Gaining Swing Speed

[Longdriver295]

What would be the best way for a 51yo to gain some swing speed? I know with my age now my swing is not the best in the world. I can get to about 90mph but would love to be in that 98-100. The thing is I may be releasing the club early for one thing now (Especially with Driver) and I'm not sure how to fix that. My driver goes around 240 total, and my 7i total is 145, my PW goes around 125 total. I would just love to get those numbers up a little bit. I thought about a swing trainer but don't which one is best to use. Right now I use a PRGR monitor for numbers. Any help would be appreciated! 

[getitdaily]

Lots of threads on this already. 

 

1. Improve technique

2. Use a speed training system (tools and methods)

 

Effect of #2 will be severely limited by inefficiencies of #1.

[GoGoErky]

32 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

What would be the best way for a 51yo to gain some swing speed? I know with my age now my swing is not the best in the world. I can get to about 90mph but would love to be in that 98-100. The thing is I may be releasing the club early for one thing now (Especially with Driver) and I'm not sure how to fix that. My driver goes around 240 total, and my 7i total is 145, my PW goes around 125 total. I would just love to get those numbers up a little bit. I thought about a swing trainer but don't which one is best to use. Right now I use a PRGR monitor for numbers. Any help would be appreciated! 

Find a good coach and fix your swing. Having a swing with less speed leaks will create more speed.

 

Resistance training and using plyometrics will help.

 

after the swing is in a better place look into swing speed training. 

[ppjn348]

What does your fitness look like? If you can add some strength and explosiveness in the gym, it translates. One thing to be careful on speed trainers is risk of injury. Make sure your rotary centers are intact. A good YouTube channel is the Par 4 Success team. They also have a podcast that has several shorter episodes on this. 
 

After building the necessary framework, if you swing your driver faster in practice, it’ll get you there. Two to three times a week, swing your driver 20-30 times all out, without a care where it goes. I break these into sets of 3-5 swings.

Edited December 27, 2024 by ppjn348

[ferrispgm]

Fixing your swing and then get one of the several overspeed trainers on the market such as Stack, Rypstick, etc.  Personally, I had great results with Rypstick and I was extremely apprehensive at first but they all should work about the same.

[Longdriver295]

The main thing is I just really need to know what causes an early release and how to fix that. If I get that fixed then I think there's plenty of room to pick up speed. I don't really have a what you say bad swing. I've carried a single handicap for a long time. I just think the early release robs me of power 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Longdriver295
To correct spelling

[iacas]

12 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

The main thing is I just really need to know what causes an early release and how to fix that.

 

Could be a lot of things.

[ingster1]

3 hours ago, getitdaily said:

Lots of threads on this already. 

 

1. Improve technique

2. Use a speed training system (tools and methods)

 

Effect of #2 will be severely limited by inefficiencies of #1.

This 100%.  My technique has improved quite a bit the last few years - handicap went from ~12 to 7.5 (would be even better if my short game was decent but that is another story).  I have better smash factor/efficiency and spin control on my shots - for example my driver carry distance has gone from ~230 to ~250.  I’m 54 and I do workout to at least maintain my fitness and mobility but haven’t done any specific speed workouts.  My swing speed has gone up a little just because I have fewer compensations in my swing.

[biker74]

the older I get.The longer I’m hitting the ball.

 

it’s not all about arm and hand speed.Its about having the body in a good position at impact.Before I thought it was the opposite.But it isn’t 

Edited December 27, 2024 by mo77

[NorthTexasGlfr]

On 12/27/2024 at 6:33 AM, Longdriver295 said:

What would be the best way for a 51yo to gain some swing speed? I know with my age now my swing is not the best in the world. I can get to about 90mph but would love to be in that 98-100. The thing is I may be releasing the club early for one thing now (Especially with Driver) and I'm not sure how to fix that. My driver goes around 240 total, and my 7i total is 145, my PW goes around 125 total. I would just love to get those numbers up a little bit. I thought about a swing trainer but don't which one is best to use. Right now I use a PRGR monitor for numbers. Any help would be appreciated! 

 

73 years old and here's what I did a couple of months ago after reading something @MonteScheinblum said on here.

 

I had a very slow backswing so I significantly sped up the backswing. Yes, the backswing. Don't know what it did to my swing speed but I am now hitting my driver 10-15 yards farther and my irons 5+ yards farther. Didn't change anything with my swing other than that. 

Edited December 28, 2024 by NorthTexasGlfr

[FormerBigDaddy]

Lift weights (total body), strengthen core, stretch, and do speed training religiously for 6 months. If you commit to those things you can add 10 mph. You’ll need to maintain your gains in both the gym and with your swing even after your body and swing have adapted. 

[MonteScheinblum]

On 12/27/2024 at 4:33 AM, Longdriver295 said:

What would be the best way for a 51yo to gain some swing speed? I know with my age now my swing is not the best in the world. I can get to about 90mph but would love to be in that 98-100. The thing is I may be releasing the club early for one thing now (Especially with Driver) and I'm not sure how to fix that. My driver goes around 240 total, and my 7i total is 145, my PW goes around 125 total. I would just love to get those numbers up a little bit. I thought about a swing trainer but don't which one is best to use. Right now I use a PRGR monitor for numbers. Any help would be appreciated! 

