Maverick McNealy uses a unique method to increase swing speed.
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Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
Winter is the worst time of year for players in cold climates. Temperatures are low, courses are closed and daylight is scarce. It’s a golf sufferer’s worst nightmare.
For someone like me who grew up in a year-round golfing climate, moving north took some adjusting. For the first time in my life, golf had a true off-season.
I didn’t like the offseason at first, but I’ve since come to enjoy it. Not only does the offseason allow me time to unwind from the season that was, but it also allows me to make changes to my game in preparation for the upcoming season.
This is pretty much the same approach the pros take. But when it comes to making some changes, there are some professionals who do things a LESS but unlike others.
Get the latest PGA Tour winner Maverick McNealy, for example. In a recent appearance on Smylie Kaufman’s podcast, McNealy revealed one of the ways he adds speed in the offseason is by getting on the ice.
Mav’s unique speed training
Everyone wants to move the club faster, and there are many ways to do this. Some golfers hit the gym to bulk up, while others use speed training programs. However, McNealy’s method of increasing swing speed is a little different than most.
McNealy, a former No. 1 ranked amateur, grew up playing competitive hockey in California, and he still makes sure he gets plenty of ice time during the golf offseason. The reps on the ice not only keep him connected to his former sport, they also help with his golf game.
“I just shoot the (hockey) puck,” McNealy says. “Makes me faster.”
McNealy estimates that if he gets a few hours of ice time in a week, he’ll return to the course with an extra two to three miles per hour in his golf swing.
Like the golf swing, the hockey puck shooting motion requires you to line up your body in a very specific way to generate power. And while the hockey swing is slightly different from the golf swing, it forces you to use similar muscle groups.
“It’s hard to train the way your body moves in a gym,” he says. “Weights and things are generally very one-dimensional. Getting all the muscle groups working together, in sync together – like I was injured in random places. I just want to buy a skateboard and just burn tires in the garage.”
