What Creates Club Head Speed?

I became fascinated with the game of golf as soon as I took it up about 8 years ago. My background in engineering and my extensive studies in biomechanics alowed me to take a very scientific approach to the study of the golf swing.

I soon realized the complexities in not only understanding the concepts of a sound swing, but also in the execution of these concepts.

After much study and much play, I realized the secret to a sound swing is first you must understand the concepts, then you must put those concepts to work by developing the "feel" of a fundamentally sound swing...

A swing you can repeat over and over again.

The golf swing operates along the laws of physics and anything we do that works against these laws will only further delay the learning process.

I hope this scientific discussion on what are the mechanics of a sound swing as well as how to develop a repeatable sound swing helps you as much as it has helped me.

How do you develop pro-like club head speed?

If there ever is a holy grail in golf...this is it!

Most golfers are in search of more club head speed (or more distance) with the same vigor religious scholars are in search of the chalice Christ and his disciples drank from during the Last Supper...

The Holy Grail in Golf!

Let me propose a question to you: which part of your body do you think contributes the most to club head speed?

The answer to this question was to make a profound impact on my understanding of the golf swing. I can tell you most golf swing gurus only mention this in passing and do not give it the justice it deserves.

Jon Barrett of Golf Swing Eureka carried out a survey and asked golfers the question:- Which part of the body contributes the most to club head speed?

Only 20% got the answer right!

That’s only 1 in every 5 golfers!

And these golfers ranged from scratch golfer to high handicapper.

Curiously this figure relates to another golfing statistic - Do you know that only 20% of golfers have a handicap of less than 18?

I began to wonder that maybe the secret to a sound swing and resulting lower scores is a clear understanding of this fundamental aspect of the golf swing.

Which part of your body do you think contributes the most to club head speed?

Is it:
• Shoulders
• Arms
• Hands
• Hips
• Legs
• Torso
• Wrists

The answer:

***THE HANDS CONTRIBUTE THE MOST TO CLUB HEAD SPEED!!!***

High handicap golfers usually "hold on" through the impact area causing a weak hit resulting in a slice or a push shot.

The reason High handicappers "hold on" through impact I believe is beacuse they do not have a fundamental understanding of what creates club head speed...

Let me make an illustration that will "hammer home" (excuse the pun) this concept. Try to hammer a nail without breaking your wrist...just use your arms and body...keep your wrist rigid...not much power huh?

Now hammer the nail by only breaking or releasing your wrist, no body, no arms...much more power huh? You are using momentum and centrifigal force to create power with very little effort...

Much like golf!

Have you ever watched a golf trick shot artist? He can hit a golf ball 275 yards while kneeling on the ground. This is contrary to the theory that it is the legs & hips that create power in the golf swing...don't ya think?

How do you think he generates so much power while on his knees?

Effortless power comes from a full release of the hands through the impact area...remember the hammer example I gave you? This is how a 150LB person can crush 300 yard drives...they have learnt this important concept.

Hit 'em Long and Straight!

John Lynch