Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
I’ve been on a mission this winter. The goal? Gain as much clubhead speed as possible.
The approach has been multi-faceted. One strategy was getting in the gym more, which has been great not only for my swing speed but also my golf game in general. Another is refining my technique to become as efficient as possible. Lastly, I’ve been working on some good old-fashioned over-speed training.
Over-speed training is great because it helps you break through mental barriers that slow you down. Plus, when you wail away on the ball with no regard for where it ends up, you learn little tricks that help add speed along the way.
One of the best tricks I’ve learned in this endeavor came during my speed training boot camp with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Bernie Najar. During our session, he used an analogy that stuck with me. And if you apply it to your own swing, you’ll be able to add some swing speed, too.
The best speed tip
The true key to swinging with maximum efficiency is by nailing your sequencing (the order in which different body parts move during the swing). To get the most out of your swing, you need to fire your lower body first, then turn your chest, then the arms and finally the club. If you can do that in the correct order, you will send all the energy to the clubhead at the moment of impact, which will maximize your speed.
When teaching this during our speed training session, Bernie used an analogy that made the concept click like never before.
“You have to know where to crack the whip,” he said.
When you use a whip, you stop the handle rapidly when you want it to “crack.” This slowdown sends all the energy from the handle to the end of the whip, culminating in a satisfying “crack.”
The same principle applies when swinging the driver fast. If you watch elite players swing the club, you’ll notice that the handle actually slows down near impact. In doing so, they send all the energy to the clubhead, which helps maximize its speed.
“A lot of people just flail away in a speed session,” Bernie said. “We are trying to get the transfer of energy better.”
If you can master how to crack the whip efficiently, you can generate tons of speed without even looking like you’re trying.
Bernie Najar is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and the director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md. If you want to learn more about his teaching philosophies, check out his book Speed/Power/Finesse: How to Play the Three Games of Golf.
