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Downswing and TransitionSpeed, Power, and Distance All clubs Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 13 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Clubhead Speed, Pros vs. Amateurs: Athletic Motion Golf

Do you feel like you could hit the ball farther, but just can't seem to do it? The team at Athletic Motion Golf compares—with data to back it up—a single-digit handicap amateur to several professionals: they have the same hand speed, but at different points in the downswing, resulting in clear differences in clubhead speed.

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Athletic Motion Golf · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemA Stretch Feeling at the Start of the DownswingPadraig Harrington · Intermediate / Expert12 minSame problemStart the Downswing with Your Legs: Unscrew the LidDanny Maude · Intermediate10 minSame problemPressure on the inside of the lead foot in the downswingSimon Camirand · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

The Athletic Motion Golf team starts with a common complaint in lessons: “I should be hitting it farther.” Their single-digit amateur is right. They measure two things present in every swing: the angle between the left forearm and the shaft, and the moment the hands reach their maximum speed in the downswing. With a 7-iron, his angle goes from 100° to 131° by the time his hands reach 21 mph—a tour-level speed—but the clubhead is already close to the ball: 82 mph at impact. A pro of the same age, height, rotation and hand speed reaches this peak much earlier, with his hands higher, opening the angle by only 14°: 87 mph.

Other examples confirm the rule: an LPGA player with a hand speed of 18 mph generates 82 mph thanks to an early peak, and a pro with 24 mph reaches 100 mph. The pro who reduces his angle at the start of the downswing goes even faster, but this is an extreme case that should not be imitated. The cause for the amateur: he was told to Keep your arms up and twist your torso vigorously. His hands were slow to accelerate and moved toward the ball, forcing him to open up the angle too early. The correction: move the grip earlier, faster, and in the right direction, without trying to hold the lag. Still hesitant, he gains 6 mph of clubhead speed with slightly slower hands.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Start from your usual backswing top, without trying to change your swing.
  2. As soon as the downswing begins, start moving the grip sooner.
  3. Accelerate your hands downward, in the right direction—not toward the ball.
  4. Let your body rotate without holding your arms up.
  5. Don't try to hold the angle of your wrists—let it happen naturally.
  6. Check the gain on a launch monitor if you have one, starting with a 7-iron.

Key Takeaways

Two factors drive speed: the angle between lead forearm and shaft, and when the hands reach peak speed.
At the same hand speed, the pro reaches his peak sooner and hits the ball faster.
The more the angle is maintained at the top of the swing, the more time there is to accelerate the clubhead.
Keeping your arms up and turning sharply causes your hands to lag behind and closes the angle.
Don’t try to hold the lag: it comes from accelerating your hands early.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Keeping your arms up at the top and starting by rotating your torso hard.
  • Reaching maximum hand speed too late, near the ball.
  • Trying to hold the lag by force.
  • Adding effort instead of changing the timing of the acceleration.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Slow swings with a 7-iron, feeling the grip start to drop early
  2. Half-swings, then full swings, with the same intention
  3. A few shots at the radar to compare clubhead speed

Your Questions

Why aren't I hitting the ball farther even though I'm swinging harder?

According to the team at Athletic Motion Golf, your hand speed may be good, but it may be achieved too late in the downswing: there isn't enough time left to transfer that speed to the clubhead.

What is the lag angle?

This is the angle formed by the left forearm and the club shaft. For a pro, this angle opens slightly before the hands reach their maximum speed.

Should we try to reduce the lag?

No. They keep saying it: trying to hold the angle doesn't work. A good angle is the result of accelerating your hands early.

How much speed can you gain?

This amateur gained 6 mph of clubhead speed with a 7-iron, with slightly lower hand speed, simply by changing the timing of his acceleration.

Learn More

All “Downhill and Transition” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Speed, Power, and Distance” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Driver Speed for Seniors: Glenn HaynesFeet locked, upper body slipping, finish cut short: three instances of losing speed. Step drill, rotation, shoulder touching at the finish, then overspeeding. Viktor Hovland's Ball Striking: Height and TriggerOn the driving range, Hovland explains how he gained speed, how he gets the ball higher or lower with his 7-iron, and what trigger sets off his swing. Bryson DeChambeau's Drive: Unweight, Load, PushTo drive the ball far, DeChambeau doesn't try to swing faster; instead, he puts more power into the club: he shifts his weight, plants his feet firmly on the ground, and then pushes through the swing.

Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros