Your Average Golf Swing Speed Affects More Than Distance

Golfers such as Tiger Woods and John Daly can hit through the ball at over 130 mph. This is way beyond the aspirations of most of us with an average golf swing speed of 80 – 90 mph. Although speed is not the only factor that affects how far the ball travels, knowledge of your average golf swing speed is necessary for you to optimize your equipment to suit your own swing.

The Physics of Distance, Force and Angles

Distance is a product of speed, weight and trajectory. Other factors remaining constant, the heavier the club at the same speed, the farther the ball will travel. In most cases your club weights are not going to change significantly and it then comes down to trajectory.

The optimum trajectory with no wind resistance is 45 degrees. It is true that in the face of stiff winds it might be better to punch the ball low, and with a back-wind behind you a highly lofted ball might travel farther than one with a lower trajectory, but otherwise 45 degrees is the optimum angle. The actual trajectory imparted to the golf ball is dependent of the loft of the club and the speed of your swing.

Use A Loft Suited to Your Swing Speed

A club with a loft angle below 11 degrees will not impart the optimum trajectory to the ball if your swing speed is below 100 mph. If your golf swing speed is 90 mph or less, you will need a loft of 12 – 13 degrees, and so on. There is an optimum loft angle for your driver which is dependent on your swing speed.

A lot also depends on how you hit the ball and whether you hit it dead straight, on the upswing or on the downswing. Many golfers are unaware that they are not hitting the ball horizontally since they hit it the same all the time, and, if this is you, although your swing speed will affect your distance, a club with a loft more suited to you could give you even more distance. If you want a club optimized to your own swing, you are best to use a professional who can use a launch monitor to tailor the club to your swing speed.

The Flexibility of Your Driver Shaft Depends on Your Average Golf Swing Speed

Your average golf swing speed also determines how stiff a shaft you should have in your driver. The faster your swing the stiffer your golf club shaft should be. If your club is too flexible, your potential distance is reduced and the clubface will not reach the ball at the right time, so will not be aligned correctly. This will affect loft and accuracy so that your drive will not only be shorter, but could also swing out to the left or right.

So, if you ever improve your average golf swing speed through golf-specific strength and flexibility exercises, keep in mind that this increased speed may require to you to have a look at the loft of your driver and the flex of your shaft. Find out how golf club swing speed can help your game.