Feel the need…for speed
This article was contributed by British PGA Professional Richard Harries.
Richard Harries has been coaching in Singapore since 2004. He has played in many regional and minor tours as well as the Asian Tour & Sunshine Tour (SA) from 1992 to 2004.
Speed is a glamorous aspect of golf. Combined with repeatability and quality contact, it offers distance. In my opinion, as a non-techie, the hunt for speed is more accessible when we are youthful, strong, flexible and athletic.
You will always need great fundamentals, namely grip and posture, to contain and control higher levels of energy. The physicists inside us know we need to build potential energy through rotation, width, arc, circumference and leverage. Turning the upper body against a stable lower body foundation in the backswing creates elasticity, before a fast unwinding of the lower body promotes lag, a late hit, speed and compression.
We then release that potential energy with accuracy to create body speed, clubhead speed and ball speed.
“Build torque, resistance and momentum, then release it.”
This general description is intentionally kept vague because, like any elite movement, personal requirements and individual differences need to be taken into account.
Warning!
Creating more clubhead speed only improves scores when we have the accuracy to use that speed effectively. It is also more strenuous on non-teenage bodies. Beware the smell of Tiger Balm if we overexert ourselves.
Search for golf’s treasure of speed and you will shorten every course and enjoy being the last to every green.
