increase clubhead speed

One of my winter off-season golf goals is to increase my driver clubhead speed to 100 MPH. No better place to work on it than the indoor golf simulator, so I started by determining what my baseline clubhead speed is.

When I last used my SkyGolf SkyPro Golf Swing Analyzer with my driver, my average clubhead speed was 93.7 MPH. That was way back in August of 2018. There are several reasons why that was so long ago. One, I mainly ever used my SkyGolf SkyPro at home in my basement, where due to my ceiling height the longest club I could swing was my 5 iron. I disassembled my DIY Indoor Golf Net last winter after we had joined Lakeland Fitness and Golf with a golf membership. So the only time I used my SkyGolf SkyPro with my driver was the few times I’d take it to the outdoor practice range.

To determine my average clubhead speed on the E6 Golf simulator, after fully warming up, I went into practice range mode and hit twenty shots with my driver. I topped drives 11 and 14 so I removed their numbers and averaged the remaining eighteen drives. I was a little surprised topping two of the twenty. My average clubhead speed on the E6 golf simulator was 98.5 MPH.

What accounts for the added 4.8 MPH of clubhead speed?

I’d like to say I have a better swing, and to some degree, I know I do. I have much better hip turn than three years ago. At impact, my hips are more open and I feel in a much better position.

I know there is also certainly a difference in readings between the E6 simulator and the SkyPro. My guess is the E6 reads too high of speed as I probably have only hit a few drives ever on the course that went 267 yards, let alone averaging 267 yards. There is no need for me guessing. I still have the SkyPro so I’m taking it along next practice session and will get readings from both. I’m expecting a difference but I’m confident the E6 has a certain level of consistency, so I do not care if it’s off a few miles per hour. I want my clubhead to simply increase, and I’ll definitely be able to measure that.

Shot	Distance (yds)	Carry (yds)	Ball Speed (mph)	Back Spin (rpm)	Side Spin (rpm)	Launch Direction	Launch Angle
1	256.7	237.89	142.56	2841.89	790.31 R	2.42° R	14.10°
2	280.73	269.82	152.46	3614.53	479.52 R	3.51° R	16.97°
3	268.59	249.71	148.31	2834.53	818.05 R	0°	13.34°
4	273.3	261.47	148.73	3539.93	446.97 R	4.74° R	16.51°
5	257.11	236.99	142.69	2785.32	521.68 R	3.29° R	13.28°
6	272.37	261.9	148.91	3554.15	452.16 R	8.21° R	18.60°
7	277.64	263.4	151.24	3160.63	860.37 R	1.77° R	15.51°
8	285.67	275.41	155.14	3706.18	478.62 R	5.35° R	17.33°
9	269.5	253.76	147.74	3177.84	849.33 R	0.9° R	14.67°
10	252.36	240.92	147.03	2645.18	1010.26 R	1.58° L	12.54°
12	269.58	260.16	148.63	3783.3	477.45 R	6.53° R	19.18°
13	279.26	266.43	151.1	3614.76	508.56 R	3.79° R	15.66°
15	237.68	219.27	133.61	2870.5	649.52 R	3.48° R	15.16°
16	268.56	248.69	148.79	2819	897.9 R	0°	12.97°
17	256.92	232.52	145.97	2505.24	874.55 R	0°	11.51°
18	275.18	263.41	150.29	3427.5	885.62 R	3.16° R	17.10°
19	264.68	254.32	145.71	3672.06	610.7 R	5.65° R	18.36°
20	272.5	262.71	150.13	3834.33	722.25 R	5.57° R	18.29°

Increase Clubhead Speed to Increase Distance

Many beginner golfers golfers swing slower than they are capable of in an attempt to minimize mistakes. Many high handicap golfers make mistakes and slow their swing in an attempt to improve their ball striking. The problem with swinging slower than your potential is that it robs you of valuable distance.

Why is distance so important? Wouldn’t you rather be short in the fairway than long in the rough? Not really. The ideal result is to be long in the fairway. Here’s the reason you want all the distance you’re capable of. The key to scoring in golf is hitting greens in regulation. It is much easier to hit the green with an 8 iron, 9 iron, or pitching wedge than it is with a 6 iron. Shorter approach shots into the green will result in hitting more greens in regulation, which will result in lower scores.

Every mile per hour of clubhead speed translates to 3 to 4 yards of distance. Increasing clubhead speed by 5 miles per hour will add 15 to 20 yards to your drive. Even if you think your clubhead speed is at its fullest potential, the reality is that you most likely have more available. Most beginner and high handicap golfers have the ability to increase clubhead speed.

The best way to increase clubhead speed is to measure it. A Bluetooth golf swing analyzer is a relatively low cost way to measure club head speed. Check out our review of the SkyGolf SkyPro golf swing analyzer. Another benefit of using a golf swing analyzer is that as you progress to increase clubhead speed, the golf swing analyzer will insure that your swing and clubface stay in position.

You want to swing faster and not harder. Keep the tension in your swing at the same level as it always was as you increase clubhead speed. Also keep your lead arm dominate as your pull the clubhead through the ball, not letting your trail arm become dominant.

It is not necessary to hit balls at the range to increase clubhead speed. You can also work on this at home by swinging a club with no ball. Try Hank Haney’s 100 swings a day approach. You will not be able to get measurements from your golf swing analyzer by not hitting a ball but that’s OK. Measure your speed at regular intervals at the range when you are hitting balls. Track your progress.

Distance is important. Start increasing your clubhead speed today.

By Shooting 90

By Shooting 90