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Special for SeniorsSpeed, Power, and Distance Driver Seniors ⏱ 7 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Driver Speed for Seniors: Glenn Haynes

Are you losing more distance with your driver than your age would explain? Glenn Haynes of Aussie Golf Pros analyzes the swings of senior golfers, identifies three areas where power is being lost, and suggests an exercise for each one, plus a speed-building drill to do at home.

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Aussie Golf Pros · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

6 minSame problemDistance for Seniors, Relaxed Swing: Paul WilsonPaul Wilson · Seniors9 minSame problemA Gradual Warm-Up Before Playing: Mike MalaskaMike Malaska · Seniors11 minSame problemKeep Your Driving Speed: Mickelson's MethodPhil Mickelson · Intermediate / Expert / Seniors

What the lesson shows

According to Glenn Haynes, we inevitably lose some strength and flexibility as we age, but not as much distance as many seniors do. First leak: feet glued to the ground, with no footwork. He sees this as a balance issue more than a flexibility issue: feet shoulder-width apart, rocking from one foot to the other, then thestep exercise with a 9-iron (take a step back, then step forward toward the ball as you swing), a technique already used by Padraig Harrington. Second mistake: the sliding torso Sideways, a slow movement; in this stance, with your arms in front of you, rotate your hips and torso first to one side and then to the other, while staying centered behind the ball.

Third leak: a shortened finish, “as if there were a tree” after impact, which he puts down to a lack of commitment rather than a lack of mobility. The fix: go all the way to touch the left shoulder with your hands or the club. Jim, who is over 70, leads by example with a 300-yard drive: a fairly narrow stance, his left heel lifting slightly off the ground, rotation without sliding, and a full finish. As a bonus, the overspeed: a lighter club, or one held near the bottom of the grip; about ten swings, each faster than the last, followed by a few on the opposite side. According to him, just a few sessions are enough to feel the difference.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Shift your weight from one foot to the other, with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Using an 9-iron, take a step back, then step forward toward the ball as you swing.
  3. In this position, with your arms extended in front of you, rotate your hips and torso to one side and then to the other.
  4. Make swings, reaching to touch your left shoulder at the finish.
  5. Hold the driver at the bottom of the grip and take about ten swings, gradually increasing your speed.
  6. Make a few fast swings on the opposite side.

Key Takeaways

Feet that are too rigid: a problem of balance rather than flexibility.
Lateral movement of the torso slows you down: you have to turn.
The shortened finish is due to a lack of commitment.
Finish by touching your left shoulder with your hands or the club.
Swinging at a higher speed, with a lighter club, helps you get used to swinging faster.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Keeping your feet planted on the ground, as if they were nailed down.
  • Shifting your weight by sliding your upper body.
  • Stopping the follow-through right after impact.
  • Letting your arms and shoulders do all the work.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Step drill with a 9-iron, ball on a tee
  2. Rotations in a standing position, arms extended, without sliding
  3. Ten overspeed swings, club held low on the grip

Your Questions

Why Do Older Golfers Lose Speed with the Driver?

According to Glenn Haynes of Aussie Golf Pros, this is due to three common mistakes: feet that are too static, a torso that slides instead of rotating, and a shortened finish.

Is stiffness in the feet caused by a lack of flexibility?

Above all, he sees it as a balance issue. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and practicing the step help restore your footwork.

How can you avoid a shortened finish?

By touching the left shoulder with your hands or the club, even after the swing. He’s referring to a lack of commitment rather than a lack of mobility.

What is high-speed training?

Swing a lighter club—for example, a driver held near the bottom of the grip—about ten times, accelerating each time, to get your body used to moving faster.

Learn More

All “Senior Special” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Speed, Power, and Distance” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you 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. 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.

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