Guess My Swing Speed

[Nacho_D/FW]

Ok so I have always been curious as to what my swing speed is. To be honest, I have no clue. I am also too embarassed to go to a launch monitor because the thought of being told by a teenager that I have a 40mph swing speed is very upsetting.

Anyway, I am a pretty strong guy and lift weights regularly. I can pound 4 sets of 5 reps with 315 pounds so I know strength isn't my problem. I think golf is more about flexibility. I am built like a block and am very "stiff". It's just how I am. ANyway, I have a nice set of clubs (X-16's) steel shafts. SInce I have read that the 6 iron is the club to use when judging distances, I went to the range. My average distance with it was 140 yards.

On the golf course, I can't complain. I shoot in the 90's and I don't care that my buddies are using a 9 iron compared to my 6i. I am always on the green and putting for birdie. But I have always been curious. What is my swing speed? 60mph? 70mph?

So, maybe one of u out there with a similar 6i distance can help solve this riddle.

Thanks.

[golfaholic]

IMHO if your're the monster yo say you are I think 50mph might be pretty close.

Ever try to take a lesson to pick up a few yards? could help..

[ECS]

Nacho, you sound like me! I am 6'3, 270 and workout just about everyday, luckily I can hit a softball 350 feet, but golf is another story, LOL. Again, I think you are right on when it comes to flexibility, My neighbor will be hitting the same shot I am and will use about 2 clubs less than me and hes not strong and old

[ezra76]

I couldn't venture to guess but 140 is very short for a 6i. Thats easily a 9i for me and I'm 6'1" and a whopping 165. You should get a few lessons and see where the fault is. Distance isn't everything but a 9i has a big advantage over a 6i when it comes to accuracy and stopping the ball on the green.

[Horseballs]

Somewhere right around 60mph with your 6 iron, I'd say. There's a formula that supposedly works for every club. It's distance divided by 2.2. Not 100% on the 2.2 but it's something like that.

[Jimbo1013]

I couldn't venture to guess but 140 is very short for a 6i. Thats easily a 9i for me and I'm 6'1" and a whopping 165. You should get a few lessons and see where the fault is. Distance isn't everything but a 9i has a big advantage over a 6i when it comes to accuracy and stopping the ball on the green.

Im not sure I would call it a fault so much as he said a flexibility issue. Im about the same size as he is, but definitely cant bench 315. My advice would be to, if you want to, concentrate on flexibility in the gym rather than muscle. That being said an accurate 6i into a green with a putt for bird is much better than a wild 9i into a trap....

[Mward2002]

Somewhere right around 60mph with your 6 iron, I'd say. There's a formula that supposedly works for every club. It's distance divided by 2.2. Not 100% on the 2.2 but it's something like that.

How much does that change, if any, when you have a driver in your hand? I mean it was pretty close to my average drive with my swing, but then when I tried to see how much a 300 yard drive was, it needed a 136 swing speed. Ouch?

[Gussie]

It can't be 2.2, because a 200 yard drive would mean a swing speed of about 90, (200/2.2), and a 250 yard drive would equate to a swing speed of 113.6.

[Horseballs]

How much does that change, if any, when you have a driver in your hand? I mean it was pretty close to my average drive with my swing, but then when I tried to see how much a 300 yard drive was, it needed a 136 swing speed. Ouch?

It's supposed to be carry distance for every club. Again though, I'm not 100% on the 2.2, but it's something like that.
300 is a HUGE carry.

[Mward2002]

Ahh, carry distance makes sense then. What's even more disturbing is people like Bubba Watson and JB Holmes who normally carry 300 easily. To top that, JB Holmes hit a 350+ drive, with about 330 carry at the FBR Open on the final hole. That's roughly a 150 swing speed. I don't remember the conditions, and I'm REALLY hoping it was downwind.

[Nacho_D/FW]

Yea I had wondered about that formula because I had seen it before and was trying to find it. I can actually get a decent 250yd drive (with carry) with my 3-wood. I think its that short shaft that helps to increase my speed.

