Swing Speed Is Important, Is It?

A common myth that "swing speed" is a specific skill that should be perfected, is believed by many beginner golf players. For some reason, these new golf players are under the impression that having the correct swing speed is something that should be applied to all shots on the golf course. However, while there is some merit to this idea, there is no such thing as one perfect golf swing speed.

Can It Be That There A Specific Swing Speed That All Golfers Should Set A Goal To Attain?

Everyone's speed measurement will differ due to a variety of reasons from golfer to golfer. Your swing speed is simply how fast your golf club travels from address, to your backswing, and then through the completion of your downswing. The reasons for different swing speeds depend upon the physical size of a player, strength level, swing technique, the type of club used, and the kind of shot being made.

Looking at the swing speed of professional golfers, provides us with the perfect example. There are some players who have been known to have a swing speed of over 160 mph! This is by far an elite measurement for a club travel through when making contact with the ball. Now consider an average player, who is male, and fairly strong. This person may have a swing speed of about 90 mph when using his driver. A child golf player may only measure 40 to 50 mph when swinging his or her club. They are all perfectly suitable swing speeds for these individuals.

Why Should Beginner Golfers Pay Attention To Swing Speed?

From the example of the professional golfers above, swing speed can vary tremendously between each golfer, so while there is no magic formula for obtaining the perfect golf swing speed, beginner players are best advised not to worry about how fast they are swinging their clubs. If you're fairly new to the game, then worrying about your swing speed may not be the best use of your energy.

Instead, focus your goals on the basics. Making contact with the ball each and every time you swing should be your first major accomplishment. For most people who are new to golf, making contact consistently can take months of practice. Eventually, once you become a better golfer, you may then want to consider learning a few techniques that will help increase your swing speed.

What If Experienced Golfers Can Increase Their Swing Speed?

If you are at an advanced level of your golf game and ready to learn specific skills, such as increasing your swing speed, there are a few training aids sold on the market by reliable golf equipment manufacturers. An example of such a unit is the 'Golf Swing Speed Radar'. This machine uses Doppler radar technology which helps you monitor the true accuracy of your swing and helps with velocity feedback, thus showing you what adjustments need to be made to increase your swing speed.