A walking guide to interpreting the benefits of speed training on the golf course
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If you've never done a speed training program before, it's really fun. While many novice players just think that stepping out of their shoes will make the ball travel farther, the truth is that it takes the right sequence to generate more speed – so you don't bomb it with an open clubface that increases your speed. ball slice out of bounds.
This is where speed training tools and programs come in handy.
But what happens when you start to improve during practice but you can't apply what you learned in the lesson? I asked GOLF teacher Matt Henderson to look at this very question, so he gave me some tips that will help every golfer looking for speed to stay confident, trust the process, and avoid any frustration.
Follow this plan to translate speed training into your next round
“A lot of golfers have turned to speed training to get more clubhead speed, using different products or systems to develop more power,” Henderson said. “Typically, players use weighted clubs, do a training program, and plan their progress – perhaps with an app on their phone.”
While speed training is a great option for athletes, Henderson cautions against doing it poorly, which can lead to inconsistency, possible frustration, and even injury.
“Working on speed can be a good thing for many golfers, and if your body is ready for the training process, I would recommend that all golfers try it,” Henderson added. “But I have noticed that many of my students who do speed training programs struggle to see their progress reflected in this course.
“Even though their clubhead speed increases and their distance numbers increase during training, when they don't see the gains translate into their next round, they can get upset.”
To help you avoid finding this out on your own, Henderson shares a four-step system that helps bring any speed training benefits from workout to workout – so here's his step-by-step method.
Section 1: Driver, no ball, no radar
In this first stage, take a big swing with your driver – but don't use the ball or the radar, pure speed. This eliminates concerns about position and center face contact, allowing you to focus on accelerating your swing with your actual driver, not a training aid. Practicing at full speed and with purpose helps build comfort and confidence with your club, instead of correcting the difference between the weight of the training aid and your driver.
Phase 2: Driver, net, and radar
Once you are comfortable swinging at high speed, go to the net and launch the radar, hitting real balls. Practice net allows you to focus inward, ignore direction or distance, and focus only on the speed numbers visible on the radar. This class trains you to push your limits, reach top speeds without the mental barriers of trying to keep the ball in play.
Section 3: Driving range, ball, and radar
At this stage, it's time to move on to the driving range with your driver, using the radar to monitor your speed. Focus on clubhead speed and try to make the numbers match what you experienced in the previous section. In this controlled setting, you rarely need to add light cardio (like jumping jacks) to improve your stamina and keep your swing as fast as possible.
Section 4: Evidence of the course
Finally, bring your driver to the course and test yourself in a real-life situation, using the monitor to check your actual course speed. This section emphasizes increasing your swing speed in actual play – a skill I learned from students is essential to maintaining the speed gains made in training. Course evaluation reveals the true transfer of your training benefits and helps you prepare for competitive conditions.
“Small changes can make a big difference when translating training benefits into actual rounds,” Henderson says. “By using this four-step process, you'll have a clear, consistent way to improve clubhead speed on the course and not just in practice.”
TheStack Swing Speed Trainer (Hardware + App Bundle)
$314 (was $349)
TheStack Hardware 5 stacked Stack weights enable 30 weight combinations between 0g and 300g Dual purpose weight case / phone stand Highly engineered training club – Senior (41.5″) or Junior (38.5″) version (see Fitting Juniors) Speed radar not included. View all compatible devices here. We recommend PRGR TheStack App Training for 2 years included, available only on iOS. Powerful speed training designed by Dr. Sasho MacKenzie Guided workout timer for reps, sets, and rest intervals Custom speed metrics to track your gains Hands-free data entry using voice input technology Includes access Stacking (Beta) – Learn more Includes Single User License – Enables training and tracking for potential local users of five (ie family) under one login. Multi-User License License sold separately. Access TheStack App from the App Store when your order arrives. Requires iOS 15.0 or later.
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