There is this flexibility drill they used to do in high school. You stand up straight, put your hands behind your back and interlock your fingers. Then, LIFT your hands. The higher you can lift your hands, the better flexibility you have. I could only lift my hands like 2 inches. My gym teacher came over and was trying to lift up my arms and it was impossible. I remember her saying, "You are going to have some MAJOR back problems when u are older". Anyway, I turn 31 in August. No back issues yet but I wish my golf game was in better shape.

I DO agree that in some instances, a nice high trajectory with a 9i will be necessary but for now, shooting 90's is fine with me since I only golf once a month or so.

If you look at my swing, I think my fault is in my back swing. I physically cannot bring the shaft back far enough to create much speed. I have tried to bring the club back farther but all it does is makes my elbows collapse and I slam my club in the ground.

I guess a mid 50 to low 60mph swing speed sounds about right. If anyone needs me, I'll be at Golfsmith re-shafting my driver with the Grafalloy "Ultimate Super Lightweight Junior" Shaft.

[ezra76]

Im not sure I would call it a fault so much as he said a flexibility issue. Im about the same size as he is, but definitely cant bench 315. My advice would be to, if you want to, concentrate on flexibility in the gym rather than muscle. That being said an accurate 6i into a green with a putt for bird is much better than a wild 9i into a trap....

140 is a controlled, spinning 9 from back in the stance. I cannot get anywhere near the height, accuracy or backspin on a 6iron. To stop a 6i I have to put fading sidespin on it. The chances of putting a 6 into a bunker are way greater than a 9i any day and for every player. Anyone who can hit a 6 better than a 9 has to have some serious swing issues.

BTW the 113.6 for a 250 carry works out almost exact for what I was getting with my 9.5* R7 and swing speed. I was on the launch monitor at 245-255 yds. carry and a 111-114mph range. 300 carry is a super-bomb and 136 is long drive competition material.

[graffixjones]

I tend to think that rather than distance/2.2 equaling 'swing' speed, it's probably more like clubhead speed.

You gotta figure that the clubhead could be traveling faster through its contact point with the ball, due to the unloading of the shaft and the uncocking of the wrists, so for a split-second, the clubhead is actually accelerating faster than the swinging of the body, which would lead me to believe that it's traveling faster than your swing speed.

This is only just a guess, of course, but it sounds about right to me... if that wasn't the case, then I'd venture to say that most professional golfer's average drive would be in the 250yd. range, instead of up near 300 (290+).

[LyleG]

This is only just a guess, of course, but it sounds about right to me... if that wasn't the case, then I'd venture to say that most professional golfer's average drive would be in the 250yd. range, instead of up near 300 (290+).

Correct. David Tom's has a swing speed of 106 and his ave. drive is 270.

Then again, david's swing speed is really 106.

[Montywithoutthebelly]

Correct. David Tom's has a swing speed of 106 and his ave. drive is 270.

Then again, david's swing speed is really 106.

Good to see Short Boy/Girl LyleG still doubting peoples performances on the Golf course ha ha ha!!!! The head winds in your area must be horrendous.

[jsvkt]

Honestly it is all about having the right swing fundimentals. I'm 6'4" 220 pounds and I used to drive the ball 225 and hit a 7 iron 150, but I recently took some lessons and now I'm hitting a 9 iron 150 and my swing feels like nothing. The pros make their swings look so effortless because they're starting their swing with their lower bodys(this is were they generate most of the power in the golf swing) and allowing their arms and hands to follow. They call Ernie "The Big Easy", because his swing looks so easy even though his swing speed is still in the 110-120 range. Like many others have suggested take some lessons and you'll be happier with your game.

[graffixjones]

Uh... I think Lyle and I were simply agreeing that the math in that formula doesn't add up.
For example, if David Toms averages 270 on his drive, then according to that formula, his swing speed is in the 123mph range, which isn't the case.

If you took his actual swing speed (106) and multiplied that by 2.2, you end up with 233.2, which is 40 yards shorter than his average... so obviously there's something with the formula that isn't adding up... that's all that I was commenting on.

