If you're investing time into speed training, you deserve to know exactly how much faster you're getting.
Unfortunately, many golfers accidentally introduce variables into their testing that make their results unreliable. They switch launch monitors, use different clubs, change shoes, skip their warm-up, or test under completely different conditions.
The result? Numbers that don't tell the real story.
According to Dr. Tyler Standifird, biomechanics professor at Utah Valley University, the secret to accurate speed testing comes down to one word: consistency.
Dr. Standifird has spent years researching how SuperSpeed Golf training affects clubhead speed, ball speed, carry distance, and ground reaction forces. His research consistently shows golfers can expect approximately 5 to 7% increases in clubhead speed during the first five to six weeks of training.
To accurately track those improvements, every test should be performed under nearly identical conditions.
1. Use the Same Launch Monitor
Whether you're using a PRGR, TrackMan, or another launch monitor, don't switch devices halfway through your training.
Every monitor measures slightly differently. If you begin your baseline testing with a PRGR, continue using that same PRGR throughout your training.
Just as importantly, position the device in the exact same location every time. Even small setup differences can influence readings.
2. Test With the Same Club
Don't compare driver speed one day to a 3 wood or a SuperSpeed stick another day.
Choose one club for testing and stick with it. If your goal is to improve driver speed, always measure with your driver.
3. Decide Whether You're Hitting Balls
Both methods work. You can test while hitting golf balls or while making practice swings.
The important part is that you don't switch between the two. Testing without a ball generally produces different swing speeds than hitting an actual shot, so keep your testing method consistent from beginning to end.
4. Keep Your Environment the Same
One often overlooked variable is your interaction with the ground.
Dr. Standifird's research focuses heavily on how golfers produce force through the ground, and footwear and surface matter more than many golfers realize.
Whenever possible, test:
- On the same surface
- Wearing the same shoes
- In the same hitting location
Changing from grass to concrete or from athletic shoes to golf spikes can influence your speed.
5. Use the Same Warm-Up
Never compare a cold swing against a fully warmed-up swing.
Before every speed test, perform the same dynamic warm-up and gradually build intensity before recording your fastest swings.
A consistent warm-up helps ensure you're measuring your actual improvement, not simply the difference between being stiff and being ready to swing.
6. Swing With Maximum Intent
Perhaps the biggest key is intent.
If you're trying to swing as fast as possible during your baseline test, you should be trying just as hard during every future test.
Don't swing cautiously one day and all out the next. Maximum effort should always mean maximum effort.
Track Progress the Right Way
The best testing protocol is one you can repeat over and over again.
When you control the variables, your speed numbers become meaningful. You'll know whether your training is working, when you've reached a new personal best, and whether it's time to adjust your program.
The SuperSpeed Golf app makes this process even easier by allowing you to record your speed sessions over time, track personal records, and monitor your long-term progress.
When paired with a PRGR Portable Launch Monitor, you can quickly test your driver speed almost anywhere, whether you're in your garage, backyard, or at the driving range.
Small Details Lead to Better Data
Speed training works. Research has shown golfers can gain meaningful clubhead speed in just a few weeks.
But the only way to accurately measure those gains is by removing as many variables as possible.
- Use the same launch monitor.
- Use the same club.
- Wear the same shoes.
- Warm up the same way.
- Swing with the same intent.
Do that consistently, and you'll have complete confidence that every mile per hour you gain is one you've truly earned.