Fitness and speed training create small gains and have their place once your swing is close to maxed out efficiency wise.  However, the greatest gains are making your swing better.   Amy advice you get can hurt you until you address your personal swing issues.  

[GoGoErky]

15 minutes ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Fitness and speed training create small gains and have their place once your swing is close to maxed out efficiency wise.  However, the greatest gains are making your swing better.   Amy advice you get can hurt you until you address your personal swing issues.  

Yep and as much as I’m a fan of resistance training and promoting it, we know that one doesn’t need that to improve their swing.

 

Its a bonus but not a necessity 

[Longdriver295]

7 hours ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Fitness and speed training create small gains and have their place once your swing is close to maxed out efficiency wise.  However, the greatest gains are making your swing better.   Amy advice you get can hurt you until you address your personal swing issues.  

What's a good device to help make my swing better outside of a Coach (Don't have access to coach)? 

[MonteScheinblum]

26 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

What's a good device to help make my swing better outside of a Coach (Don't have access to coach)? 

There isn’t one

[KD1]

1 hour ago, Longdriver295 said:

Don't have access to coach

 

Not to sound too much like a smart a** but you've presumably got access to the internet, then you've got access to some pretty darn good coaches. 

 

A lesson or two or ten in person aren't going to guide you to the promise land. Online or in person you should get only get a few things to focus on and drill hard between lessons.

[Longdriver295]

11 minutes ago, KD1 said:

 

Not to sound too much like a smart a** but you've presumably got access to the internet, then you've got access to some pretty darn good coaches. 

 

A lesson or two or ten in person aren't going to guide you to the promise land. Online or in person you should get only get a few things to focus on and drill hard between lessons.

Well yeah I got access to Internet, When I said that I was talking about in person coaching 

[getitdaily]

7 hours ago, Longdriver295 said:

Well yeah I got access to Internet, When I said that I was talking about in person coaching 

Whenever I need something andni don't have access to it, I go to where I have access to it.

 

You will have VERY QUICKLY diminishing returns on speed training if you have major swing issues. 

 

Send @MonteScheinblum a personal msg so he can guide you to his online instruction....if you're really serious about getting faster (and better).

[RayPlan]

8 hours ago, Longdriver295 said:

Well yeah I got access to Internet, When I said that I was talking about in person coaching 

Take it from me, qualified instructors (and even some knowledgeable amateurs) can tell you a lot just from video. Post some videos and you'll probably at least get some good pointers in the right direction. 

[Longdriver295]

12 hours ago, RayPlan said:

Take it from me, qualified instructors (and even some knowledgeable amateurs) can tell you a lot just from video. Post some videos and you'll probably at least get some good pointers in the right direction. 

This was 120yd shot and I hit a PW. Posting this just to show a short iron swing. I don't have much in way of videos especially driver.

 

 

[RayPlan]

40 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

This was 120yd shot and I hit a PW. Posting this just to show a short iron swing. I don't have much in way of videos especially driver.

 

Even from the offset angle, I can tell that there are some speed gains to be made just from working on swing mechanics. Speed training wouldn't be helpful at this stage.

[Longdriver295]

30 minutes ago, RayPlan said:

Even from the offset angle, I can tell that there are some speed gains to be made just from working on swing mechanics. Speed training wouldn't be helpful at this stage.

I think one of the biggest problems I've always had trouble with is Turning. I feel like I sway more than Turn and that just kills my power 

[MonteScheinblum]

1 hour ago, Longdriver295 said:

This was 120yd shot and I hit a PW. Posting this just to show a short iron swing. I don't have much in way of videos especially driver.

 

Setup is a huge issue.  Camera angle isn’t right, but you’re likely too close and you are way too bent over with hands too low.  This is causing more issues than I can count.  Now amount of speed training or fitness training will do anything until you improve your setup and swing.

[Longdriver295]

6 minutes ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Setup is a huge issue.  Camera angle isn’t right, but you’re likely too close and you are way too bent over with hands too low.  This is causing more issues than I can count.  Now amount of speed training or fitness training will do anything until you improve your setup and swing.

Thanks! So you're saying I need to reach out Little More and straighten up my back? Will doing this raise my hands up? 

[MonteScheinblum]

25 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

Thanks! So you're saying I need to reach out Little More and straighten up my back? Will doing this raise my hands up? 

Yes

[tssgj65]

Gotta fight father time!!!

 

Absolute best programs to increase Swing Speed:

 

Golf Forever:  GolfForever – GOLFFOREVER  $200 plus annual subscription.

 

The Stack System:   The Stack System  About $600 with radar.

 

Golf Forever will increase your core/body strength.  It provides a daily workout routine and can be done every day based on your preference.  Workout routines are based on your answers to a personal questionnaire.  About 40 minutes.  I do GF on a big screen in my garage probably 4-5 times per week.