I'm not personally questioning anybody's claims as to how far they hit the ball... I'll leave that up to Lyle.

[Mward2002]

Maybe it's 2.5? 106mph swing would equal 265yds

[Ucaimaman]

Nacho - I doubt your flexibility is limiting your length very much. Ever watch JB Holmes hit - he has a very short backswing. I agree with JSVKT that it is all about swing fundamentals.

Now the average length for an average player with 6-iron is only about 150 yards - so you are not too far below average. For me - it is all about the left arm. If I keep it straight - I get carry. If I let it collapse, I lose a lot of distance.

[Sandpiper6]

The formula doesnt add up because your not taking into consideration that Toms hits the ball near perfect everytime. (also it doesnt add up because it dont make sense...)

[Jimbo1013]

[QUOTE=ezra76]140 is a controlled, spinning 9 from back in the stance. I cannot get anywhere near the height, accuracy or backspin on a 6iron. To stop a 6i I have to put fading sidespin on it. The chances of putting a 6 into a bunker are way greater than a 9i any day and for every player. Anyone who can hit a 6 better than a 9 has to have some serious swing issues.

QUOTE]

This is true for you, but for him it is not. He hits a 6i from 140 and im guessing a 9i from 110ish, the point is that it is more of a flexibility issue than a swing flaw and rather than overhauling his swing which seems to be what you are suggesting, it may be better for him to work on flexibility. WHo wants to completely overhaul a swing anyway...it sucks....

[Horseballs]

I found this. Note how it says roll accounts for 10% of the distance on this chart. I can guarantee someone will ignore this. I think we should question whether David Toms truly swings 106mph with his driver. He'd be hitting it 230 including roll according to this chart.

Maybe we should ignore this chart if it goes against what we believe. That's a really convenient way to go about things at the very least.

http://www.swingspeedradar.com/pages/931634/index.htm

[graffixjones]

I found this. Note how it says roll accounts for 10% of the distance on this chart. I can guarantee someone will ignore this. I think we should question whether David Toms truly swings 106mph with his driver. He'd be hitting it 230 including roll according to this chart.

Maybe we should ignore this chart if it goes against what we believe. That's a really convenient way to go about things at the very least.

http://www.swingspeedradar.com/pages/931634/index.htm

So, if I made up a chart that says 2+2=5, and the majority can accurately guess that I'm wrong, we have to go with my claim simply because I made a chart?

*cough*

All I know is that my swing ain't that great, my swingspeed is probably about 95mph with my driver, yet I can still carry it 220 (avg), whereas the chart you posted has taken into account variables such as club loft, COR, Launch Angle, Ballspin and Climate... in other words a perfect hit in perfect conditions.

I'm not saying that you aren't right, just that your claim "we'll just dismiss it because we don't believe it's true" is a crap way to present an argument... if anything, it opens a debate as to whether or not swing speed is the prime determinant of ball distance.

Who knows... maybe I swing faster than I thought, or have better mechanics than I thought, but I doubt it.

[Horseballs]

So, if I made up a chart that says 2+2=5, and the majority can accurately guess that I'm wrong, we have to go with my claim simply because I made a chart?

*cough*

All I know is that my swing ain't that great, my swingspeed is probably about 95mph with my driver, yet I can still carry it 220 (avg), whereas the chart you posted has taken into account variables such as club loft, COR, Launch Angle, Ballspin and Climate... in other words a perfect hit in perfect conditions.

I'm not saying that you aren't right, just that your claim "we'll just dismiss it because we don't believe it's true" is a crap way to present an argument... if anything, it opens a debate as to whether or not swing speed is the prime determinant of ball distance.

Who knows... maybe I swing faster than I thought, or have better mechanics than I thought, but I doubt it.

I didn't mean to be a d1ck, it was more tongue in cheek. That's hard to detect from where you are sitting I would suppose. I think you have to take it as a given that you are hitting the sweet spot with a good driver. Otherwise, you'd have no basis for the test.

