Let’s dive into one of the most common questions we get: how do you train to increase clubhead speed? Everyone wants to hit the ball further but to do that, we need to get our bodies moving faster. So, what does that process actually look like?
Understanding Speed Training
In the simplest terms, increasing your clubhead speed means getting your body to move faster than it currently does to in turn get the golf club moving faster. But here’s the thing—there’s something called a neuromuscular governor in your brain that essentially puts a limit on how fast you can move any known movement. Your body’s top priority is to keep you safe, so it’s only going to let you move as fast as it believes is safe.
That’s where overspeed training comes into play. The goal of overspeed training is to break down that governor and teach your body and brain that it can move faster than it thinks. But, how do we do that? By swinging a club that’s lighter than your normal driver.
The Basics of OverSpeed Training
Think about it this way: your driver has a specific weight, right? If you take a club that’s 20% lighter than your driver, you’ll immediately be able to swing it faster because there’s less resistance. That’s the first step. When you start swinging a lighter club, you’ll send a signal to your brain that says, "Hey, I can move faster, and I can do it safely."
At SuperSpeed Golf, we’ve developed a three-club system designed to maximize your speed potential:
- A club that’s 20% lighter than your driver.
- A club that’s 10% lighter than your driver.
- A club that’s 5% heavier than your driver.
This progression is key. If you just grab something extremely light, like an alignment rod, your brain won’t recognize it as a golf swing. So, we need the right balance of reducing weight while maintaining the feel of a real swing.
How the Training Works
Let’s say you normally swing your driver at 100 mph. With the 20% lighter club, most players see an increase to around 115-117 mph right away. That’s because you’re reducing the weight and allowing your body to move faster than it’s used to. Every swing you make with the lighter club is sending a message to your brain, reinforcing the idea that you can move quicker.
Next, we gradually reintroduce weight with the 10% lighter club. Players will typically swing this one at around 110-113 mph, which is still faster than your normal swing. By doing this, we’re bridging the gap and allowing your body to adjust to the added weight without losing the speed you’ve gained.
Finally, we introduce the 5% heavier club. Now, you might be thinking, "Won’t swinging something heavier slow me down?" Surprisingly, no! Because you’ve already primed your body and brain with the lighter clubs, you’ll actually swing the heavier club faster than your normal driver. If you normally swing at 100 mph, you’ll probably swing the heavier club at around 108-109 mph.
Why Not Just Swing the Heavy Club?
Some golfers might think that just swinging a heavier club will make them stronger and, in turn, faster. But here’s the truth—strength doesn’t always equal speed. If that were the case, bodybuilders would have the fastest swing speeds in the world! Speed and strength are two completely different skill sets. What we’re focusing on here is speed—how fast you can move your body.
The Bottom Line
So, to sum it up, overspeed training is all about teaching your body to move faster by reducing the load, and then gradually reintroducing weight to keep that speed up. You start with something lighter than your driver, work through different weights, and eventually swing something heavier, but faster.
By training this way, you’ll increase your clubhead speed, hit longer drives, and ultimately, lower your scores. It’s about quality reps and making sure your brain and body understand that they can safely move faster.
Ready to start hitting longer drives? Give overspeed training a try with SuperSpeed Golf, and watch your speed—and your game—improve!
Already speed training? Try these tips to get the most out of your training sessions.
