Aging and Swing Speed

[scomac2002]

@disco111 I've got a bud that plays in our senior men's league who is using a ladies driver; an old 14° Ping G2 and he hits it beautifully with a nice smooth swing. He's 82 as well and carries one of the lowest indexes in our group.
DW has a set of Adams A3 OS and I wouldn't hesitate to play those myself if they were long enough and right-handed. I remember reading a story about Fred Couples picking up a used fairway wood at some course pro shop a number of years ago and loved it. Turns out it was a ladies club too!
Sr. flex helped me a lot with regaining yards off the tee with my long clubs. May as well face reality and keep transitioning through the bag over time.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

Getting there too. But I actually gained some speed recently with a new toy I made for golf. Goal is 155 ball speed with range balls in 2 months.

 

[Shilgy]

Yes, I have been using them since September 1. I am now as long as I was at 40 and will be 63 in a couple months.https://superspeedgolf.com/

[Joe Duffer]

Thanks, guys!

I suppose another question to ask would be to hear from seniors who have suffered injury with these training aids?

 

 

[TimK1]

This past year was the year I finally started to lose distance. I was 6 to 8 yards shorter with my irons. I played D.G. stiff flex shafts for 20 years but at 56 it was starting to become an issue. I switched to graphite shafted irons with a 70 gram shaft and it has been very good. Much easier on me and got some of the distance back I lost. It was a huge change but one I got used to very quickly.

I probably will never go back.

[Pepperturbo]

Chasing 70 and everyday fighting muscle deterioration. I continuously remind myself of the importance of going to the gym and maintaining "I can still do it" attitude. As many of you know, aging and distance lose are an ongoing fight, one that we can't prevent and it's not getting easier. I lost about 10yds off irons ? , but thanks to my recent switch to new graphite/steel shafts and lighter 62 gram driver shaft,  I gained a few yards back and holding for the time being.

Like many people my age, I cope with daily osteoarthritis pain in hands, knees, and hips, which exacerbates distance lose. One thing I do to help is shy away from playing golf with certain types of guys my age. The guys I am referring to are old far** that have given in to aging process, quit pushing themselves, and think golf is now a casual old man's game. Over the years I have learned the best in me comes out when facing much younger, more capable people. I am able to use them to focus better, swing better, and especially, hit the ball harder.  It's okay if they think I might be an easy $$$ mark, cause I see them as a mountain that I must climb over to step on their throats. Yep, it's not my best but anybody that knows me since youth knows I want to win but not afraid of losing, so put it all on the table regardless of the odds.

No, I don't hit the ball as far as many younger guys. But if this past weekend was an indicator, with eight golfers facing ugly, wet, narrow fairways, I found my two and three iron swing speed that put the ball down the middle on 20-25yard wide fairways. The shortest driver in the bunch and oldest by fifteen years and still had the lowest score.  NO, it wasn't a big money game for this fighter, but a quiet war none the less. No, it wasn't even my lowest score, but it was low enough to realize how good it feels to step on many necks, and remind myself "aging and losing distance" are just a state-of-mind.  Except I can't forget the best part came later when the youngsters showed respect for losing to an ole man. 

 

[BIG STU]

Yep that 2nd paragraph and 3rd one too says it all for me. I am not as long as I used to be but I am straighter and I have found this game is a lot easier to play from the short grass. But I do challenge myself I will play persimmon from where I should not distance wise. But it is fun to me trying to hit that par 4 from 190 out with a persimmon 2 wood. Now I can still hit long irons (blades) but recently have found out I hit the 4 hybrid and the 20* hybrid better with gasp senior graphite shafts. Actually for some reason for me that 20* hybrid is a rocket I hit it further than I do my modern Adams 16* FW

[stixman]

What I find is that compared to when I was younger (now 75) I could swing 3/4 speed for extra control and take a bit off. Now I don't have that in reserve and am hitting everything as close to my limits as I dare. This is OK on days when it's warm, wind is down and the golfing stars are aligned. The rest of the time I have to accept that it can be a struggle and saving a round becomes the norm.

[Pepperturbo]

The fact, you're still out there tackling golfs challenges is a huge. FYI, I lost some distance but gained some of the loss back after switching to Steelfiber i110cw "S" graphite and steel shafts.

[Sean2]

I am in my mid-60s and am less concerned about distance loss, and more pleased that I walked 170 rounds this past season.

[stixman]

Impressive, more than me by a distance.

I don't count the number of rounds walked, I think the only rounds not walked were on a one week vacation in Portugal when I buggied. Otherwise I reckon on 2 rounds a week walking and sometimes carrying.

[dpb5031]

Careful with all that walking @Sean2 ! My ortho surgeon advised me to take a cart when I golf, and to get my cardio in the gym, non-impact exercise on a bike or elliptical. He said, "knees and hips are like car tires; they're only good for so many miles before they wear out, only ya don't know how many miles your warranty is good for..." ?

