Every golfer wants to hit the ball further, yet many struggle to generate the swing speed needed for extra distance. The key to increasing clubhead speed isn’t brute strength – it’s efficiency, technique, and sequencing.
And there’s one major mistake that holds golfers back from unlocking their full speed potential.
The Biggest Swing Speed Killer? Overusing Your Arms & Neglecting Your Lower Body.
Why Swing Speed Matters
Swing speed is one of the biggest factors in maximising distance off the tee and with irons. The faster your club moves through impact, the further your ball will travel – as long as you’re making solid contact.
But most golfers unknowingly limit their speed by trying to muscle the ball with their hands and arms while failing to generate power from the ground up.
The Problem: An Arms-Only Swing
One of the most common mistakes amateur golfers make is trying to generate speed with just their arms. They grip the club too tightly, tense their upper body, and swing with force – but no real power.
The result? A swing that lacks fluidity, sequencing, and explosiveness.
When You Rely Solely on Your Arms:
- You create excess tension, slowing down your movement.
- You lose the ability to generate power from the lower body.
- Your sequencing becomes inefficient, leading to weak or inconsistent strikes.
- You’re more likely to suffer from fatigue, strain, or even injury over time.
If you’ve been struggling with lost distance, inconsistent strikes, or back pain, your arms-only swing might be to blame.
The Key to Unlocking More Speed: The Kinetic Chain
The golf swing is a full-body movement that follows the kinetic chain—a sequence of power transfer from the ground, through the legs and core, and finally into the arms and club.
The best golfers in the world don’t swing with their arms – they use their lower body and core efficiently to create effortless speed.
Here’s How They Do It:
Ground Force Utilisation
Elite players push into the ground to generate power, much like a sprinter exploding off the starting blocks. If you’re not using the ground properly, you’re missing out on a huge source of speed.
Hip & Pelvic Rotation
Rather than just swinging with their arms, powerful golfers rotate their hips effectively, creating torque and coil that leads to explosive clubhead speed.
Core Engagement & Sequencing
A strong, stable core allows for proper sequencing – where the lower body leads the downswing, followed by the torso, then the arms, and finally the club. This chain reaction is what produces effortless speed.
How to Fix It: Drills to Improve Swing Speed
The Step Drill
Why? Encourages weight transfer and lower-body activation.
- Take your normal stance but step your lead foot back slightly.
- As you start your backswing, step forward into your lead foot and swing through.
- Focus on driving from the ground up rather than using your arms.
Medicine Ball Rotational Throws
Why? Builds rotational power and reinforces proper sequencing.
- Stand in a golf posture with a medicine ball.
- Rotate your hips and torso, then explosively throw the ball against a wall.
- Repeat for both sides to develop balanced power.
Jump & Swing Drill
Why? Trains your body to use ground forces for speed.
- Stand in your golf stance and perform small vertical jumps before swinging.
- Feel how pushing off the ground translates to power in your swing.
Bonus Tip: Loosen Up for Speed
Tension kills speed. If you grip the club too tightly or try to control the swing too much, you’ll limit your ability to create whip and lag.
- Relax your hands.
- Focus on a smooth, athletic motion.
- Let speed build naturally through efficient movement – not force.
Conclusion: Fix This & Gain Effortless Speed
If you’re serious about increasing your swing speed, stop relying on your arms and start using your whole body.
When you train proper sequencing and ground force mechanics, you’ll see dramatic improvements in both speed and consistency – without added strain or effort.
Want to unlock effortless power in your swing?
