Golf Swing Speed Distance Calculator

How do I determine my golf swing speed?

The best way to determine your swing speed is using a dedicated swing speed measurement device. The following products can all give you highly accurate swing speed readings:

If you’re primary concern is swing speed and you don’t really need all the other launch monitor data (like attack angle, launch angle etc), the Sports Sensor is a good option. It is effectively a bare bones swing speed radar that does one thing and one thing only. Fortunately, this means that it is considerably more affordable than most other swing speed sensors.

Golf Swing Speed Formula

Another way to determine your swing speed is by manually calculating clubhead speed based on how far you currently hit the ball. This is the Formula:

Clubhead Speed = Driver Distance (Yards) / 2.6 (Yard Per Mile)

Example of how to use the formula: Let’s imagine you hit the ball 275 yards

Clubhead Speed = 275 Yards / 2.6 Yards Per Mile
Clubhead Speed = 106 Miles Per Hour

It is important to explain that PGA tour players tend to generate 2.6 Yards of distance for each mile per hour of clubhead speed when they have a driver in their hands.

There are definitely instances when a tour player can get more than 2.6 yards of distance, assuming the fairways are offering lots of run.

However, for amateur golfers playing on normal courses, it isn’t realistic to expect more distance than this (2.6 yards per mph) based on your clubhead speed.

To hit achieve this level of swingspeed-to-distance efficiency, you need to have the ideal shaft, optimal launch conditions, the right amount of backspin, and a high swing speed.

What is the average Amatuer golf swing speed?

The average male golfer swings the driver at about 90 miles per hour
Low handicap male golfer tend to have swing speeds that exceed 100 mph
The average PGA tour swing speed is about 113-114 mph.

There is a direct connection between how far you hit the ball and your handicap, and this also applies to the professional game. Long-hitting professionals tend to make more money and win more tournaments than their shorter-hitting counterparts. This is especially true in today’s game, where long hitters like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson can outmuscle their fellow competitors and the golf courses they play on.

Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

That depends on your swing speed. If you have a slow swing speed, there’s a good chance that a stiff shaft will reduce the distance that you hit the ball. In this case, the most likely culprit is too little backspin, which can drastically reduce carry distance.

If you have a high swing speed (100+ MPH), you could find that a stiff shaft unlocks the ideal backspin and launch conditions for your particular swing characteristics.

Ultimately, it all boils down to finding the ideal apex (maximum height the ball reaches) for your swing.
A shaft that is too soft may balloon vertically, preventing you from achieving the maximum horizontal distance. On the other hand, a shaft that is too stiff probably won’t generate enough backspin, leading to a low ball flight and less than optimal carry distance.

Your goal is to find the perfect amount of backspin for your particular swing seed. Generally speaking, the higher your swing speed, the less backspin you require to achieve the optimal apex for your swing.

What happens if golf shaft is too stiff?

There are two common consequences associated with gaming a shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed.

Consequence 1: You Will Probably Hit It Shorter

Imagine that you were given the task of shooting an arrow as far as possible with an extremely taut bow.
In this scenario, the bow might be too taut for your strength level, which would obviously limit how far you can shoot the arrow.

When using a shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed, a similar dynamic is likely to enter your golf swing.
In essence, your swing speed limits the amount of elasticity that can be imparted through the shaft and into the golf ball. The end result is that your club will feel like a brick, and you will almost certainly lose distance off the tee.

Consequence 2: You May Miss Shots To The Right

In addition to losing distance, a shaft that is too stiff often leads to weak blocks and an increased tendency to slice the ball.There are two reasons that help explain why.

The reduced carry distance can be attributed to generating too little backspin. This prevents the ball from reaching an apex that allows for optimal carry distance.
The tendency to impart left to right spin with a shaft that is too stiff stems from the difficulty of closing the face at impact. For many players,an excessively stiff shaft makes it harder to square the club.

It is also worth noting that according to the iron byron at Golfsmith and the pingman at Ping ‘a shaft that is too stiff for the clubhead speed will leave the ball out to the right, a shaft too flexible will make the ball go to the left every time.‘

With all of that being said, it is worth clarifying that these tendencies are common, but not universal. Your particular swing dynamics could lead to a pull or a hook, but that would make you the exception rather than the rule.