Golf Swing Speed

Every golfer is looking for more distance on their drives.  Besides learning to hit the ball squarely, the best way to add yards to your drives is to increase your golf swing speed.  Gaining an additional 20 to 30 yards off the tee can prove to be a huge advantage to your overall golf game.  In most cases, it will make your second shot more approachable to the green.

Gain more flexibility.  The more flexible you are the better chances you have of increasing your golf swing speed. Being able to coil in the back swing will in turn provide more power in the downswing.  Increasing your flexibility in your shoulders and in your hips will assist you in gaining much more power in your swing. Ideally, you will want your shoulders to rotate to a 90 degree turn and your hips a 45 degree turn.

Be in better physical shape.  Your overall health is also important in increasing your golf swing speed.  There are plenty of golf-related exercises that you can perform that will not only increase your flexibility but your strength and endurance as well.  Regular muscle strengthening exercises in the gym will also contribute to increased swing speed. The less muscle fatigue you experience in a round of golf the better you will be off the tee.

Do not focus on just swinging harder.  At first this may seem counter intuitive, but just trying to swing harder does not produce the result that you want.  Most golfers that try to just swing harder end up in the woods looking for their golf ball.  Instead focus on flexibility, strength training and proper swing mechanics.

Remember proper swing mechanics.  When you are focused on just trying to swing harder, it is a natural tendency to forget about proper swing mechanics.  You need to make sure that your head is still throughout the golf swing and that you are not pulling up out of the golf shot too early.  Watch your lateral movement during the swing. Excessive right to left movement of the hip actually will hurt the shot and not help it. As always, you want to focus on hitting through the ball and not just at it. Hitting directly at the ball does not necessarily add distance to your golf shot.

Determining your golf club swing speed can be very beneficial indeed. The higher the swing speed does not necessarily mean that you are a better golfer. There have been many advances with technology in recent years and understanding your swing speed will make a difference in new club selection. There are golf clubs that are designed to work better with golfers with a slow swing speed and vice verse.

Use a launch monitor or a radar speed monitor. Launch monitors are very expensive and are normally found in retail golf pro shops. If you are considering purchasing new golf clubs and determining your swing speed, then using a launch monitor at a golf pro shop might be your best option. If swing speed is something that you would like to personally monitor from time to time, then your best approach would be to purchase a radar speed monitor.  All radar speed monitors basically perform the same function.  In recent years, radar speed monitors have become very affordable and you can now purchase one for less than $150.

Go to the practice range.  It is advisable that you check your swing speed rating at a driving range instead of your backyard.  The reason for this is because a driving range will put you into a normal situation with a target in the distance.  Take time to warm up by taking several swings with a shorter distance club before moving on to the driver.  Make sure you take time to stretch after you have warmed up a bit because you will be tempted to take a few intense swings when measuring your golf swing speed.

Measure your swing speed.  Most radar speed monitors are designed to capture your swing speed from behind you.  As a general rule, you want to place the monitor about 3 to 4 feet behind you.  Even though the monitor may feel like it is too far back to pick up your swing speed you will be surprised to see that the monitor can read from a pretty good distance.  Take between 10 to 20 nice, solid swings of the club and record your swing speed for each.  Then average out all the swing speeds that you have recorded and you will have a good idea of your natural swing speed.

Take the results to the golf pro shop.  Even if you are not in the market for new golf clubs, it certainly would not hurt for you to take the results of your golf swing and get a consultation from a golf pro.  They can give you a good idea as to what type of club would fit you best.  Technology in golf has made a golfer's life easier.  Having the right type of golf club can add 10 and 20 yards on your driving distance without increasing your golf swing speed.