Whether you’re a professional golfer or you just play for relaxation or as an amateur, one of the most important skills you need to perfect is your swing speed.
You may not realize it, but the speed of your golf swing, your handicap, and your clubhead speed are all connected, so if you want to become a better golf player, you need to have better swing speed. Players with better speeds are those that others look up to, admire, and envy.
It is not simple to compare swing speeds between people, because there are a lot of factors to consider. No two people will have the same speed, so it is better to not compare yourself to others’ speeds.
With that said, it is a good idea to know the average swing speeds, so you can know whether you should be more focused on improving your speed. So let’s take a look at how to determine your swing speed and what the average is in your age group.
And sometimes all it takes is just hitting your golf ball squarely each and every time, that’s what the Stress-Free Golf Swing is all about.
How to Determine Your Golf Swing Speed
To find out exactly what your swing speed is, take your average drive distance and then divide that number by 2.3. You will then have your average clubhead speed in miles per hour.
A simple example is if your drive distance is 202 yards, it will be divided by 2.3, which gives you about 87.8 miles per hour.
Overview of Average Golf Swing Speeds
The following is a very basic look at the average speeds that amateur golfers could reach. We will look at the yard distances reported by golfers on average.
- Ages 20 to 30 – 238.68 yards
- Ages 30 to 40 – 231.21 yards
- Ages 40 to 50 – 220.52 yards
- Ages 50 to 60 – 211.93 yards
- Ages 60 and up – 196.40 yards
It is clear to see that the younger golfers can boast of better swing speeds and for obvious reasons — they are fitter and have more power than their older counterparts. But that doesn’t mean older golfers can’t compete — you’d be surprised what an experienced golfer can do given the chance!
Now that you know the average speeds that most amateur golfers can reach depending on their age, perhaps you will find that you are below average or above average. If you are below average, you shouldn’t despair. There are ways to better your speeds, and, if you are determined to do so, you will get there.
Some Tips to Getting Better Speeds When it Comes to Your Golf Swing
Many golfers mistakenly think that, if they swing harder, they will get better speeds. In truth, this will result in slower speed, because when you swing harder, there is what is referred to as a ‘breakdown in mechanics,’ and this affects your speed negatively.
Tension also affects clubhead speeds. If there is less tension, there is more speed. You can sense this for yourself by doing the ‘baseball drill.’ Swing your club on a horizontal plane, without a ball. This will help to condition your body to control the club with the swing of your arms and hands.
A mistake that some golfers make that results in them having slower swing speeds is swaying off the ball in their backswing. This swaying causes inconsistencies at impact. You can address this by practicing at home and using an alignment rod against your right hip (if you’re right-handed). This way you will remember to turn rather than sway, and you will have more power and better speed as a result.
Finally, you may have been told that a wide swing is a powerful swing, and this is true, but by just tracing a wide arc, you will not get speed added to your swing. If you take your club back with your left arm extended (if you’re right-handed) and keep your grip away from your head and then snap the grip close to your body at the start of your downswing, you will notice a difference in your speed, just don’t overkill it on the wide part.
Practice to Improve Your Swing Speed
You can practice the following suggestions to help you achieve better speeds with your swing. It will, as with everything else, take some time, but, if you practice regularly, you will soon find yourself with a better average speed than you previously achieved.
- Position yourself and gently push your hips forward and lean away from your target. This will make you feel like you are putting your chest behind the ball, and this gives you more space and time to build up better speed.
- Keep your shoulders angled up — this will promote a more fluent sweep upwards and is better for efficient energy transfers.
- If you want to boost the efficiency of your impact, bend your knees towards your target and position yourself so your leading hip feels like it sits higher — do not let your head move with your hips. This will allow for a swing that has an improved impact on the ball.
- Take notice of your upper body tilt. You want to be certain that you are bending from your hips and that your spine is extended. Your hands must be positioned under your chin, and you must maintain a gap between your hands and thighs — about the size of a fist.
Conclusion
Although it is possible to determine the average swing speed by age, there are many factors to keep in mind. It should also be taken into consideration that you, as a golfer, may be very different from the average player. You could perhaps have many years more experience and have learned more tips and tricks over time, or you may have only just started out and are still figuring out how to properly hit the golf ball.
It is good, however, to have an idea of the average speed, so you can know how you compare and how much improvement you need. There are many ways to better your speed, and all of them include practice. If you practice the right methods often enough, you will be able to become a better golfer with better speed.
