Golf Swing Speed - How Important Is It

You want to hit the ball as far as you possibly can - that's the answer I hear when I ask amateur golfers about the importance of golf swing speed. The faster your swing the farther the ball goes.

Actually, that's not quite true. It's golf swing speed times the weight of the club and club-head that's important - no point in a super-fast swing if your swinging with a feather duster! However, accepting that most golf club-heads are around the same weight, speed probably equals length.

P.S.: a tip - if any fly guy tries to sell a super-light golf club with a super-light club-head so you save weight carrying it around, just think on what I have just said! Super-light is great for the caddy - not for the golfer!

Do you know how your golf swing speed affects your driving distance? Have you any idea how fast the ball is moving right after you hit it? Have a guess. 80 mph, 100 mph? In fact it's much faster than the club-head speed. If you are a pro and drive 260 yds, your club-head speed is around 105 mph and the ball is moving at 150. If you are driving 210 yds, the figures are 80 and 110 mph!

Speed Equals Length

As you can see, the faster you can swing, the farther the ball will go. So how do you improve your driving length? Increase your golf swing speed of course! Bear in mind that most club-heads are about the same weight, so weight doesn't make that much difference. What the above figures show is that it's the club-head speed which is the most significant factor in length, not the club you use. OK, the head design might make a slight difference, but it's the speed that counts if you want a significant improvement.

What affects the club-head speed the most? Your golf swing speed of course! The faster your swing, the faster the club and the farther your ball will travel. So if you want more length, get more speed. If you want more speed, work on your strength and your technique.

Speed Is Not Always Good!

That's all very well, but it's not all right. You don't always want maximum golf swing speed. If you're faced with a 100yd shot into the green do you swing your iron with maximum speed - or do you check it a bit? A 100 yard shot on a links course at St. Andrew's demands a different speed swing than the same distance at Augusta.

So your golf swing speed is very important, whether you use it at its maximum for length when you drive to a broad fairway or in a controlled fashion when you need complete accuracy down a narrow alley with a strong following wind. Your next step is a golf swing speed trainer.