2 drills that took this long drive champion to record hitting speed

Every golfer wants more club speed, believing it will take their games to the next level. And while there is enough of the other elements that go into putting stroke – such as approach stroke, short game, putting and course management — when your second shot is closer to the flag, it gives you a better chance hit more greens in regulation and make more pars and birdies.

But generating more head speed isn’t just about biting your bottom lip, driving the club as far back as your body will allow, and swinging as hard as you can. It also requires dedicated training, practice and a structured planwhich allows you to gradually see positive results.

Take it from the long drive competitor and world record holder Seb Twaddellwhich in excellent Golf Science Lab Video below describes two useful exercises.

(The full video is available on the Golf Science Lab YouTube channel.)

Try these 2 exercises for more head speed

Having more head speed is great, but having controlled head speed is even better. This allows you to maintain good posture and alignment, which promotes center-to-face contact for more distance and accuracy.

While there are various methods to generate more speed, Twaddell – who holds the world record for club head speed at 169.6 miles per hour – says the following two drills helped turn him from a long hitter to one of the longest hitters on the planet.

Baseball practice

Most of you have probably either thrown a baseball or swung a baseball bat before, and Twaddell says a similar motion helped him pick up head speed.

Basically, you need to use a lot of linear weight shifting from your back foot to your front foot (mimicking a pitcher from his swing), which allows you to turn the clubhead for more spin and more speed.

But Twaddell said at first the move was really hard to incorporate into his speed training.

“It took a good 40 balls to actually hit the clubface and hit the net, which was like 12 feet in front of us,” he says in the video.

He then demonstrates how the exercise works.

“I would put the club forward and then kick back (with my lead foot, shifting my weight to the side of the track) and just go from there,” he says. “I was a former pitcher, so my feeling was literally like I was throwing a baseball. I would go back and then my hips would fall to the side (of the bullet).

One arm swing

There are many moving parts in the swing, but when you’re trying to add head speed, it’s imperative to use each part to add power. That’s why Twaddell trains using one-arm swings.

“One thing I like about the (lead) arm is that when you get to the top, you feel like you can really go back and get that big lat stretch as well — it’s just a huge power outlet,” he says. “You can wrap and relax, just like an elastic band.”

Using some of Twaddell’s advice, you can start incorporating speed training into your exercise routine. And while you’re unlikely to experience record speeds, over time you can put it all together to see big gains and longer drives.

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Nick Dimengo

Editor of Golf.com