90 MPH with driver? Is this thing on? Need help!

[jonsnow]

So I got on the launch monitor at Edwin Watts to try out a couple of drivers & compare them to my 910D3. I knew my clubhead speed was down since the only other time I have been on a launch monitor in the early 2000s, but I was shocked that I maxed out at 92. Back around 2002-2003 I maxed out at 112. I was in my mid-40s then & will be 61 next month. But one of my regular playing partners is 67, has had two knee replacements & is 6" shorter than me & has the same CHS.

 

I'm 6'2", weigh 240 (I should weigh 40-50 lbs less) & am in good health. Got all my original parts, no real medical issues, don't take any Rx meds. But I don't work out with any regularity. I'm currently a 9.5 trending down from 10.6, played to a low single digit from my mid-teens up to about 15 years ago. I need advice on how to fix this. How much can exercise offset the loss of strength, flexibility & elasticity due to the aging process. Tired of floating downstream, want to swim against the current. Thanks...

[Golfjack]

I think it's part of getting used to swinging slower. You've been getting accustomed to this slower speed over the years. It'll be tough to reverse but work on it! No reason why you can't get back to 100+.

[Justsomeguy]

Following this thread. Early 40s here. Picked up the game late 30s. Ss maxes bt 90-95. Similarly 30lbs overweight. Desk jockey.

Curious to hear how much regular exercise could improve things. Surely a lot.

I play to my longest when I've played a lot, had a stretch of good health, or went on an exercise jag.

Walked a few holes after work today. Planning to do that more regularly and see what it improves.

[BeerPerHole]

Yeah... I'm early 50s and have some metal and part of a dead guy in my knee. Lots of wear and tear from football. However, the last year and a half I decided to really work on this driver swing speed thing. It's very slow going after 50. I've been driving a desk for 30 years but have always been a gym rat. Only 2 sessions in the gym per week lately and that's not enough. This is a tough battle. I feel your pain. Got my swing speed from 96 to around 110. Got a TPI evaluation recently and that helped, because it gave me a couple things to focus on. The head pro at our club is amazing and I've got a lesson with him next week specifically for driver. I've been starting to carry my drives 255 on the course but I think I can improve, and I'm starting to overcook into a hook and need to get this tuned up. I don't know...As I mentioned in another thread...this is a long, slow grind after 50.

[BB28403]

Lower your calorie intake. It is 80% of all weight loss. Excercise is only 20%. There are some really nice apps that help count calories these days.

[jonsnow]

Thanks, everybody! Good to hear I'm not alone. Early 50s is when I really started to notice SS dropping off. Lots of good points already; I definitely agree I've gotten used to swinging slower. The thing is I CAN still make a bigger turn & swing, but it's harder work now where years ago I didn't even have to think about it. If I'm not paying attention, I'll stand up out of my posture and/or let my weight get on the outside of my right foot & end up moving too far off the ball & not coiling. So instinctively I end up swinging shorter & more armsy.

[LeftDaddy]

I personally don’t believe that strength training by itself will lead to massive swing speed gains. It won’t hurt, of course, and if done right can help.

 

But bigger swing speed gains tend to come from swing technique improvements.

 

I guess to put it another way, if you are 6’2” 240 and only swing it 90ish, it isn’t likely that your physique is the primary cause. I would suspect you have some speed losses in your technique that are bigger factors.

 

Take it FWIW.

[DavePelz4]

You don't have to lose distance just because of age. You might consider getting into a regular stretching regime. I'm in my 60's and hit the ball further now than in my 50's. Years ago I went to a golf trainer who developed a stretching program with a big focus on my hip flexors. Turns out they were limiting my ability to turn. The program also has a lot of shoulder work and the combination of the two can really help you at least retain what you have if not improve it.

[BM5D]

Stretch. Consult a certified trainer if you're not sure what to stretch. Also overspeed training. Typical gym workouts will take longer to see direct results than simply getting loose and finding a faster pattern through overspeed training. That's my take.

[GolfChannel]

> @BB28403 said:

> Lower your calorie intake. It is 80% of all weight loss. Exercise is only 20%. There are some really nice apps that help count calories these days.

This is a common theme, exercise and golf less, speed goes down (currently battling this myself). Do as much as you can with what you have in terms of exercising without equipment (push-ups, squats, crunches, yoga, etc...).

 

In terms of apps, the best out there which is largely a free app is "Lose It".

[BB28403]

I like Pro Tracker free, you can put current weight, goal weight, what you eat every day. It’s online database of foods you encounter in everyday life is extensive. You can also add what Excercise or activity you did and it will subtract from your needed calories . I’m sure a lot of apps fit the criteria. Add in your weight as often as you like and you get a line graph over time as it fluctuates.

OP add in some whey protein drinks after activity. They help retain muscle , 20 grams does the trick.

[joker2]

Isn't this WRX?

 

Buy a new driver!

[jonsnow]

> @joker2 said:

> Isn't this WRX?

>

> Buy a new driver!

 

Funny you say that. I hit my driver, Titleist TS2 & TS3 & Ping G410 Plus. No real difference between my 910D3 & the TS2 & TS3, but the Ping consistently gave me 10-15 yards more carry with the same swing speed. Hmmm...