How to Convert Golf Club Swing Speed to Distance

Maximizing distance requires a concerted effort.

There is a correlation between golf swing speed and distance. The faster the club is traveling, the farther the golf ball will go. This seems logical, and it is, but there are a number of variables that also come into play. Clubhead loft, swing contact angle, the golf ball and golf club shafts play roles in determining how far a ball will travel, no matter the swing speed. These variables all must be taken into account if a golfer desires maximum distance.

Things You'll Need

• Golf balls
• Demonstration set of golf clubs
• Golf practice range
• Golf course

Instructions

1. 

   Try drivers with different lofts.

   Try drivers with different lofts. Some players are longer with high lofted drivers, while others do better with less loft. Use drivers that have the same type shaft so accurate comparisons can be made. Make notes on each driver and narrow your choices to several clubs. Hit those clubs again to determine which one gives you the greatest distance.

2. 

   Changing the trajectory of your shots can help maximize distance.

   Produce shots that have a flatter trajectory. A shot with excessive loft will not go as far as a shot with a penetrating trajectory. Ask a golf teaching professional to watch you swing and offer suggestions to help you achieve the correct ball flight pattern for maximum distance. Changing shot trajectory can have a major impact on the distance of your golf shots. Changing the trajectory is not an easy task without the help of someone with a skilled eye, such as a teaching professional.

3. 

   Using the correct golf ball can increase distance.

   Play several different types of golf balls during your rounds. Determine two or three balls that seem to produce the greatest distance. Take them to an unoccupied hole and compare them to each other by hitting them with your driver. A ball with a slower spin rate will travel farther than one with a high spin rate. The cover of the ball is also an issue. Harder covers tend to produce longer shots, though this is not universally true. A player must have sufficient swing speed to compress the hard-cover golf ball or maximum distance will not be achieved.

4. 

   Find out which shaft is best for you.

   Take several drivers with different type shafts to the golf practice range. Hit clubs with different degrees of stiffness. Shafts range from extra-stiff to stiff to regular to senior. Determine which shaft stiffness allows you to hit the ball as far as possible. Also, the degree of stiffness in your driver may not be the best for your irons. Go hit 5-irons with different shafts after deciding on the correct shaft for your driver.

References

• Knetgolf: "Golf Ball Distance"
• Distance Golf Ball: "What Effects the Distance a Golf Ball Travels"

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish