to your arms and shoulders do the same actually slowing the swing down.

Hope this helps

Ian.

Just one thing to add to Ian's post - keep your backswing slow. I find that when I feel pressure my backswing speeds up and then everything starts to fall apart. If you can keep a good tempo on your backswing, you will find your problem of tensing up will be minimized.

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. The grip pressure thing makes a lot of sense. Lately I have been working on retaining my grip because by tendency has been to turn loose and regrip at the top or just starting down.

The slow backswing is important too.

I find my best speed is when I can go back slow and relax.

I just purchased the "speed stik" http://www.speedstik.com

It has helped me feel the speed at the "impact" area.

Grip pressure may be the key to my loss of speed though... I never thought about that.
Again, thanks so much to both of you.

Tom

tomallinder,

What is the speed stick like? do you rate it? I saw it advertised the other day and was considering buying one. How does it work?

Thanks

The infomercial is on the Golf Channel fairly frequently... The point the speed stik is to swing it 10-25 times either side (left and right) and gradually build speed. You can check your speed on the gauge at the bottom of the speed stik. My swing speed is about 114 right side and 107 left side (I am right handed). So in theory, my carry with the driver should be around 265-270?

I have been working with it about a week. The best thing I can say about it is the fact that it identifies the base of the swing with a certain sound it makes as you swing it. My problem is my max swing speed occurs before the hit, so with the speed stik, I think it is helping me to relax more and put the "hit" in the impact zone instead of half way down the downswing...

Time will tell...

Tom

Tom, my apologies for posting a reply so long after you did but I only joined today! You know, you're not the first person to have 2 golf swings - 1 for the practice range and 1 for the golf course. With the mental aspects of golf and the unique challenges of playing on a golf course,it's no wonder many golfers develop 2 swings!

It sounds as though you suffer from an early release, Tom. You are generated plenty of clubhead speed with the early release but I agree, you are losing the energy and clubhead speed before impact.

I am not a great believer in having a relaxed grip. I'll explain why: get a brave friend to stand in front of you. Now hit him as hard as you can. Do you hit with relaxed muscles and a light grip? Nope, not if you want his lights to go out. You tense up, store energy in your arm and then you release it and you lunge for him. I know the golf swing is more complicated than a punch, but to transfer energy in a golf swing is exactly the same, you need to be firm.

For students who want to learn how to 'hold' the release, I do this drill with them:

Take your driver (this is your problem club), take a firm grip and swing back making a full hinge in the wrists until the club is parallel to the ground, roughly level with your right hip. The club should be at about 90 degrees to your arms, forming an L-shape.

Now swing back, holding that L-shape all the way back.

Swing down now ... holding that L-shape, hold it until the club is back level with your right hip. Now let the L-shape go and let the right side fire through together with the club.

Practice slow and deliberate swings first to get the feling, then start to do it in front of window or a mirror to check you're keeping the L-shape until the very last milli-second.

Only then do you start to hit golf balls and alternate between deliberate practice swings and hitting golf balls.

You will need to focus on primarly the L-shape but your timing will have to re-synch itself and you'll have to learn to keep the right side back until the club catches up and then it fire through.

Ok?

You can swing with your speedstick if you like. Once you have the idea and are swinging, do various speed tests and you should see a marked increase in club head speed.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

....I am not a great believer in having a relaxed grip. I'll explain why: get a brave friend to stand in front of you. Now hit him as hard as you can. Do you hit with relaxed muscles and a light grip? Nope, not if you want his lights to go out. You tense up, store energy in your arm and then you release it and you lunge for him. I know the golf swing is more complicated than a punch, but to transfer energy in a golf swing is exactly the same, you need to be firm....



...If you are tense you will lose speed – there is simply no way around this. A lose grip seems to be a consensus in the golfing community. I must confess thought, that I am new to the golf game. I have, however, boxed for over 6 years. It is a common misconception that you must tense up to generate power and speed – it is simply untrue...



I just read an article stating that if you have a slower swing speed – say 80 mph – you should you a ball with a very high spin rate, and you will generate more distance; the same article stated if you have a faster swing speed – say 120mph you should use a ball with a slower spin rate…. Is there a contradiction here….