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Clubhead Speed or Power, Which Comes First in the Golf Swing?
A question for the ages in relation to the golf swing. Golfers
around the world are familiar with the term clubhead speed. It
is the rate at which the golf club is traveling at impact with
the golf ball. Golfers are also familiar with the term power.
They know that power is directly related to clubhead speed.
Knowing the connection between the two, which comes first?
Clubhead Speed and Power in the Golf Swing
Take a moment to answer the question; which comes first,
clubhead speed or power?
Write down your answer and continue reading. Before we answer
this question, let us do a quick review of both clubhead speed
and power.
Clubhead Speed
Again, we understand that clubhead speed is the rate at which
the clubhead is moving at impact with the golf ball. The
development of clubhead speed is a resultant of your golf swing
mechanics. It is essentially a summation of the entire process
of the golf swing, beginning with address, moving through the
backswing, into transition, onto the downswing, and completing
with impact.
The paragraph above should answer the question of which comes
first; clubhead speed or power? Clubhead speed is the resultant
of power development with the mechanics of the golf swing.
The next question we want to ask is about power:
How is Power Developed in the Golf Swing?
Power is a combination of two entities:
1. Golf Swing Mechanics
2. Body
Your golf swing mechanics is the efficiency at which you
perform the golf swing. Essentially, the golf swing can be
broken down into the stages. These stages are;
Address, Backswing, Transition, Downswing, Impact, and Follow
Through
Each of these stages within the golf swing can be performed
efficiently or inefficiently. PGA Tour players tend to perform
the mechanics of the golf swing very efficiently, where as the
30 handicapper performs them very inefficiently.
If the mechanics within each stage of the golf swing are
efficient. The creation of power and transfer of this power into
clubhead speed is at a greater percentage.
On the flip side, if each stage is performed inefficiently. The
amount of power developed and transferred into clubhead speed
becomes a low percentage.
The first key in power development and the generation of
clubhead speed is golf mechanics.
Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics = Greater Power Development and
Clubhead Speed
Once we understand that efficient golf swing mechanics equals
more power and clubhead speed. We can turn our attention to the
"support structure" of your golf swing.
The Body
The body is what drives the golf swing. It is your skeleton,
muscles, and nerves performing the mechanics of the golf swing.
As a result, your body has a direct affect on how much power you
generate in your golf swing.
The mechanics of golf swing requires certain levels of:
Flexibility
Balance
Strength
Endurance
Power
Optimal levels within these body categories allow for the
possibility of performing the mechanics of the golf swing at
their most efficient levels.
For example, a full shoulder in the backswing is necessary for
optimal power development. In order to perform a full shoulder
turn, you must have a high level of flexibility.
If you are lacking the flexibility to perform a shoulder turn it
will affect the amount of power you can generate.
Bottom line the body is the foundation on which the golf swing
is developed.
If you have a weak foundation, you will have a weak golf swing.
Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics + A Strong, Flexible, and
Powerful Body = Clubhead Speed
We now know clubhead speed is a product of power development in
the golf swing. Power development within your golf swing is
contingent upon two entities. The first entity is your golf
swing mechanics. Performing the mechanics of the golf swing
efficiently elicits more power. Secondly, it is the body.
Optimal power development requires certain levels of
flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the
body. Put these two entities together and you have the ability
to generate high levels of clubhead speed within your golf swing.
Sean
About the author:
About the Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness
instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour
regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.
He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf
swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the
website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him
at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Written By: Sean Cochran
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