The speed secret to ‘timing’ every golfer should know

When you are following the speed or distance, it’s easy to get caught up in the obvious: speed drills, a bigger turn or just a harder swing, especially when you’re hungry for a few extra yards. But there’s one key move that rarely gets the attention it deserves—and it might just be the most important element of all.

Time. More specifically, your delivery time.

To elite golfers and top instructors, this is a well-understood concept, yet it is largely overlooked by the average golfer. Why? Maybe because it’s not as engaging as speed training or other strength building tools. But once you understand how delivery time works, you’ll realize that it’s the hidden engine behind almost every powerful golf swing.

It’s something I recently incorporated into my activity – and the results were almost immediate. After a few minutes, I was seeing huge gains. But I didn’t just want to enjoy the extra speed. I wanted to understand why it was happening – so I could build on it.

To dig deeper into this “undercover” operation, I spoke with Joe Plecker, a GOLF Top 100 Teachers.

Delay your delivery for maximum power

Plecker explained that by holding the club for a few extra ticks on my downswing, I was able to stay locked on target for a longer beat. That subtle lag, he says, helped me shallow the club and build more angular strength — or energy released at the end of the swing.

“If you come back too early from the top, or your body slides forward while your hips hang back,” says Plecker, “you can have a little bit of an early club release.”

And when that happens, you can lose the cornering force Plecker mentions — and the power that comes with it.

Why angular strength is essential

Many golfers mistakenly think that the club should follow the curve of their body—like the arms are along for the ride, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

“There are wrist angles, trail arm bends, lead arm positions—all of those maintain angular strength,” Plecker says, “When those angles are lost too early in the downswing, you’re essentially draining power before you even get to the ball.”

The real key? Learn to hold those angles just a little bit longer – especially during that brief “closed” moment in transition.

“Having that ‘throw’ of all those corners later in the drive is a huge added speed,” says Plecker.

Think of releasing your angular momentum like cracking a whip. If you tried to catch it without creating any angle in your wrist or arm, it would fall flat – lacking the speed needed to create a loud “crack”.

But when you create those angles—and save them until the moment is right—you store energy that is released in a quick, powerful release. More angles mean more speed, delivered with greater efficiency.

Think: room for more speed

If all this talk about angular force seems a little abstract, there’s a simpler way to feel it: space.

“One of the best feelings to get into is space,” says Plecker, “When players swing too early from the top, they actually feel the opposite. They get crowded. They go into the space where the club needs to go. That’s when you see compensations like tightening the arms, shortening the swing, or walking away from it.”

But when the delivery is well-timed and you delay the turn to let your lower body slide forward, Plecker says, you create space.

“When you have space, the club can go through. That’s when you feel like you have space and you can let it go quickly,” he says.

Plecker’s “hockey” drill for a better release

When it comes to training a proper release, timing and sequencing are everything. One of the most effective ways to train both, without falling out of sync, is with the split-grip or “hockey” Plecker drill.

To do this, take a medium iron and get into your typical stance and set. Take the club at the top of your swing, then spread your hands over the club as if you were a hockey player holding their stick. From here, Plecker says to think about hitting a backswing swing.

This movement trains the ideal sequence and slight lag you need to generate real power. Instead of “jumping up,” you should feel like your arms are falling straight down as your hips begin to drop. As your hands approach the bottom of the swing, you should feel your wrists and arms snap into position—cracking the whip—and releasing all the stored energy through the ball.

“It helps train that late, powerful release,” says Plecker.

As you practice, focus on keeping your feet steady and feeling the release of the club in front of you. If you’re struggling to turn, Plecker suggests pulling your leg back a bit to help clear your body and feel that proper release.