 

Stack will increase your Swing Speed.  Matthew Fitzpatrick used Stack for his SS gains.  Gains should be in the 5-10 MPH range if you're dedicated.  Stack is every three days with a routine based on your individual SS providing weight info for each session.  About 30 minutes or so every third day.  Fun sessions and applauds all of your personal bests at each weight.

 

I'm 66 (67 in three weeks) with mid 150 Driver ball speed.

[FormerBigDaddy]

Not for nothing but my swing definitely got better from speed training. If you do it consistently with radar feedback you’ll naturally begin to experiment to find speed. Which often times leads to better mechanics. With that said, it’s a longer road and I do actually agree with monte that you’ll unlock speed from seeing a coach and improvement mechanics first. Also like monte said, less chance of injury. If you have money to spend, I’d hire a coach and work with them a couple times a week for a few month while also trying to get fitter and stronger in the gym. Then maybe once you have ingrained some swing changes you could introduce speed training. For me, I really didn’t want to speed a couple thousand dollars on lessons first. Although realistically it’s basically the price of new clubs. All that said, I’m not sure I’d do it differently. Discovering speed and improved mechanics on my own has been gratifying and I think I know more about my swing and what works and what doesn’t through all of my experimentation while speed training and working to translate feels to my on course swing. 
 

I guess the deal breaker is that if I was 10 years older (I’m 42), I’d probably be more careful with my body and try to do it as safely as possible. 
 

Whichever path you choose, it’s worth it. I went from around 103 mph on course to 113 mph. Unlocking 25-30 yds of carry with the same or better dispersion is a game changer. 

[jda]

Look at ball speed and not swing speed.  As I approach 50, my SS is going down but my strength is not so I can play a heavier club and get more ball speed with the same swing speed.  The slightly heavier clubs help with my mechanics and stuff too.  IMO, swing speed is fools gold.

 

I had a similar hunched back and started to get my a** out, curved back up to my shoulders - I must have went to this over years and never noticed.  I was shocked when I saw it on a video because I was not like this a few years ago.  It did not help my with speed alone, but it made it easier to be more athletic, turn more and pull my front shoulder through the swing with more power which in turn did add back some speed.

 

I started to train again a few years ago.  Played baseball in college and have slowly gotten out of shape since I was 30.  In all honesty, just doing normal type of lifts, core and running every day did more than any golf-specific stuff.  I do rotational and wrist type of drills being an old baseball player, so maybe I get enough of these anyway.  Don't neglect your wrists - not only can they add power to the golf swing, they can save you if you slip on the ice or otherwise fall or need to grab something.

 

My favorite drill to use and recommend is the one on YouTube where Paddy pulls the towel from the cart - Paddy Golf Tip 39.  I had done similar stuff since high school in less efficient ways, but this drill is so simple and so well explained - somebody recommended it on here a few years ago and I love it.  It gets me in a good position for every shot.  Look at his back and a** and compare it to yours.  This won't get everything, but it is a start... and you can do it indoors in the winter.

[Longdriver295]

12 minutes ago, jda said:

Look at ball speed and not swing speed.  As I approach 50, my SS is going down but my strength is not so I can play a heavier club and get more ball speed with the same swing speed.  The slightly heavier clubs help with my mechanics and stuff too.  IMO, swing speed is fools gold.

 

I had a similar hunched back and started to get my a** out, curved back up to my shoulders - I must have went to this over years and never noticed.  I was shocked when I saw it on a video because I was not like this a few years ago.  It did not help my with speed alone, but it made it easier to be more athletic, turn more and pull my front shoulder through the swing with more power which in turn did add back some speed.

 

I started to train again a few years ago.  Played baseball in college and have slowly gotten out of shape since I was 30.  In all honesty, just doing normal type of lifts, core and running every day did more than any golf-specific stuff.  I do rotational and wrist type of drills being an old baseball player, so maybe I get enough of these anyway.  Don't neglect your wrists - not only can they add power to the golf swing, they can save you if you slip on the ice or otherwise fall or need to grab something.

 

My favorite drill to use and recommend is the one on YouTube where Paddy pulls the towel from the cart - Paddy Golf Tip 39.  I had done similar stuff since high school in less efficient ways, but this drill is so simple and so well explained - somebody recommended it on here a few years ago and I love it.  It gets me in a good position for every shot.  Look at his back and a** and compare it to yours.  This won't get everything, but it is a start... and you can do it indoors in the winter.

One thing about the hunched back is that I have. Spine issue that causes it to curve like that. Not saying I can't straighten up some in my setup but that hump is likely due to my spine issue 

[vegasandre]

Listen to Monte and reach out to him for online lessons to get the basics resolved first. 
The speed training stuff is down the road until after you get the basics covered (which will translate to increased speed anyway)
I see this as a good plan for 2025:

1- Get lessons from Monte. 
2- Get a good safe workout program/gym/food nutrition

will equal better golf and better club/ball speed too...

the other stuff (specific speed training) comes way after.