Every golfer craves more clubhead speed, believing that it’ll take their games to another level. And while there are plenty of other elements that go into shaving strokes — like approach shots, short game, putting and course management — when your second shot’s closer to the flag, it affords you better opportunities to hit more greens in regulation and make more pars and birdies.
How to increase your swing speed in just 60 seconds, according to Jordan Spieth’s swing coach
But generating more clubhead speed isn’t only about biting your lower lip, taking the club back as far as your body allows and swinging as hard as you can. It also takes dedicated training, practice and a structured plan, which allows you to gradually see positive results.
Take it from long-drive competitor and world-record holder Seb Twaddell, who in the excellent Golf Science Lab video below outlines two helpful drills.
(Full video is available on Golf Science Lab’s YouTube channel.)
Try these 2 drills for more clubhead speed
Having more clubhead speed is great, but having controlled clubhead speed is even better. This allows you to remain in good posture and sequencing, which promotes center-face contact for more distance and accuracy.
While there are different methods for generating more speed, Twaddell — who holds the world record for clubhead speed at 169.6 miles per hour — says the following two drills helped take him from a long hitter to one of the longest hitters on the planet.
The baseball drill
Most of you have probably either thrown a baseball or swung a baseball bat before, and Twaddell says a similar motion helped him pick up clubhead speed.
Essentially, you need use lots of linear weight shift from the back foot to the front foot (mimicking a pitcher from his wind-up), which allows you to get the clubhead back for more rotation and more speed.
Envision a baseball swing to add clubhead speed (and distance!) with this drill
But Twaddell said at first this move was really hard incorporate into his speed training.
“It took a good 40 balls to actually hit the clubface and hit the net, which was like 12 feet in front of us,” he says in the video.
He then demonstrates how the drill works.
“I’d put the club up in front and then kick back [with the lead leg, shifting the weight toward the trail side] and just go from there,” he says. “I was a former pitcher, so my feeling was literally like I was pitching a baseball. I’d go back and then my hips would fall into the [lead] side.”
Single arm swings
There are many moving parts in the swing, but when you’re trying to add clubhead speed, it’s imperative to utilize each part to add force. This is why Twaddell trains using single-arm swings.
“One thing I like with the [lead] arm is, when you get to the top, you feel like you can really turn and get that big lat stretch as well — that alone is a big power outlet,” he says. “You can coil and unwind, just like an elastic band.”
