How To Create Speed In Your Golf Swing

Learning how to create speed in your golf swing is a goal for every golfer. Greater clubhead speed translates into more power, and more power means greater distance. Amateur golfers often confuse physical exertion with clubhead speed. They swing like angry cave men trying to bring down a mammoth. Really good players know that clubhead speed comes from gradually coiling energy on the backswing and then releasing all that energy when the club contacts the ball. Increasing clubhead speed is accomplished through better timing and rhythm.

1. Relax at address. Don’t grip the club too hard. Tension in the swing reduces potential clubhead speed. The tighter your muscles are, the shorter your swing is likely to be. Better players make a conscious effort to take deep breaths to calm themselves before they swing.
2. Lengthen your swing. The greater shoulder turn you can make, the longer your swing will be and the more power you can generate. Some long hitters even take the club way past parallel at the top of their swing. You may not have the flexibility to do that, but being aware of not taking too short of a swing can help you generate additional power.
3. Work on your physical fitness. To find ways to create speed in your golf swing, recognize that clubhead speed doesn’t just come from arm strength. All the parts of the body working together in a coordinated way leads to maximum clubhead speed. You want your legs to drive forcefully through the ball as you contact it. Strengthening your legs through weight training, or even walking, can help you build a more powerful golf swing.
4. Don’t rush the downswing. Golfers trying to get more distance often pull the club down too fast when they reach the top of their swing. This is not how to create speed in your golf swing. Rushing the swing reduces clubhead speed. You want the speed to build as the downswing progresses, maximizing at impact. Start the downswing as smoothly as you can.
5. Practice a rhythmic swing. Surprisingly, many of the longest hitters in golf have been individuals who are average in height and slight of build. They don’t look muscle-bound at all. What they have developed is great tempo in their swings. They don’t swing violently. It may even look like their swing is slower than the average player’s. By improving your swing’s tempo, you will learn how to create speed in your golf swing and make it look almost effortless.