Hey all,

I would just like everyone who knows their current swing speed to list it and how it relates to your golf handicap.

Swing speed?
Handicap?

Am doing some research for Long Drive Competitions and your assistance would be really appreciated.

Thanks AB

swing speed: 90 to 95 km/h

hcp: 4

bomber, any advice on how to up the speed without see’n me. just a tip!

Smoothbooth, dont take this the wrong way but you must have a very good short game to keep a handicap of 4. Most 4’s I know swing over 100. It’s nice to know you dont need to be a gorilla to shoot low scores.

Swing Speed 110MPH (Normal Driver), 98MPH (Normal 6 iron)
Handicap 8 and rising for some unknown reason

Smoothbooth, can I please have your short game?

swing speed: 90 to 95 km/h

hcp: 4

bomber, any advice on how to up the speed without see’n me. just a tip!

if i can see it, i can hit it, if i can hit i can hole it
arnold palmer

Hey Smooth,

Of course I can give you some tips on how to improve swing speed. Since February I have increased mine from 117 mph to a max out last week of 137 mph.

1. Get Stronger (but speed/strength) – do some gym exercises that recreate golf swing movements. The trick is moderate weights and move them quickly (please seek fitness advice for technique if you haven’t lifted before). The muscle groups I focus on are: Core Rotation, Tricep Extension, Forearm strength, Upper back/shoulders, hamstrings and glutes. (Maybe I should bring out a book… lol)

2. Stay Flexible – I stretch A LOT. When stretching it is also useful to focus on the muscles that are contracting as well. Upper back, Shoulders, Lower Back, Hips and Hamstrings is where I focus 90% of my Stretch time.

3. Swing Fans/Club Kites – Swinging these are a good way over providing resistance to your golf swing.

4. Swing Faster (My #1 Tip) – I know this sounds stupid and obvious but it works. After you warm up swinging with your driver, focus on swinging it as fast as you possibly can! Forget mechanics, forget a ball, just swing it flat out!
Make the club “Woosh” as it heads through the impact zone. Get it louder and louder. I do this a few times a day for maybe 10 minutes per time.

This is also a good way to find out whether you are releasing power too early… If the “woosh” happens before the bottom of the swing, you are releasing early. Try and create this sound as late as you can. Like I said forget mechanics and focus on the task

Let me know how you go and if I can help you further just let me know.

AB

Smoothbooth, dont take this the wrong way but you must have a very good short game to keep a handicap of 4. Most 4’s I know swing over 100. It’s nice to know you dont need to be a gorilla to shoot low scores.

lol Most Gorilla’s dont have touch H2S….

Its not how fast you swing it, its how well you hit it.

We have a thing in Long Drive we call “smash factor” or “power transfer ratio” This is a measurement of clubhead speed to ball speed in relation to the centredness of your strike.

An optimal ratio is 1.5 meaning the ball speed should be 1.5 X your clubhead speed.

Someone who swings hard but doesnt hit the club face in the middle or has it very open or shut may have a power transfer ratio of 1 or less. This explains why sometimes smaller guys with slower swing speeds hit it further than the gorillas.

Hmm I feel like a banana!! lol

Around a 100 for driver and low/mid 80’s for irons.

Shoot low 80’s (no h’cap).

Swing Speed 110MPH (Normal Driver), 98MPH (Normal 6 iron)
Handicap 8 and rising for some unknown reason

Smoothbooth, can I please have your short game?

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Awesome thanks L4G…

Around a 100 for driver and low/mid 80’s for irons.

Shoot low 80’s (no h’cap).

Former Top 10 on the PGA Tour ISG Money List.

Thanks Danz, dont worry I dont have a handicap anymore either besides myself of course

Please don’t be intimidated by putting your numbers up.

eg: A Grade: 105-120 mph
B Grade: 90-104 mph
C Grade: 75-89 mph

Driver: 95mph
5 iron: 85mph
Handicap: 12

Driver: 95mph
5 iron: 85mph
Handicap: 12

‘As in Life
So in Golf’

Thanks JanJuc

Driver – 93 to 96 mph…good ball speed around 140 mph.

No official h/c atm….playing a number of different courses shooting mid seventies to mid eighties.

How much more distance do I have to find to be competitive in the Grand Champion.. 61 years and up? :P

Driver 105ish I think.

Handicap 5

Driver – 93 to 96 mph…good ball speed around 140 mph.

No official h/c atm….playing a number of different courses shooting mid seventies to mid eighties.

How much more distance do I have to find to be competitive in the Grand Champion.. 61 years and up? :P

Thanks Windy Hill,

Grand Champion at the Worlds was Rick Barry… 345 yards (310 metres approx)

Im sure you’ll get him with some training ;)

Driver 105ish I think.

Handicap 5

down and out…did ya get that?

Thanks Toolish, approx is good enough mate ;)

Lol…I’m sure Rick Barry has me well and truly covered ;-) AB..if ball contact remained constant what would you estimate the s/s gain using a 48” shaft over a 45” shaft?

Obviously distance gains would be relative to s/s, therefore, what distance gains do you find at your s/s?

Lol…I’m sure Rick Barry has me well and truly covered ;-) AB..if ball contact remained constant what would you estimate the s/s gain using a 48” shaft over a 45” shaft?

Obviously distance gains would be relative to s/s, therefore, what distance gains do you find at your s/s?

The thing one has to realise is that Long Drive Clubs are measured in a vertical position. A 48 inch long drive driver is equivalent to a 46.5” measurement in traditional clubs. The maximum competition Long Drive Driver is 50” vertical (48.5” traditional)

I would say that a 48” driver would give maybe 5 mph over a 45”. Probably not a significant difference to a regular golfer but on tour 5 extra mph can mean an extra 15 yards (10-12 metres) which can be the difference between making the final 8 (where you get paid) or not.

The first thing you notice with a driver of that length is it feels so much heavier. It took me at least a month of dedicated practice to get to swing it at speed and make good contact.

I hope that helps?

It definitely won’t give you an extra 30-40 metres

Oh…I was looking for the elusive 80 odd metres to catch Rick Barry;-) I guess a longer shaft won’t do the trick :P I see he’s 6’7”, 220 lbs and a former basketball star.

Ab,
my swing speed is 90 mph and play off scratch,
I get the ball out there as well,
carry my 5iron 180

Ab,
my swing speed is 90 mph and play off scratch,
I get the ball out there as well,
carry my 5iron 180

Bio: You are a freak! lol :)

Oh…I was looking for the elusive 80 odd metres to catch Rick Barry;-) I guess a longer shaft won’t do the trick :P I see he’s 6’7”, 220 lbs and a former basketball star.

hahaha… if you find 80 metres contact me immediately! :P

Being 6’7 definitely helps, long levers…

AB,
The secret is your kinetic chain,I’m 5ft11 but when I show you my kinectic chain it’s as good as it get. You see why I can crank for a little fellow.

Bio:

Teach me your ways Yoda! lol

Im 6’1 and weigh 95 kg with a swing maxing out at 137 mph – I’ll have what your having! :P

What sort of distance can one expect to gain by optimising kinetic chain and snap release?

Ab,
It’s a combination, My aim would to build you up to 50 inch driver,
Then get you physically in peak condition as you go.
I know the guy in brisbane he has gained at least 30 metres, but his kinetic chain isn’t perfect yet and still not quite in peak physical condition. And he hasn’t been taught snap release yet.
Hard to say A.B