[Sean2]

Lol :-)

[Pepperturbo]

 

Congrats... Wish I could walk more. Its a different game walking. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, far too many courses in CA, AZ and HI don't allow walking during prime time.

[Pepperturbo]

A buddy is a Orthopedic surgeon and a golfer, and would disagree with your surgeon. Though there's merit to what your guy said, it depends on whether or not the person in question is athletic or not in the best of condition. The latter person is more susceptible to developing hip problems.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

I’d guess it’s also how much stress you put on yourself to walk and play?

[Pepperturbo]

Given today's medical climate in support of everybody walking more even better than gym exercise, can't imagine walking actually causing stress. I cope with painful osteoarthritis in knees and hips and still walk when possible. But pay the Grr price when I get home.

[Londoner]

I'm 68. Technology and effort has held my yardages constant for 20 years. How you think is key in my view.

I think Gary Player was once asked about his longevity. He answered " don't let the old man in"!

If you start thinking "old" you're inviting it.

[Sean2]

Thank you Pepper. I rarely play a high end golf course. I have only seen a couple of courses in my area that require carts. I am not sure if the reason is financial, pace of play, or just how the course is designed, i.e., long distances between holes.

[Londoner]

Carts (although growing) are relatively uncommon in the U.K. Whats the thinking behind carts only at prime times?

Pace of play seems no faster when I've seen them in uk or used them in mainland Europe? (Especially when they have 90 degree rule.)

[Sean2]

Maybe it's financial? I haven't seen any evidence that carts are faster, however, I know some courses have holes where from the green of one hole to the tee of the next one can be quite a hike, that would no doubt impact pace of play. That all said, I have nothing against carts...I think they are great...thinking of those folks who wouldn't be able to play this great game without them.

[Londoner]

I agree. For some (maybe us soon?) Its a game saver/changer. I too think it's probably just another profit centre.

[Pepperturbo]

Whether someone walks or not has cultural implications, how he/she is introduced to the game of golf.  If tournament gallery behavior is any indication, EU golfers see golf differently than American golfers.   

Whether pace-of-play is the reason or revenue-driven, prevailing US private and muni course leadership believe golf carts are faster than walkers, and they help fund the budget for costly Pro Shop and staff, which is not a dominant factor in the UK or the EU. Once a walker is allowed out during prime time, and he turns out to be influencing the pace of play and is walking as fast as they think reasonable, nothing much can be done.  He/they paid like everyone else. Consequently, one or two walkers can affect the whole field behind them. If golfers are in a cart and slow, management can at least push to drive faster. Whether the club does that is another subject.

I was on the BOD of my last two private clubs, and cart revenue went to the Pro, who used it; however, he/she saw fit. Club leadership felt all things equal; golf carts were faster for the average/inexperienced golfer. Whether that plays out as fact for all courses depends on how the course manages the tee sheet and field. I won't go into the influences of course difficulty.

[Londoner]

Thanks for that. As I said I have very little insight to it. In the scenarios you mention I am assuming you drive to ball and not leave the cart on a path parallel to your ball?

[Sean2]

It depends on whether it is cart path only...which is usually applied if the course is very wet. If not, a player will drive right up to his ball.

[TimK1]

Courses could care less about pace of play. It's a cash cow, thats all it is. It does not speed up the game at all.

[Londoner]

Thats what I expected. I can't for the life of me understand how its faster.

When playing 90 degree I've followed people who leave the cart , duff an iron, back to the cart , change the iron, etc etc.

When I walk, as soon as I've hit my drive I'm assessing what my next shot options are. I think about it as I'm walking and make my final decision when over the ball. I need that time. Even if you deliver me to my drive in 10 seconds. I wouldn't be ready.

[Sean2]

Yes, with cart path only I am sure it is no faster, for the reasons you articulated. Now, if the golfer can hit it close to the cart path... :-)

[dpb5031]

I think it was somewhat tongue & cheek but also specific to my situation with some truth to it. I have post-traumatic osteoarthritis in my knee and hip from old sports injuries. I'm otherwise fit and a regular gym goer. Excessive walking causes my knee to swell and hip to ache.

Like the old story...

Patient: "Hey doc, it hurts when I do this."

Dr: "Then don't do that!" ?

[maverick]

I am 72 and will be 73 next month and am a 100% DAV. I work out 3 times/week. I recently joined a gym. I walked and carried my clubs for almost 20 years. Now my back is totally worn out. When I go to the range I hit two large buckets. With all the strength training I do I still lose distance and so will you. But my handicap has stayed fairly steady at about 11-12. My biggest problem is my driver which is proportionally not going far enough compared to my other clubs. I am on a mission to find a driver I can hit a little farther. It will probably be a Ping 410 LST but who knows? I play the senior tees at the local muni but on most holes it only saves about 10 yds. So going to the next/last/womens tee would be very embarrassing. My short game keeps me in the game. Plus the fact that obviously I love this game I have played for 60 years.