[graham43]

I've seen figures like 2.4 x clubhead speed for the driver and 2.2 for the 5 iron. The 5 iron speed being 90% of the driver speed

[Shooter72]

Nacho you describe yourself as being built like a block and that's probably what holding you back right now. Those chest exercizes will kill your game if you don't really strech out afterwards. The ability to bring your left arm around your body is probably being somewhat halted by a big pec muscle and that's normal. You will gain flexibility over time just by swinging and your swing speed will naturally increase with it. I was EXACTLY like you, hitting a 6 iron 140 when I started and now my 8-iron is my 155 yard club. And it won't feel like you're swinging any harder.

If you're still curious as to swing speed- sneeak into an Edwin Watts or golfsmith somewhere and grab one of those Speed sticks and take a couple of swings. I tried it and it was pretty accurate.

[+to0to-]

Ok so I have always been curious as to what my swing speed is. To be honest, I have no clue. I am also too embarassed to go to a launch monitor because the thought of being told by a teenager that I have a 40mph swing speed is very upsetting.

Thanks.

I am assuming you live in the Dallas area. If you are embarrased to get it checked at a Golf shop, go to the indoor golf place near the airport (Junction of 121 & 183). It is about $45/ hour or so. You can use it to play nice courses or use it to analyseyour swing. After every shot, you will get a read out of your swing speed, carry, angle of the clubface..so ond so forth. You can do all this on your own without anyone bothering you. Also you can email those videos for you to analyse later. Try it.....you will get addcited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ezra76]

[QUOTE=Jimbo1013]

140 is a controlled, spinning 9 from back in the stance. I cannot get anywhere near the height, accuracy or backspin on a 6iron. To stop a 6i I have to put fading sidespin on it. The chances of putting a 6 into a bunker are way greater than a 9i any day and for every player. Anyone who can hit a 6 better than a 9 has to have some serious swing issues.

QUOTE]

This is true for you, but for him it is not. He hits a 6i from 140 and im guessing a 9i from 110ish, the point is that it is more of a flexibility issue than a swing flaw and rather than overhauling his swing which seems to be what you are suggesting, it may be better for him to work on flexibility. WHo wants to completely overhaul a swing anyway...it sucks....

Not to be a jerk but a with a 140 6i there is not much of a swing there to overhaul. I've played with 70+ yr. olds that get out of the cart and have to use the 6iron as a cane and hit it 140. Unfortunately we can't see the swing so we have no idea what the issue could be. Physics obviously say the distance issue is related to swing speed (unless they all are toe shots) Shooting 90's with those distances is good but it will be forever holding scores back. The only basic suggestion I can come up with is on the backswing CASH: Clubhead, then Arms, Shoulders, Hips. Then trigger the the downswing with the hips, drop the shoulder into the slot, hold the clubhead at a 15* angle to impact and turn the clubhead over through the shot with the forearms. That's the best I can offer without seeing anything.

[graffixjones]

I didn't mean to be a d1ck, it was more tongue in cheek. That's hard to detect from where you are sitting I would suppose. I think you have to take it as a given that you are hitting the sweet spot with a good driver. Otherwise, you'd have no basis for the test.

Okay, gotcha.

I agree... words that don't look bad to you can look awfully different to somebody sitting behind another computer... especially on this forum.

[ironman]

140 yards, average carry (not counting roll)?
that's not far from average
i've seen muscular strong guys that their punches (and kicks) are surpriingly light for their athletic shape...it's a diffent type of muscle (twitch) and skill set.

golf swing lessons,stretching, and karate/yoga breathing exercises should loosen you up

[hollywood30546]

I have been on a launch monitor. In this case, size doesn't matter The golf swing is from the ground up and not the top down. Like others said, power is generated from the lower body. It sounds to me you are not hitting it on the screws. It is coming off the club face fat. I had the same problem until I got lessons. It helped me not to come over the top which is probably the number 1 problem for amateurs. I now hit my 6i 150yds. I am happy with that distance, and I have a Ernie Els swing (slow) mabye not as pretty, but let the club do the work. You don't have to help the ball off the ground. Good Luck