The Clubhead Speed Framework

Welcome to the AE Golf Performance Newsletter! Alex here, covering a framework that I created awhile back to visualize the key contributors to increased clubhead speed (CHS)!

As some context, I was invited to write a chapter on speed training for a textbook called “Strength and Conditioning for Golf: A Guide for Coaches and Players.”

My thoughts on training for CHS have definitely evolved over the years since I wrote that chapter, but the framework is still a nice overview to work from.

To understand the framework, we first need to understand the mechanical determinants of swing speed. This was recently address in a study by Mackenzie et al. (2020).

Forces that the golfer produces are primarily what causes the club to move. And these forces are applied at the grip of the club, as it is the hub where golfer and club come together. So any method to increase speed is ultimately going to change our ability to apply forces (or torques when discussing rotational motions) to the club.

This can involve changing 1) the amount of force we apply to the club at different parts of the swing, 2) the timing of when we apply those forces from different muscles, and/or 3) the direction(s) that we apply force to make the club move the way we want it to move.

Key Mechanical Relationships

There are two primary ways of looking at the relationship between our interaction with the club and the resulting motions:

1. Work-Energy Relationship: If we perform more useful work (force applied over a given distance) to the club along the hand path, the club ends up with greater kinetic energy, increasing its CHS.

2. Impulse-Momentum Relationship: If we apply greater impulse to the hand path (force x time) across the timeframe of the swing, we will develop more momentum of the club, increasing its CHS.

Note that each of these is dependent on our ability to apply forces skillfully along the path of the club, not just more force in general. The golf swing is complex, so we don’t just want more force for the sake of force.

While these two relationships consider the swing from slightly different perspectives, the implications for increasing CHS are similar:

1. Increase force along the hand path: If the length or time of the swing remains constant, applying greater force along the hand path will result in greater useful work AND impulse, increasing CHS.

2. Increasing time/distance of the hand path: Creating a longer hand path will provide greater time and distance through which to apply force, allowing for greater opportunities to apply impulse or perform useful work.

This is a function of both 1) your neuromuscular potential (i.e., strength, power, mobility, etc.) which create opportunities for force production and movement strategies within the swing and 2) the ability to skillfully use that neuromuscular potential within the specific skill of the golf swing.

In other words, you can be really strong and powerful, but not be able to apply it efficiently the swing. You can also be relatively weak, but be incredibly efficient at applying what you have to the swing to get the most out of what you have.

But by far the ideal situation is having both pieces of the puzzle!

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

That’s all well and good, but what can we do with this information. Well, there are a few ways we can approach improving these two factors.

Increasing Force Along the Hand Path

There are a few different broad categories of things that can influence force along the path:

1. Intent/Effort levels: When you try to swing fast, a lot of changes can/do occur to increase force applied to the club. This is a primary reason why golfers that rarely swing with intensity can experience quick gains within their first few speed training sessions.

2. Biomechanics: Golfers and coaches focus A LOT on swing technique, and rightfully so. How you move and sequence the body can influence both the force along the hand path, and its length.This can include factors such as the timing and magnitude of ground reaction forces, sequencing of muscle activation and body segment motions, and other factors. But it’s important to note that there is no “one size fits all” approach to swing biomechanics, and each golfer must find their own “optimal swing technique.”

3. Neuromuscular Force Potential: Biomechanics and effort/intent are the most direct ways of increasing force on the club. But the force capabilities of your neuromuscular system underpins your ability to apply biomechanics and effort within the swing. Improving your ability to produce large magnitudes of force (e.g., strength) and the rate at which force can be produced (explosive strength, power) in golf-relevant timeframes and movement patterns can allow for greater force to be applied to the club.

Increasing Hand Path Length

Factors that can influence hand path length include the amount of rotation from the torso/trunk and hips/pelvis, as well as other motions of the hands and body to create distance across the hand path.

While mobility measurements generally do not correlate well to CHS (check out a post about our recent research here), this does not mean it’s unimportant. Being mobile provides a wider range of movement options, since you are able to move your body and joints into positions than less mobile golfers cannot. But you must still be able to integrate this within the complex swing action to make use of it.

And importantly, the value of mobility is golfer-specific. Adding additional mobility to an already mobile golfer is unlikely to have a noticeable impact. But a golfer with poor mobility may open up opportunities to swing faster by addressing that limitation over time.

A FEW SUMMARY POINTS

At the end of the day, we have multiple ways to increase CHS, and the most efficient and effective route will be golfer-specific. But in general, I aim to:

1. Address limitations in mobility, as this can offer a larger array of potential movement strategies a golfer can use in their swing.

2. Provide them with a foundation of strength as simply and efficiently as possible.

3. Drive improvements in the ability to produce force in golf relevant timeframes and movement patterns.

4. Design speed training sessions that provide opportunities to improve the ability to skillfully swing the club at faster speeds.

5. Encourage golfers to work with a qualified coach to help them improve their technique over time.

Want to learn more? Keep an eye out for more posts. I’ll also have some programs and educational resources coming out on how to get the most out of this framework.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE
SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR TOPICS

I want to tailor my content towards what you are most interested in. Follow the link below to submit a question or topic that you would like me to address in the future. This link will be available on every issue of the newsletter, so you will have opportunities to do this any time!

Submission Form