Golf Swing Speed – Fast Or Slow

Golf swing speed is something most golfers never seem to get right. Surely the harder and faster equals distance. The golf swing is about strength isn’t? All the books talk about building club head speed. Which is true, but not true for the average golfer. Yes you may get more distance, but will sacrifice accuracy, control, and consistency of striking the ball squarely.

Here’s why.

Speed at the wrong time kills timing. It’s the puzzle of golf swing speed.

Many golfers over hit the golf ball. Strength they think means better. Yet the golf swing, golf clubs and golf ball need the magic ingredients of rhythm and timing. Rhythm with square impact on a swing plane that sends the ball on line and on target.

By the time the average golfer gets to the top of their backswing they have lost control of the clubhead. Over playing, swinging back too fast and breaking their wrists. Losing control of the club, arms and hands. Everything ends up out of sync, out of order.

Once out of control, off plane and off line the golfer is making all sorts of adjustments mid-swing to get back on line again.

For whatever reason as a golfer gets frustrated, they swing faster. As a golfer gets more and more frustrated they tend to get upset with themselves. From frustrated for some to downright angry. Frustrated golfers get into a pattern of swinging faster without noticing. And faster. Does this happen to anyone you know? The ball starts flying all over the place, left, right, and out of play. A downward spiral.

Bunkers, water, trees, other fairways, the rough becomes a magnet.

Slow and fast a perfect ratio. When we talk about golf swing speed this might seem the opposite of what you thought. The slower your backswing the better. Let’s look at the overall golf swing. In percentage terms the perfect ratio is 62% of time in the backswing, 38% in the downswing and follow through. This ratio in mathematics is referred to as the golden mean or golden ratio. In relation to a rotational swing like in golf it is called the golden spiral.

It might sound odd but slow is fast. Low and slow takeaway and backswing will set your swing up right in several ways.

Firstly, you can determine how far back you go in your backswing. Try a three quarter swing to start with. Think of it as shoulder to shoulder. Moe Norman was a genius who advocated this. I have coached many golfers this way too. The funny thing is you won’t lose much distance for a lot less effort. You will use less energy and your golf shot will be far more accurate.

The golf swing has everything to do with rythm and timing rather than strength.

So, where do you build speed then. Obviously from the top of the swing into the downswing and follow through with maximum speed at impact. If you are swinging properly there is tranference of energy from your hips and torso around your spine, out through your shoulders, arms and hands. Along the club shaft to the clubhead in a centrigal force striking through the ball to your target.

Sweet as. You just know when you hit a ball really right. It feels right, looks good, sounds sweet and the ball flight is straight and accurate.

Golf swing speed can be tricky when your head says “hit it.” Breathe, get out of your head. Stop thinking. Use your breath in your swing, in on the backswing and out in the downswing and follow through to the target. Slowing down you will find a natural rhythm, timing to get your golf swing speed right at the right time.

Slow is fast and another path to your golfing excellence.

Are you looking for further information on golf swing speed? There’s an excellent golfing excellence website at golfing-excellence.com.