Imagine hitting your driver farther in your 40’s than when you were in your 20’s!
I imagine a few of you are saying, “No way!”
Read this article to be convinced otherwise. I received an e-mail from one of our BioForce Golf subscribers about the amazing change in his clubhead speed.
He wrote in about how excited he was that his clubhead speed had improved to a speed higher than when he was in his early twenties! He stated that currently his clubhead speed is between 105-107 mph, and in his twenties it was 95-100 mph. Go figure!
He related his increased driving distance and clubhead speed to a golf fitness program, a program with exercises specific to improving his golf swing. Not a traditional, pump-the-iron program, but one that promotes a more efficient and powerful golf swing.
He stated that since he implemented a golf fitness program, his flexibility, strength, and power have all increased.
As a result of this newfound “bottle of youth,” he is hitting the golf ball farther, lowering his scores, and enjoying the game of golf more.
The question to ask is, “How do improved flexibility, strength, and power relate to increased clubhead speed?”
First and foremost, we must understand a very important principle. The principle revolves around what actually swings the golf club.
Is it your body swinging the club or the club swinging your body?
Obviously, the answer is that your body swings the club. Keeping that statement in mind, we can safely say it is a combination of two entities that creates clubhead speed.
What two entities do you think I am talking about? They are your golf swing mechanics and your body.
Swing mechanics have an effect on clubhead speed. Optimal swing mechanics develop greater clubhead speed than poor swing mechanics. If you do not believe me, try this little experiment.
Go to the range and pull out your driver. On your first swing, swing smoothly and in control. On your second swing, swing as hard as you can! Which golf ball went farther? I am guessing the first one.
This little experiment just goes to show that the mechanics of your swing have an effect on clubhead speed and distance.
Bottom line on the swing mechanics side of the equation, the more efficient your golf swing mechanics are the greater amount of clubhead speed you will be able to generate.
Now, on to the second part of the equation, your body.
The body supports your golf swing mechanics. If your body does not have the flexibility, strength, or power to swing the golf club efficiently, the ability to generate clubhead speed will be compromised.
And if your body is inflexible, weak, and lacking the potential to generate power, clubhead speed will be a difficult entity to create.
Applying the idea of power to golf can be simply identified through clubhead speed. If the clubhead is moving faster at impact with the golf ball, what does this tell us about the golfer?
The golfer is more powerful, and the ball will probably travel farther.
How can a golf fitness program increase the power production in your swing?
Increasing your flexibility allows you to perform the mechanics of the golf swing more efficiently opening the door for improved clubhead speed.
Increasing your strength and power levels around the golf swing allows your body the potential to generate greater amounts of clubhead speed.
Put these entities together with your efficient golf swing mechanics and you will find increased clubhead speed in your golf game.
Now, aging presents a very interesting situation. As you age, the natural levels of flexibility, strength, and power decrease.
Yes, as you get older the body slows down. The slowing down has an effect on your golf swing.
You do not have the flexibility to perform the mechanics of the golf swing. The lowers levels of strength and power decrease the ability to generate clubhead speed.
In order to reverse the effects of aging and improve your clubhead speed, you need to implement a golf fitness program.
A golf fitness program can slow “the hands of time,” improve your flexibility, increase the strength within the body, and improve your power outputs. You essentially become an ageless golfer.
Bottom line, better flexibility, increased strength and power training will increase your clubhead speed, lower your scores, and you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of the golf course.
Sean Cochran