If you’re tired of hearing about heading to the gym or buying another gadget to swing faster, you’ll like this approach. These are a few of my favorite ways to increase clubhead speed that don’t require you to get stronger or faster.
Plus, you can do them with the swing you already have.
To be clear, training your body and using golf-specific speed tools can absolutely help. But if you just want a way to squeeze more miles per hour out of your driver, try these moves.
Turn more and turn faster
Hip rotation can be one of the best ways to unlock more power and turn faster. Many golfers restrict their lower body and rely too much on just their shoulders. Restricting the hips limits the length of the swing and the time the club has to build speed.
How to try it
- In your backswing, let your trail hip turn freely instead of keeping it locked.
- Don’t be afraid to feel like your arms and club are traveling much farther back than usual.
- Pair that big turn with a faster backswing. The quicker you move it back, the quicker you can rip it through. Think of it like stretching a rubber band: the more you load it, the harder it fires.
Golfers often worry that a faster backswing means less control but it can help prime your body for additional speed if you’re already good at squaring the clubface. The stretch reflex you create makes it easier to accelerate through the ball.
Practice short swings to engage your muscles
The first tip focused on increasing hip rotation and turning to help lengthen the backswing. With this tip, Padraig Harrington says that most amateurs lose speed by trying to make their swings longer. He says the longer they go, the less their bodies stay engaged.
Instead, Harrington practices shorter swings, half or three-quarter motions that force his body to engage more powerfully. Then, when he returns to his normal full swing, those same muscles fire harder and longer.
How to try it
- On the range, hit sets of balls with a swing that only goes to left arm parallel (for right-handers).
- Really “go after it” with that shorter move. Engage your core and lower body to generate speed.
- Then switch back to your full swing. You’ll notice your body feels more “switched on” and your clubhead speed will often increase naturally.
Extra insight from the video: Harrington mentions that some amateurs may benefit from experimenting with a longer swing at first. But, in his case, it didn’t translate under pressure. If you watch the full video, you’ll also notice when he shows the “perfect position” at the top of the backswing: his trail hip is turned and there’s noticeable extension at the top. This is another way of practicing body engagement and arriving at the same result.
Use the ground with a squat move
I know I said you didn’t have to head to the gym but, with this one, you’ll have to at least practice a “squat” move. One key reason pros generate easy speed is how they use the ground. At the top of their swing, almost all PGA Tour pros add a small squat before pushing up and rotating through. That little dip and push creates an explosive transfer of energy.
How to try It
- Take a normal backswing and pause at the top.
- From there, feel a slight squat—your knees flex, and your hips lower just a touch.
- Use that squat as the trigger to start your downswing, then push up through your legs as you rotate through the ball.
A good checkpoint: At impact, your belt buckle should be facing the target, with your glutes firing. It may feel exaggerated at first, but this move helps you engage the largest muscles in your body, rather than just your arms.
The first time I used the Swing Catalyst, I got to see for myself how much these ground forces and pressure shifts play into the swing. It’s an underutilized source of power for golfers.
Final thoughts
There are numerous theories on how to increase speed. What I like about these three tips is that you learn two different ways/mindsets on how to open the hips and create more turning power. In addition, you’ll start to utilize the ground and let it work for you, not against you. Give these ideas a try and don’t forget to test your speed with a launch monitor to see if it’s working.
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