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DrivingRange PracticeSpecial for SeniorsSpeed, Power, and Distance Driver Expert / Intermediate / Seniors ⏱ 11 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Keep Your Driving Speed: Mickelson's Method

Now in his fifties, Phil Mickelson still hits the ball as far as twenty-year-olds. On the LIV Golf driving range, he explains his method: physical conditioning first, followed by a heavy club, a speed club, and a push from his front leg that adds 9 mph to his ball speed.

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Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

11 minSame problemXander Schauffele's Stress-Free Driver Pre-Shot RoutineXander Schauffele · Intermediate11 minSame problemIncreasing Your Clubhead Speed: Adjustments and ExercisesQuentin Rachinel · Intermediate3 minFrom the same proPhil Mickelson's Sand Divot in the Bunker: The KeysPhil Mickelson · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Before any speed training, Mickelson insists that one or two weeks of working out with a gym ball To strengthen your back and core: swinging too fast can damage the joints in your back. Next, three tools. One a very tough club (310 g head), which he uses to hit five balls as hard as he can after the match, when he's tired: this builds muscle and teaches him to hold the racket high. A gear stick lighter than a driver, swung hard on both sides, five times each, because the muscles that slow you down in one direction speed you up in the other. Finally, twice a week after playing, 25 full-speed drives, regardless of the direction, to help the nervous system adjust.

When it comes to the swing, he identifies a single source of power: the forward leg push, upward and slightly backward, allowing the front foot to pivot and lift off the ground to relieve pressure on the knee. On the same swing, his ball speed increases from 167 to 176 mph. When he accelerates, he also has to release the club a little earlier to avoid ending up with an open clubface. Every day, he works on his knees, lower back, and shoulders: resistance band exercises, hamstring stretches, and deep squats with his heels on the ground.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Start with one to two weeks of back and abdominal strengthening exercises using an exercise ball.
  2. After a round, hit five balls as hard as you can with a heavy club.
  3. Before you play, swing a speed stick—which is lighter than a driver—five times on each side.
  4. Twice a week, after playing, hit 25 full-swing drives without looking at where the ball is going.
  5. As you swing, push off with your front leg upward and slightly backward.
  6. Let your front foot pivot and lift off the ground to relieve pressure on your knee.
  7. As you swing faster, let the club relax a little earlier to keep the clubface square.

Key Takeaways

Warm up your back and core before any speed work.
Weight Training After the Game: Building Muscle and Learning to Be Patient.
A lightweight speed stick with a strong swing on both sides.
Twice a week, 25 full-swing drives without aiming.
Push your front leg up and back, pivoting your foot.
To go faster, you need to ease off a little sooner.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Starting speed training without preparing your back.
  • Use the heavy club before you start playing: it slows down your swing for the rest of the day.
  • Swing the speed bat only to one side.
  • Lock the front leg: the knee absorbs the rotation.
  • Push forward instead of up and back.
  • Maintain the same release point while swinging faster: the clubface remains open.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Endgame: Five full-power shots with a heavy club
  2. Before the game: speed stick, five swings on each side
  3. Twice a week: 25 all-out drives
  4. Every day: shoulder band exercises and deep squats with heels on the floor

Your Questions

Why does Mickelson use a heavy club after the round and not before?

A heavy club builds muscle, but it trains you to swing slowly. Before playing, he would set it aside for the day: he saves it for last and uses a lighter club before the game.

Why swing the speed stick on both sides?

According to him, the muscles that slow down the swing in one direction are the same ones that accelerate it in the other. So swinging quickly in both directions trains both.

What should you do with your front foot when you push off with your leg?

Let it pivot and lift off the ground. Mickelson explains that the knee isn't designed to withstand a sudden twist: lifting the foot relieves pressure and reduces the risk of injury.

What weight should I choose for my speed stick?

He says it’s about 12 to 15 percent lighter than his driver. The idea is that if he can swing his driver at 120 mph, he should be able to swing this lighter club at 125 or 126 mph.

Learn More

All “Driving” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Senior Special” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Speed, Power, and Distance” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Xander Schauffele's Stress-Free Driver Pre-Shot RoutineSchauffele's driver pre-shot routine: aiming point, square shoulders, anti-tension waggle; to hit it farther, keep your left shoulder high and your heel off the ground. Increasing Your Clubhead Speed: Adjustments and ExercisesGain speed without straining: adjust your loft, tee, and ball position; swing with a relaxed hip motion; and feel the acceleration after contact. Seniors: Lift Your Left Heel to Drive FurtherFor senior golfers, keeping the left heel planted on the ground shortens the takeaway and causes you to tense up; letting it lift allows for a full shoulder turn and a relaxed swing. Phil MickelsonAll of his lessons

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

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